Clothing store George Gregory opens in Corktown

In 2016, Caitlin Riney moved to Detroit after attending school and working in Chicago, with a dream of opening up her own shop. After a course with Build Institute and the right space coming along at the right time, her men’s clothing shop George Gregory (named after her father and brothers’ middle names) is now open along in Corktown.

The storefront at 1422 Michigan Avenue is the former home of the Greening of Detroit, who, after 18 years in the Corktown location, moved to a donated building on Detroit’s west side. Riney says she spent some time at Build Institute learning about the different neighborhoods, and felt that Corktown was, “a neighborhood for everyone to be themselves. No matter who you are there is a place for you and always welcoming arms.” Her mom was on the board for the Greening of Detroit and when news of their office move hit, she approached the landlord about opening the store there.

“I got extremely lucky with the space,” she says. “It already had so much love and character that making it feel welcoming was easy. The floors have had so many people walk on them and you can nearly imagine the stories and conversations people had standing on them going back years and years. It was the first thing I noticed when I saw the space and it mostly the first thing people comment on when they come in.”

The store carries a range of menswear brands, sizes S-XXXL. They’re open Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m, Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m, and Sunday 12 to 5 p.m. Here’s a look around.