Newman says ‘Getting Closer’ to Filling Two Vacant Dearborn Buildings
Six months after covering the glass with white paper and posting signs that a new business was coming soon, two of Norm Newman’s larger vacant buildings remain closed.
But Norm Newman now tells Deepsaidwhat that he is “getting closer” to finalizing a deal to fill the vacant Inca and Pier 1 buildings he owns.
“We have had meetings (with an unnamed developer) and we are that much closer to getting there,” Newman says.
Newman remains tightllipped on who the potential developer might be, only saying that it is a “good company.” Deepsaidwhat reported here in February that the German-owned Aldi grocery chain was the business moving into the properties.
“We are negotiating,” he says. “Either we will make a deal soon or we won’t.”
Asked if the business going into his two vacant buildings was an Aldi grocery store, which some top city officials have privately told us it is, Newman would only say “no comment.”
We are still keeping our fingers crossed something will soon move in to these two vacant eyesores.
August 16th, 2009 at 5:00 am
Guess it’s his property to do with as he pleases but seeing is believing. First it was only one building that he had plans for and now it is both. I sure hope that something goes in before the entire area dies. Since I have never been in the real estate business I have no idea how long it takes to “negotiate”. Wonder what is happening to the property on Mich. and Tele.?
August 16th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Seeing is believing…
August 16th, 2009 at 10:47 am
stop interviewing this idiot!
For future ref: Keep this article and just change the date every 6 months and republish, because its the same BS time after time.
August 16th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Norm is playing you for asking those questions. He won’t tell anybody whats actually going on with his property (least of all the city hall boys). Get with it norm, here is one guy you can’t kid, as I’m on to you. Enjoy your little mind games.
August 16th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
This is starting to sound like a story line for a “Seinfeld” episode. Does Norm wear dark glasses and cast furtive looks behind his shoulder when you meet? Do you meet in one of his vacant buildings? Does Norm understand that maybe some of us really don’t care what he does with his buildings, as we are busy doing our shopping elsewhere?
August 16th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
I see American Home Fitness closed up! Another one bites the dust.
August 16th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Not that it wouldn’t be nice to have something in these long vacant buildings, but can the area really support another grocer? Isn’t 2 Krogers and Westborn Farm Market enough?
August 16th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Actually it was the entire Inca building and 1/2 of the Pier One building for Aldi’s. And the Hot spot Cafe closed also a couple weeks ago, and the Village Cafe also had a Fire.
August 16th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Mr. C P
Don’t leave out the Dearborn Farm Marketm thay are busy all the time.
August 16th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Sorry! I’m too fast on the submit button.
August 16th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Does it seem like alot of fires at restaurants lately?
August 17th, 2009 at 5:07 am
The farmers market is probably the only thing making money in West Dearborn. I go early on Friday mornings and there are quite a few people there and all of them buying. On the 28th they will be having a corn roast which could attract more people. Joan has done a fantistic job organizing this and should be very proud of all that she has contributed to the city. Anyone hear the rumor that Dee’s is also leaving?
August 17th, 2009 at 8:37 am
I’d take a Trader Joe’s over an Aldi’s anyday…
August 17th, 2009 at 10:46 am
The way it continues to go in downtown west Dearborn, I’d be happy to see almost any type of business open. What would even be nicer, is to finally see some succeed and stay.
August 17th, 2009 at 11:13 am
“Anyone hear the rumor that Dee’s is also leaving?”
I dunno, but a month ago there was a lot of damage done to that store. The windows were smashed out and it looked like someone did some damage to the concrete facade as well.
August 17th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Oh, and a Trader Joes would be awesome.
Or a Microcenter. There are really no good places to get pc’s or computer related equipment. Best Buy is crap and Novi is a long drive.
August 17th, 2009 at 11:24 am
RE: Dearborn Farm Market–it appears to be more of a success this year and I highly recommend a visit or two or three, as there is a better selection and more competitive prices than last year.
RE: Dee’s Hallmark–haven’t heard they are closing, but every time I go in there, the story is nearly empty and recently a woman lost control of her car from that wretched slanted parking structure and smashed her vehicle through the Dee’s showcase window.
How much can a business owner take in Dearborn before saying “adios”?
August 17th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
When I asked at Dee’s about what happened I was told a woman lost consciousness (A stroke I think she said) while driving along W. Village Dr. not out of the garage. Hopefully Dee’s makes it. I always get my cards there… I just wish they had actual post cards, though, and not just the Thomas Kinkade cards.
I hadn’t been to the market since it started last year and I have to say I was impressed at its growth. I was glad to see the size of the crowd that was there. It’s still tiny compared to the Saturday KerryTown Market in Ann Arbor but it seems to be moving in the right direction. Maybe a market shed and some permanent vendors aren’t too far off.
As for Newman’s supposed tenant, I’ll echo Michael in believing it when I see something occupied and open.
August 17th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
I agree on the Trader Joe’s. Or Hiller’s. Or Plum Market. Anything else would be a good option. Do we really need 2 Kroger’s????
August 18th, 2009 at 8:40 am
Hiller’ or Trader Joe’s would be awesome. I would note that I would not want something that would adversely impact Merchants. I would hate to lose a unique Dearborn business to chain. I just think that is wrong headed if you will. And no, we don’t need to two Krogers.
August 18th, 2009 at 11:50 am
I don’t think that we need to worry about Hillers or Trader Joe’s coming to the Dearborn area at all even though a lot of us would like to see one of the stores here. As for Kroger’s both stores are still in business so apparently they think we need 2. One good thing about it is if the lot on the south Kroger store is full you can always go to the north store – one way or another I always get a good parking spot.
August 19th, 2009 at 7:20 am
Of course no one needs 2 Krogers across the street from each other. Hard to imagine any chain would operate 2 stores in such proximity. Many chains won’t even maintain two outlets as near as west Dearborn and the Allen Park developments. Speculation is that Kroger kept the former Farmer Jack open as a Kroger so a competitor couldn’t move in to that building across the street from the Westborn store.
August 19th, 2009 at 8:41 am
I only have been in Fake Kroger a few times. Reasons having none to do with the parking or produce, iykwim.
August 19th, 2009 at 10:38 am
I see nothing wrong with having both Krogers – both have fairly full lots every time I go. They do not seem to be hurting for business. Thank heavens Newman doesn’t own those properties, or he’d drive them out with increasing high rent too. Also, on this site folks always “say” they want retail, but everytime I see the little boutique next to Howells – it’s always empty. Dee’s Hallmark is retail – but also usually empty. If you REALLY want retail – then do some shopping IN Dearborn! Stop complaining about putting change in a meter.
As far as prepared foods – I think YaYa’s would do awesome business in Dearborn. Wish I had the money to start my own chain…
August 19th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
I think one of Dee’s problems is that people can shop in Dearborn and get cards 2 for $1.00 at ACO or the $Store and that has to be hurting Dee’s. People are also getting tired of paying postage for the cards so they are using some of the internet sites – some are free. I shop at Dee’s and can get in and out for a few cards in 1/2 hr so no charge in the garage. If you also shop at LuLu Design on Monroe he will give you $.25 for the meter.
August 19th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Its funny I read deepsaidwhat? Today and last night my husband and I were driving home from Westborn Market and we both commented on the change up and down Michigan Avenue both being borne and raised in Dearborn. I’m not a fan of Newman, I don’t even think he handles his own business affairs anymore. I think his son does, who lives in CA, while daddy Newman is in FL. I feel for Hakim, Nigosians, Nichols, Village Art Gallery, and the list goes on. I grew up with these families, they represent real Dearborn heritage and dedication. Why couldn’t we get something going like Allen Park did by the old Vet’s Hosp ? Was it red tape in City Hall? Maybe we really need to take a look at our City Council? Or should we just know that nothing is going to happen with the West Dearborn business district.
August 19th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Superchick, what do you mean by, “Why couldn’t we get something going like Allen Park did?” Do you want to know why we didn’t try to get a big box development like that one?
Besides the fact that we already have such developments (Fairlane Meadows and the development across the street with Walmart and Borders), such a development would not fit in West Dearborn. It would not fit what a downtown should be, visually and experientially, and it would not fit physically in the space. We’d have to level all of downtown west Dearborn and an area south through the Ford Homes and north to the Rouge River.
So the only red-tape that stopped us from getting an Allen Park type development is the physical lack of land for such a land consuming development. Just look at googlemaps to compare the land available in west Dearborn and the land used by the Allen Park development.
August 19th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
I think if Newman doesn’t get some tenants soon, the city should change the name of Newman street. How much do you have to contibute to various campaign funds to get a street named after you, especially when you’re an unpopular slumlord?
BTW, isn’t Norm Newman the son?
August 21st, 2009 at 9:08 am
I like to shop at the Dearborn Farm Market on Monroe (not to be confused with the Farmer’s Market as has happened above). It is close by and easily accessible. I think the prices are good too. That is the kind of business that we can’t let slip away from us.
August 21st, 2009 at 11:20 am
Thomas, I don’t think that we have to worry about Dearborn Farm Market closing up. Art has a great business there and every year he says he is going to retire but I don’t think his customers will let him. I also shop at the Farmers Market on Fridays.
August 21st, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Paul, it’s not the *type* of stores that we need to be envious of Allen Park about, it’s the fact that it happened so quickly and smoothly…and that it actually happened. And that they actually were able to land a giant movie studio. And that their property values are now actually higher than Dearborn’s.
NOTHING happens in Dearborn lately…quickly, smoothly, or otherwise. And the only thing that I can see as a cause for this is city hall. Sure, Newman’s a deadbeat, but he’s not the only owner/businessman in town. Does this city have a prohibitive number of rules, hoops and regulations, or what? It can’t just be the economy, as neighboring cities’ business districts are thriving; something else is afoot in Dearborn.
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Steve, you’re right in what you say. But what Allen Park did at the VA and with the studio is an apples to oranges comparison. They had all that land to give away and with the studio they had the huge and empty former Visteon facility to pitch. We can’t compete on those grounds and I don’t blame our city leaders for failing to capture another big box development or the studio. And sure it went smoothly because everything was basically already in place.
However, I do agree that the city does hold a lot of responsibility for the problems in development here. Maybe what the city needs is a definitive master plan for the downtown west Dearborn area. Something that would streamline the process of developing land and buildings there just as the Allen Park process appeared to move so smoothly. And when the city is involved, as with Jacobson’s, maybe the bid should go to the best development and not the lowest bidder who will rush through things.
The city needs to take into account the physical makeup and infrastructure that currently exists and that is a big failing of the current administration. Apparently the mayor is trying to recreate the type of planning and development that occurred in 1985 Canton when we have neither the land nor physical makeup for that. We’re more like Birmingham, Royal Oak, Ferndale, Plymouth and Ann Arbor, pretty much built up to edges. We could learn a lot from the Birmingham master plan, for example, and the way they seem to get a lot of infill development and fairly smoothly because of it.
And I just mention Birmingham because I’m most familiar with their city plan not because I think we need to emulate the high end dining and shopping that exists there. A good plan works even if you don’t have the high end stuff, just as it works in Ferndale. We just need to learn from the right places, not from the Cantons and Novis because that’s not what Dearborn is… Unless, of course, the mayor wants to tear down the entire city.
August 27th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
I just read online somewhere that Dearborn is getting a Plato’s Closet – resale clothes for teens, very popular, and a great store. Wonder where it will be? How about a kids indoor play center in the old Vic Tanny’s building? So many Dearborn residents love this city and have great ideas, so how can we get the developers and city leaders and economic development department to get those ideas moving? Would love to see some citizens more involved in this process, maybe a Town Hall meeting with the mayor just for this discussion. I’m optimistic that we might see some new energy on City Council after the election.
August 29th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
DbnFan, that is wishfull thinking right there, infact dreaming, we are gonna get the same old people on the council after the election, you know how it is in Dearborn.