1226 Library Street will house the shop's third Michigan location in the retail space of 'The Z'- known for its spectacular street art and murals
DETROIT, Feb. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The award winning, internationally recognized, Ann Arbor-based comic book and board game shop, Vault of Midnight, today announced it will expand its business and open a brand new location at 1226 Library Street, between Gratiot and Grand River Avenues in downtown Detroit. The company plans to hire five new full-time employees.
The 2,000 square foot shop, expected to open this spring, will offer a broad selection of comic books and graphic novels as well as toys, games, action figures and branded merchandise in The Z retail space, which has become a destination for shopping, dining and one-of-a-kind art.
The Z is the first ground-up development of Bedrock Real Estate Services bounded by Gratiot and Grand River Avenues and Broadway and Library Streets. The structure features 1,300 parking spaces amid 10 levels of colorful floor-to-ceiling murals by local, national and international artists. The art-filled alley known as The Belt, with its own unique public art display, runs between the buildings of The Z.
"As soon as we saw The Z and The Belt, with their bold artwork and graphics, we knew we'd found the perfect home for our Detroit location," said Curtis Sullivan, co-owner of Vault of Midnight with partners Nick Yribar and Steve Fodale. "Vaults of Midnight exist in real, brick and mortar buildings in real, vibrant communities and there is no place more exciting right now than downtown Detroit. We are thrilled to bring something new and completely different to the mix and become part of the city's historic resurgence."
The downtown Detroit shop is Vault of Midnight's third Michigan location joining stores in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids. Founded in 1996, the family-owned business has been going strong for more than twenty years and is the proud recipient of a 2010 Eisner Award, the industry gold standard for comic book-related excellence.
"Comic books and the entertainment they inspire have created a billion dollar industry and the interest just keeps growing," said Fodale, Vault of Midnight co-owner. "People who visit us downtown – from aficionados to casual readers – will love our selection. We can't wait to open our doors!"
Vault of Midnight's new location will have a distinct look, feel and design with a glass window façade and custom shelving and fixtures by Michigan firms Cantelon Finishers and By The River Carpentry. The shop will have access to Rocket Fiber, Detroit's high speed internet provider.
During construction, a large banner featuring artwork by Detroit native Seth St. Pierre will be visible depicting a ghostly spaceman carrying a flag with the shop's skull logo. The public is invited to participate in a social media contest by simply taking a photo next to the spaceman and posting it on Facebook or Twitter using @vaultofmidnight. The store will select a different winner each week to receive Vault of Midnight merchandise and prizes leading up to the opening.
"The Vault of Midnight team built their business around the excitement and vibrancy of visual imagery and that's exactly what we did with The Z and The Belt," said Dan Mullen, Executive Vice President of Bedrock Real Estate Services. "The shop fits perfectly with our vision for Library Street, its innovative retailers and the area's amazing works of art."
Vault of Midnight shares the block surrounding The Z with a variety of other signature tenants including fine art gallery Library Street Collective, restaurants 7 Greens, Standby and Punch Bowl Social, sneaker retailer Nojo Kicks, and Citizen Yoga. The comic shop is a short walk to numerous other restaurants and retailers including: Wright and Company, Central Kitchen + Bar, Townhouse, House of Pure Vin, John Varvatos, Moosejaw and more.
In addition, international retailers Nike and Kit + Ace are expected to open within walking distance to The Z along Woodward Avenue and the future route of the M-1 RAIL during 2016 along with Avalon International Breads.
About Vault of Midnight
Founded in 1996, Vault of Midnight is a Michigan-based comic book store with three locations: Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and downtown Detroit (opening spring 2016) featuring comic books, graphic novels, toys, games, action figures, branded merchandise and more. The store provides customers with a unique and remarkable shopping experience that confounds the expectations typically associated with a comic shop. The family-owned business is the proud recipient of a 2010 Eisner Award, the industry gold standard for comic book-related excellence.
For more information, please visit, www.vaultofmidnight.com or follow on Twitter @vaultofmidnight.
About Bedrock Real Estate Services
Detroit-based Bedrock Real Estate Services is a full-service real estate firm specializing in acquiring, leasing, financing, developing and managing commercial and residential space. Since its founding in 2011, Bedrock has located more than 150 office and retail tenants in Detroit's technology-centric downtown. In addition, Bedrock and its affiliates have invested more than $2.2 billion in acquiring, renovating and developing 85+ properties in downtown Detroit totaling nearly 14 million square feet.
For more information, please visit www.bedrockmgt.com or engage with us on Twitter @BedrockRES and Facebook.
Editor's Note: The Detroit engagement timeline and tenant list are available here.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160229/338456
SOURCE Bedrock Real Estate Services; Vault of Midnight
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