On June 1st, Shinola founder Tom Kartsotis partnered with Detroit-native Jack White to purchase the building that currently houses the Shinola Flagship store at 441 W. Canfield in Detroit’s Cass Corridor. The deal marks new expansion for both Shinola as well as Jack White’s record label Third Man Records. For Third Man, this is a homecoming of sorts, since the label was originally founded in Detroit in 2001. This expansion signals the opening of their first retail store and offices outside of Nashville, TN. The new retail space is set to be in operation by Black Friday (November 27th, 2015), with many special surprises in store.
For Shinola, the deal comes on the heels of the brand’s investment into yet another category, rapidly honing in on the ability to manufacture speakers, turntables and headphones of audiophile quality, while creating more manufacturing jobs in the US — a top priority for the innovative and quality-focused company.
Third Man Records has long aspired to have a presence in Detroit and the constantly evolving Cass Corridor in particular, given White’s history in the neighborhood. It is the location of the first-ever White Stripes show, the home of White’s high school, and an area of the city that White says, “has always been the most inspiring area of Detroit for me as an artist and as a Detroiter. From the great visual artists like Gordon Newton to the music of the Gories, and the birth of the Detroit garage rock scene, the Corridor has nurtured Detroit's soul and inventiveness for decades. That spirit pushes forward with Shinola's passion and will come full circle for the artists of the Corridor that work with Third Man Records to plant a new foundation there to help keep that creative spirit alive for decades to come."
The expansion for Third Man Records is both a return-to-its-roots as well as a reach forward into the future, and the possibilities with the additional space and the Shinola partnership are endless and exciting.
About the plans, Tom Kartsotis said, "Everyone at Shinola is so excited about Third Man Records moving into the Cass Corridor. Unbelievable… There goes the neighborhood!"
This development means a move for current retail tenant Willy’s Detroit, a sister store to Shinola, but current plans are for the storefront to remain within the building.
ABOUT SHINOLA:
In 2011, Shinola, a Bedrock Manufacturing Company, LLC brand was conceived with the belief that products should be built to last, and they should be built in America. As makers of modern, handcrafted watches, bicycles, leather goods, journals, and pet accessories, we are proud to be based in Detroit, a community-minded city with a strong manufacturing legacy. We built our watch and leather factories within the College for Creative Studies in the former Argonaut building. As a new company with a storied name, we stand for skill at scale, the preservation of craft, the beauty of industry. We are constantly working to, wherever possible, source as many domestically made components for our products. We are an American company doing everything we can to bring jobs and manufacturing back to America.
This is huge!!! It’s amazing to see how the project of your life is getting bigger and bigger, now creating more jobs for your hometown. Congrats and thank you for sharing this glance to a better future.
Wait, never mind, my giddy brain didnt’ register part of the announcement. Still want to know who they’re working with, though. Jeez, would you guys stop doing this to me? So hard to get any work done with all the excitement you stir up.
This is huge. I am so stoked. And the drive from NY will be so much easier than driving to Nashville!!! I can’t tell you how excited I am. I want to move to Detroit now!
Oh man, just saw something about what might be one of those special surprises. Definitely looking forward to this, can’t wait to find out who they’re working with.
Giggle….
Congrats, this is great news!
I’m still grinning like a loon over this. It’s just. so. damned. perfect! Will there be a TMR-themed Bixby bike and Runwell watch?? Y’all need to get on that fast, so I can order them while I still have a connection to Shinola.
I cant believe it, I’m gonna be so broke.
This is amazing news!!! The fact that this will create more jobs for the city of Detroit is so great considering the hard times that city has fallen on in terms of the economy. I love Jack’s commitment to help his home town out. Jack has such a generous and beautiful heart. I hope Jack will consider doing a deal with Shinola and expanding with the Shinola store that opened in NYC. I saw Ben Blackwell’s band play for the opening of that store. They were really great and we would love TMR to open up shop in NYC.
This is awesome news!! Good for you guys! I’m excited for the future!