In one Detroit neighborhood, a local Dollar Store has become the anchor for revitalization of a community.

DETROIT — The dollar store has always played an integral part in the economic footprint of city neighborhoods. But the Soultown Super Dollar Stretcher has quickly become the anchor for a grassroots community development that has grown to include a barber shop, nail salon, beauty supply store, custom t-shirt shop and soul food restaurant.

Dave “Bing” Shumate has owned the building row on Tireman between Ironwood and Beachwood since 1997. He grew up nearby on Nebraska St. and when it came time to open up shop, in June of 2000, he knew that staying close to home was the right decision.

“I chose to take my money and invest it in the neighborhood,” Bing says.

You only need to spend five minutes in the store to appreciate what it means to area residents, most of whom would have to drive to the next available convenience store. Seeing kids wait in line to buy candy behind mothers and daughters buying household items behind Marty Williams, who has lived in the neighborhood 50 years, makes you wonder how street level shops ever left this district.

That respect is returned by the support Bing and his sons, Dave “S-Boy” and DeWitt, receive from neighborhood shoppers—everyone has something positive to say about the establishment when they walk through the door.

The City has yet to designate ‘Soultown’ as an official district, but at the rate it’s growing, the idea will be impossible to ignore.

“They’ll send marching bands to celebrate the opening of a Home Depot, but not when we open up in the neighborhood,” Bing says. “We give respect to the community.”

The success of the dollar store led to the concept of a tightly knit community of service-based outlets, so local consumers could take advantage of what Bing refers to as a “one-stop-shop.”

“The dollar store was the foundation and helped everything around me,” Bing recalls. He was able to rely on the creativity and resourcefulness of those closest to him when it came time to execute a grand plan.
Soultown unites Detroit neighborhood, The Michigan Citizen

Go Bing! That’s the thing about change. You can start right in your own backyard.