Almost There.

Even Playboy magazine is anxious for Hugh to open. No need to wait much longer - Hugh opens at 3pm on Friday, November 16.  We're finally there!

See Hugh in September!

Great news!  Hugh won the Hatch Detroit contest!  Work starts in a few weeks to bring sophisticated living to downtown Detroit!

Hugh will be located in the Auburn, a new building project underway at the corner of Cass Avenue and West Canfield, just south of Wayne State University.The building is scheduled to be completed in August of 2012, and we anticipate a Hugh opening just after Labor Day.

I'll keep you posted with updates here and on the Hugh Facebook page.  Sign up for our e-mail list (over in the right-hand column) if you are so inclined to receive advance notice and an invitation to the Grand Opening.  We'll see Hugh soon!

I Remember Hugh

Hatch Detroit is an amazing new contest where some of the best store ideas in Detroit compete for a $50,000 prize, to help open up a new retail biz.  That's enough to make even an inveterate playboy consider settling down.  Hugh has thrown its stylish hat in the ring! 

Our submission video is a walk down memory lane.  Enjoy, and spread the word!

Hugh for the Holidays!

Hugh is back and this time around, Hugh is spending the month on a swank European ski holiday. Classic bachelor style meets Scandinavian chic!

This will be the Hugh you know and love, with a few tweaks.  Lots of vintage greatness mixed with new coolness.  Some old favorites will be back, others are sitting this one out.  It will be perfect for that one-of-a-kind gift and implements for stylish entertaining - all with that classic Hugh style.

Hugh will be easy to find in the same location as before - partially because it will be easy to find, but mostly because it's right next door to Centaur Bar!  The holidays start December 2 at Hugh!

Good-bye to Hugh!

It's the last day at Hugh!

The Betty Ford

Hugh hosted a shopping event for Danialle Karmanos' Work It Out non-profit last night.  It's a great organization that teaches disadvantaged kids how to make healthy lifestyle choices through yoga.  Yes yoga!  And the kids totally dig it!

A special occasion demands a special cocktail, so I conjured up something with a healthful feel for the evening.  It's a cucumber-based drink inspired by the Afterglow cocktail at Centaur (but a little lighter), and by the Spa Martini at Eve (but less complicated ... no cucumber muddling!).  I've dubbed it The Betty Ford.

It was perfect for a warm spring evening and I suggest you enjoy this all summer long.  The recipe requires precise measurements, I highly recommend using the Aluminum Jigger Cube!

The Betty Ford
2 ounces Crop Organic Cucumber Vodka (the best flavored vodka I've ever tried)
0.75 ounces simple syrup
0.5 ounces fresh-squeezed lemon juice
a few grains of salt (this is important)

Shake until refreshingly cold and top off with 1 ounce of club soda.  Serve in a flute or a modest cocktail glass and garnish with a cucumber slice.  You will love it, I swear.

Make a pitcher using an 8-3-2 ratio and a pinch of salt.  Then fill glasses 3/4 full and top off with club soda. You can enjoy it over ice in a highball glass this way!

The Clock is Ticking

There's a sad sort of clanging from the clock in the hall, and it's saying that Hugh is down to its last month.

It seems like only yesterday the opening party of Hugh spilled out onto the Park Avenue and an exuberant mix of folks clamored for attention classic bachelor accoutrements as only Hugh could provide.

Throughout the run of this retail happening people have asked, "Will you keep it going if it does well?"  I've always had to answer no.  Detroit doesn't need to feel bad if for some reason I decided not to continue Hugh.  Plus I said it was for six months and I am an honest person - Detroit also doesn't need more lies.

So what's next?  Hugh is open through Saturday, April 3.  After that the space will be closed for a week while we re-tool it a bit to be the Mezzanine Clearance Sale!  Hugh's goods will move to the online store, but Mezzanine still has a lot of floor model and discontinued merchandise that is not offered through that website, and for three weeks we will have a big old sale on Park Avenue!  There may be a party.

At the end of April we vacate the space, and from there ... it's anyone's guess!

So why don't you pop into Hugh during March and see what we've got that you need? Just because the store is winding up doesn't mean there isn't new merchandise. And don't think for a second that Hugh's Online Store does more than tease you with the greatest hits - we don't even have our awesome vintage finds on display there!

Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing

A lot of you have complimented Hugh on the wall system used for display.  You have excellent taste.

The Cado System was designed by Danish interior architect Poul Cadovius in the 1960s and is a modular series of cabinets and shelves that are mounted using a simple dowel system. It's really pretty ingenius in its simplicity and flexibility. This particular set consists of Brazilian rosewood cabinets and teak shelves, and came from the boardroom at the Detroit Institute of Arts. 

The boardroom was in the Gunnar Birkerts-designed northern wing of the museum (circa 1970), which was easy to dislike until the Michael Graves renovation was completed and you realized how great it really was.  An entirely new boardroom design was called for (it's dismally beige, by the way), and through the miracle of connections these pieces ended up in appreciative hands.

The original wall panels for the system were teak, but were thrown away in the demolition.  It's sad, but I guess if they knew what they had the system would never have ended up in Hugh for your enjoyment!

Getting to Know Hugh

Hugh is a new store in downtown Detroit that offers a contemporary take on classic bachelor style. Hugh sells bar accessories, glassware, smoking accessories, personal effects, furniture, lighting and cool home decor. Hugh has great gifts for men, for the host/hostess and even for the ladies.

Hugh is located at 2233 Park Avenue in the Iodent Building, right behind the Fox Theater and next to Centaur Bar.

One more thing about Hugh - it's a "retail happening" that is only lasting six months - by design! So don't miss out ... see Hugh soon!