Live in the D – Have you always wanted to start a podcast? Or perhaps you like posting your recipes online? Maybe a beauty channel is more your thing? If you’re in need of a space to create, then check out Executive Studio in Royal Oak.
“I like to use it to showcase new inventory and accessories,” says Kenya Powell, the owner of the online boutique, Ko Kreations.
Mike Ross, the owner of Premium Taste Catering says, “A lot of times I take my pictures here for my Instagram or my Facebook.”
“For me, what makes this space special is I can tell my story,” says Camesha Reynolds, founder of the beauty brand Natural Nation. “I can display the voice of my brand utilizing these content pods.”
The place is the brainchild of Bird Deloach-Lucas. She is an author and content creator who came up with the idea when she needed a place to do a photo shoot.
“So one day I was just sitting around and I was like, you know what, what if I created a content creation studio?”, says Deloach-Lucas
So, she and her husband Maurice Lucas started looking for a space when they came across a spot off of Woodward Avenue. It used to be a gym, so it was a wide open space allowing them to really make it their own. Lucas has a background in architecture, so he brought his crew in and went to work building out several rooms which Deloach-Lucas designed.
They have 9 different pods, each with its own unique feel, plus a photography room and a podcast studio.
“We wanted to make sure that each space was unique to a particular brand and/or business type,” says Lucas.
Pods range from a faux kitchen to a workout room, and everything in between. There is a salon perfect for makeup and hair tutorials, and an empty store for those online boutiques. Authors love the two living rooms or office-style rooms, and musicians have their own space as well. They also have a computer with editing software on there for you to use as well.
“I have fun in all of them, but the lab is my favorite,” says Reynolds.
One of their newest pods has a very special meaning. Dressed all in purple, Sharon’s Corner was made in honor of Deloach-Lucas’ mom who passed away from pancreatic cancer.
“When my mom passed away, I just kind of stopped doing everything,” says Deloach-Lucas. “It took me a minute to finally learn from her death, and I said, you know what if anything she wanted me to do it would be to live. So, when the idea came I said... I’m just going to jump off the cliff and do it!,” says Deloach-Lucas.
In the process, they’ve created a community of creatives.
For a closer look at them all, watch the video above. Most pods cost $65 for 90 minutes and can be booked online. They also have a big event space where they hold clinics, classes, and other business events.
Executive Studio is located at 30371 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48073.