Leon & Lulu

By Michael P. McConnell
Daily Tribune Staff Writer

“The success of this program has been phenomenal,” Patterson told Clawson officials. “You are going to see this marvelous metamorphosis … Once you are in the Main Street program it’s like the mafia – you’ll never get out.”

Patterson was joined by Mary Liz Curtin, chairwoman of the city’s Downtown Development Authority and owner of Leon & Lulu, and Joan Horton, executive director of the DDA. The Clawson High School Marching Band also showed up and provided a thumping, brassy introduction as dozens of officials and business owners sampled food from local restaurants.

The downtown in the past year has completed about $2.3 million in improvements such as new street lights, brick pavers, planters and trees. The work was funded by a Michigan Department of Transportation grant and about $200,000 in DDA funds. Ten new businesses have also opened in the downtown in the past two years, Horton said.

“Everybody is starting to work together for a better future,” she said. “Now we have the backing and leadership of the Main Street Oakland County program to give us proven guidelines (for development) that focus on historic preservation.”

The Main Street program provides consultants and information to help DDA officials with design, promotions, organization and development support. The program also aids local officials in their efforts to retain and attract businesses to the district.

“We’ve had some buildings vacant for years but there has been a renewed interest in downtown Clawson,” Horton said. “Our streetscape project prompted over $250,000 in improvements to buildings in the downtown.”

Curtin, who co-owns Leon & Lulu with her husband, also announced Wednesday that they are expanding beyond their 15,000 square-foot building, which was formerly the Ambassador Roller Rink at 96 W. 14 Mile Road.

“We have just purchased the old Clawson Theater,” Curtin said.

The theater is next door to Leon & Lulu’s home furnishing, art, gift and clothing store. Since it closed in 1962, the theater has been used as a warehouse, café and light industrial site but is now vacant.

Curtin plans to restore the theater marquee to the building and include a bakery in the expanded retail space.