Wyandotte Business Owner Closing After 26 Years

The costume business isn't what it used to be, according to Doris Michael, owner of Why Not Costumes in Downtown Wyandotte.

Michael, 74, is closing her doors after 26 years and putting her building and home up for sale.

Michael said she's retiring thanks to a decreasing demand for traditional costumes.

"Young kids hardly wear anything and we are a family operation," Michael said.

Michael's son and four daughters helped her begin and grow her business since she opened the doors in 1986.

Passersby will no longer have the pleasure of enjoying the visual intrigue of Why Not's several display windows that once lined Oak Street.

"My daughter did the decorations in the displays," Michael said. "She spent days, even weeks, doing the Christmas displays. She would start at the end of November."

Before Michael purchased the building it was once a bank. She keeps some of the more expensive costumes in a room that was once a bank vault.

Michael plans to sell the building, which includes a store front, car port, living quarters and an elevated deck for $499,000. She said she's already had several calls from people inquiring about purchasing her building.

The building, as it stands now, was built in 1924 and rests just steps from Bishop Park on the corner of Biddle Avenue and Oak Street. Michael said the first building to occupy the property was also a bank—built in 1896—when Biddle Avenue was a dirt road.

Michael would like to see a Chicago-style restaurant move into her former place of business, taking advantage of the building's rich history as a bank. Perhaps, they could call it The Vault, she said.

Each time Michael drives past Why Not Costumes she gets a little teary-eyed. She said she will miss her business, her building and her home.

"I couldn't have made it this long without the help of my family and my loyal employees," Michael said.

There are dozens of costumes remaining and the final time to take advantage of deeply discounted items is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 20.

Appointments must be made to stop in and peruse the inventory. For more information, call 734-283-3305.

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