Downtown Detroit shopkeepers still operating inside the Millender Center say they were blindsided this week when the building’s commercial manager told them they have to clear out by the end of August. A small cluster of remaining shops and eateries that depend on downtown foot traffic now face a summer scramble to land new space or wind down altogether. Owners say the atrium, once a busy lunchtime corridor, feels far quieter than it did before the pandemic.
Tenants Say Owner Gave a Tight Deadline
According to reporting by the Detroit Free Press, multiple owners and managers say Bedrock notified commercial tenants this week that they must leave the Millender Center retail atrium by the end of August. The report notes that only five or six businesses are still operating in the space. Ashley Alexander, who runs Ashley's Flowers on a month-to-month lease, told the paper, this has become an isolated corner, especially after COVID. The Detroit Free Press added that Bedrock did not respond to requests for comment.
Bedrock’s Purchases Shifted Control of the Concourse
Bedrock brought the Millender Center's retail atrium and parking garage into its downtown portfolio after acquiring those GM-owned portions in June 2024, a transaction documented by Crain's Detroit Business. The company had already bought the complex's Courtyard by Marriott in 2019, moves that have left Bedrock as the dominant private landlord along this stretch of Jefferson Avenue, according to public records compiled on Wikipedia.
Tenants Cite Broken Escalators, Limited Elevator Access
Tenants told reporters that the Millender Center's escalators have been out of service for more than a year and that only one of the three public elevators was operating this week. They say that it has complicated access and discouraged casual foot traffic. Owners and employees told the Detroit Free Press those problems have made the retail corridor harder to reach for downtown workers and visitors, adding to already-thin weekday crowds as the area has rebounded unevenly from the pandemic.
Why This Matters for Downtown
The notice to tenants comes as Bedrock continues to reshape downtown's office and retail map. General Motors moved significant headquarters functions into Bedrock's new Hudson's Detroit complex earlier this year, a relocation that has shifted some daytime traffic patterns. That change, along with Bedrock's broader plans for the Renaissance Center and the riverfront, means nearby retail corridors could be in for more changes, according to development records and reporting on Wikipedia.
For now, small-business owners inside the Millender Center say they have a narrow window to secure new storefronts, inventory and permits before the August deadline. We will follow up as officials or Bedrock respond and as tenants decide whether to relocate or close.
