Duggan holds fundraiser in NY at Shinola store
Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified the sponsor of the fundraiser.
Detroit — Mayor Mike Duggan is throwing a $1,000-a-ticket campaign fundraiser Wednesday in New York City at the Manhattan store of Detroit-based luxury brand Shinola. Duggan and his campaign hope to draw a mix of celebrities, former Detroiters and those rooting for the city’s revival.
Dennis Archer Jr., a Detroit entrepreneur and son of former Mayor Dennis Archer, is one of the hosts of the event to be held at Shinola’s flagship store in the Tribeca neighborhood , which is a stylish space, like the Midtown Detroit store, filled with the brand’s high-end watches, bicycle, leather items and turntables.
“We have got all kind of folks” attending, said Carrie Jones, a spokeswoman for Duggan’s re-election campaign. “People either are from the city or excited about what’s going on in their hometown.” Jones said the campaign was renting the Shinola store for the event.
Jones declined to say how many will attend, but said RSVPs were still coming in Monday afternoon.
One confirmed guest is Hill Harper, an actor best known for his role as coroner Sheldon Hawke, on the television show “CSI: New York.” Harper owns the Roasting Plant coffee shop in Campus Martius. Another scheduled guest is Derrick “D-Nice” Jones, a hip-hop musician and producer who helped launch the career of Kid Rock.
Duggan is expected to be on hand. He had already planned to be in New York for other meetings, Jones said, declining to describe those other meetings. Duggan is not using taxpayer money for the events, she added.
A Shinola spokeswoman declined comment Monday.
Shinola is well known for touting Detroit and continues to invest heavily in the city. Founded in 2011, it has stores in such cities as Los Angeles, London and Washington, D.C. The company’s manufacturing arm is based at the College for Creative Studies in Midtown Detroit.
In January, Shinola and Dan Gilbert’s Bedrock development company broke ground on a planned 130-room Shinola Hotel in downtown Detroit. The hotel will be anchored at the northeast corner of Woodward and Grand River, across the street from what is now the empty Hudson’s block site.
It’s not uncommon for mayoral candidates to have fundraisers out of state. In recent years, mayoral candidates for Atlanta and Baltimore have held fundraisers in Detroit to tap into the city’s black professional class.
“It makes sense to go to a city with a lot of successful former Detroiters,” said Sandy Baruah, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber. “That’s not unusual.”
So far, about 25 candidates have picked up petitions for the Aug. 8 primary for the Detroit mayoral race, according to the city Elections Department. The most high profile challenger so far is state Sen. Coleman Young II of Detroit, the son of the city’s first African-American mayor, the late Mayor Coleman A. Young.
laguilar@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @LouisAguilar_DN