By: Ashlyn Nealy, Lia Bruner, Bella Irons, Ameera Johnson, Reagan Mcdonugal, Addison Wade, Skylar Williams, Makayla Cockroft, Jordyn McClendon, Kenley Jackson (Jack & Jill of America – Detroit Chapter)
When we think about Black culture in the city of Detroit, Paradise Valley immediately comes to mind.
It’s a place full of murals, music, soul food, and history, a true living reflection of where we’ve been and where we’re going. Paradise Valley has some of the area’s most iconic spaces that keep Detroit’s Black legacy alive from Fixins Soul Kitchen, Spectacles shop, Paradise Valley Park, and the Stevie Wonder mural that reminds us all of the rhythm and brilliance that runs through this city.
Paradise Valley was once known as Detroit’s Black business district, a community filled with thriving Black-owned clubs, shops, and restaurants that drew people from every background.
Today, the spirit of that legacy is rising again.
Diversity fills the streets here, with people from all walks of life coming to experience the culture that was born through Black excellence and creativity. Our culture, our food, and our history continue to draw people in because we make it look good.
One of the most visited spots is Fixins Soul Kitchen, owned by Kevin Johnson, who shared how his restaurant is much more than a place to eat.
“Welcome home. That’s what I want our soul food restaurant to be, a place that when African Americans come in, they feel like they’re coming home,” Johnson said. He explained that soul food started in the South, during times when Black families turned survival into tradition.
“Soul food was survival food. We would take the leftover parts and make it our own — seasoned with Africa in every bite,” he told us. “Fixins has locations in Sacramento, Los Angeles, Tulsa, and now Detroit where we are employing around 100 people, most of whom are African American or Latino.
“It’s a safe place where people feel welcomed and loved,” Johnson added.
Spectacles, a Detroit fashion and culture staple that’s been open since 1984 is defining fashion and culture right here in Paradise Valley. Its owner, Zana Smith, told us how the shop helped shape the city’s creative scene. “What really put us on the map was when we had the Spike Lee merchandise,” she said. “We were the only store to carry Spike Lee, even before he had a store in Brooklyn.” Smith explained that the name “Spectacles” came from outfitting bands who wanted to stand out on stage and “make a spectacle of themselves.”
Fashion here is about freedom. Detroit resident and customer Shade summed it up best: “Detroit fashion means so many things,” she said. “Just being yourself, creating your own aesthetic, not following trends, just thinking outside the box.”
Walking through Paradise Valley feels like stepping into a story that never stopped being told.
It’s a story about pride, power, and people who turned their dreams into Detroit landmarks.
From the soulful smell of fried chicken and mac and cheese floating from Fixins Soul Kitchen to the culture that burst throughout the park, this neighborhood carries the heartbeat of generations.
It’s a place where you can taste history, see culture in color, and feel community in every smile. Whether you come to shop at Spectacles, eat at Fixins, or stand in front of the Stevie Wonder mural, Paradise Valley reminds you that Detroit’s Black culture is much deeper than just our history — it’s home.
And no matter where you’re from, when you’re here, you’re family. Welcome home.
