New Homes for the Tenants of the Detroit Theatre Building

Clarification: Erie Design's last day in business in the Detroit Theatre building is Jan. 27.

With demolition plans in the works for the  — to make way for the  — the other longtime tenants of the building are looking for new homes.

After scouting a new location for the past few months, found one.

Across the street.

After 13 years in their current space, the owners of the banner and sign business are moving to 16504 Detroit Avenue.

Their last day in the Detroit Theatre building is Jan. 27

The building — at 16409 Detroit Avenue — has been on the market for years with a price tag of $695,000, but gained little interest. With declining attendance in an industry that has struggled to remain financially viable, the last year after 87 years.

McDonald’s recently bought the property, according to sources, and demolition is expected to begin this spring.

The owners of Erie Design, Shawn and Julie Warren, are hoping to make an “event” out of the move. They’re asking friends, family and members of the community to help them move across the street on Jan. 28. 

“It’s definitely sad,” said co-owner Julie Warren. “We’ve raised our kids here. We had a backroom here. We went from pack-and-play and high-chairs to futons and video games.”

The Warrens are taking a positive approach to the move.

“I feel like it’s going to be a good move for us,” said Julie Warren. “There’s definitely going to be an upside. This building just hasn’t been cared for or tended to over the past few years.”

Shawn Warren attended the city’s architectural board of review meeting last week to discuss new signage — as well as plans to improve the entire block in the company’s new home.

“I am glad we could stay in Lakewood,” said Shawn Warren.

Hot Spot still looking for a permanent home

While Erie Design has found a new home, the convenient store on the east side of the Detroit Theatre building is still looking. 

Rawshan “Sid” Naser, who moved to the Northeast Ohio more than 21 years ago from Palestine, opened up the Hot Spot more than three years ago at the corner of Woodward and Detroit avenues.

“To do this all over again, it’s going to be hard to deal with,” he said. “I started from zero and now I am doing good business, and now I am going to lose it.”

“It’s not easy.”

Nassar said he would like to stay in Lakewood, but hasn’t found the best spot for Hot Spot.

“I am going to try my best to find a good location,” he said. “I want to be in Lakewood — I’d like to be on Detroit Avenue. This is a good community.”

Resident upstairs forced out

Last year, of an 88-year-old resident who will be forced to move from her home for the past 33 years in the upstairs apartment.

The has played a starring role in Phyllis Cain’s life for the past seven decades.

From her teen years spent going to the show every night to her first job working behind the candy counter in 1959 to when she finally retired in 2000 as manager, Cain, now 89, has been an institution at The Detroit Theatre since its heyday.

“It makes me sad. It’s a weird feeling,” Cain said.