Before Detroit's population bottomed-out and scores of small businesses closed or moved away, the Avenue of Fashion along Livernois was one of the city's busiest commercial corridors.
Some shop owners say its popularity slowly is returning and could get a boost if city residents fanning out for Black Friday retail deals make the mile-long strip of mostly black-owned clothing stores, hair salons and eateries a destination.
The competition is immense and includes online Black Friday deals and traditional discounts offered by big box stores and retailers at suburban malls and shopping centers.
The Detroit Economic Growth Corp. says city residents spend an estimated $2.6 billion in surrounding communities.
Last month, Detroit's City Council approved Mayor Mike Duggan's $125 million bond program request to revitalize many of Detroit's outdated commercial business corridors.
