Downtown Double Take: 2 Royal Oak Businesses Expand

American Apparel and Royal Oak Nails are in the process of expanding their footprint in downtown Royal Oak.

American Apparel is taking over the space at 401 S. Washington, which was last occupied by Freedom Laser Therapy and before that Klebba's Stationers.

One of three American Apparel stores in Michigan, the Royal Oak location for the popular clothing company is a destination for the area's young and hip.

Manager Daniel Davies says the expansion will allow the Royal Oak location to compete with stores in New York and Los Angeles for the latest and greatest from the LA-based company.

"We want to get the new stuff first," Davies said. "Royal Oak is definitely a shopping destination."

The new space, which he hopes will be open by Friday, will house women's apparel, while the current space will be used for unisex items.

Around the corner, Royal Oak Nails, which has been around for more than a decade, is also expanding. The salon will take over the space last occupied by the Ladybug Shoppe at 210 W. Sixth Street, according to Bill Sullivan, who owns the building.

The shop, which is conveniently located for a day of pampering, will offer additional services in the new space, Sullivan said.

Covet thy neighbor's property

Grabbing the space next door seems to be a downtown trend.

Last summer, Cafe Muse gobbled up the space at 416 S. Washington that was last occupied by If the Shoe Fits, increasing its overall size by 1,500 square-feet.

What Crepe? expanded into the 400 square-feet space at 313 S. Washington in 2011, which was home to It's Your Window. (The window treatment company moved down one door.) 

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