D: Pop, Detroit

ou won’t find this brightly-colored hidden treasure chest of local flavor until you visit D:hive, a Detroit information station on Woodward Avenue.

Its shelves are packed with Detroit-pride gear, such as “Say Nice Things About Detroit” T-shirts and photograph prints of the “Enjoy Detroit” mural at D. S. Hand Carwash and Café, posters of the city’s scenes and icons, screen-printed ties, monogrammed mugs, postcards, jewelry-even handmade soap.

“D:hive is basically a welcome center for visitors,” says creator Margarita Barry of I Am Young Detroit. “We have people coming in from Germany who want souvenirs, so we're that space, too.”

Following the success her first pop-up retail project, 71 POP, Barry created Detroit Pop, LLC, to provide another outlet for up-and-coming designers, artists and entrepreneurs.

“That's really who we want to service,” Barry says. “So that we can help find them the right connections and mentors and give them whatever kind of solutions they need.”

Along with physical and online retail space, the organization provides start-ups with consulting, marketing and an event to launch their brand. Potential vendors can apply online.