DETROIT – After 132 years of business, Detroit institution Dittrich Furs is closing its doors for good.
The owners announced their retirement on the store’s website, sparking an overwhelming response from customers eager for one last purchase.
On Tuesday, (Jan. 13), Local 4 photojournalist Sara Schulz went to the store and reported lines stretching down the street, with so many customers calling that Dittrich Furs had to temporarily stop answering phones.
While a final day of operation has not been announced, the store remains open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The liquidation sale runs through April 30, with prices up to 70% off as everything must go.
Lisa Wright, a longtime customer, shared her connection to the store.
“It’s iconic in its 136 years, so that is the reason that I stood in that line for almost six hours. I grew up in this area. I remember Dittrich because my mother bought a coat from Dittrich. In fact, I still have that coat.”
Wright added, “When I told my brother and them, ‘Hey, remember mom had Dittrich furs?’ I still have that fur even though she’s passed on. I’m the only daughter, so it went to me. Now it’s going to go from me to my daughter. That’s what my memories are, because she bought a fur. It was beautiful.”
She expressed mixed emotions about the closing.
“I’m going to miss them. Just the idea of advertisement, and I’m getting of age, and I’m seeing a lot of things going away that I’m used to. Congrats. They’re probably tired. They probably need a break, too,” Wright concluded.
Customers and community members recognize Dittrich Furs as a stronghold in Detroit.
“They are such a stronghold in Detroit for so many years. I think they’ll have some wonderful memories, as Detroit loved them. It’s being shown by people coming out,” said customer LaVerne Sommerville.
Eugene McCulloch, browsing the sale, said, “I think I might buy this jacket. I kind of like it. I like the color. It looks pretty good.”
As Dittrich Furs prepares to close, the store’s legacy lives on through the memories of its customers and the final rush of shoppers eager to own a piece of Detroit history.