Photo Credit: Nicholas Green
Detroit’s East English Village is pulsing with more creativity and community pride as Vesey Lane Goods opens its doors for the very first time. More than just a stationery shop, the beautifully curated space tucked inside the historic David Sidney Building became a living tribute to founder Robin Wilson’s family roots and artistic vision.
Detroit’s creative pulse just got louder with the opening of Asé: Unity, Peace, & Power, a new exhibit curated by Wilson. More than an art show, the celebration doubled as a birthday tribute to Wilson, marking her 41st year immersed in creativity, community, and the powerful spirit of Asé.
Robin Wilson assisting a customer during the grand opening
“Today not only marks a new year of life for me, it marks a new beginning with the grand opening of Vessy Lane Goods, and I couldn’t think of any better way to celebrate it than with you,” Wilson said.
After surviving a life-altering ischemic stroke four years ago, the grand opening had an even more special meaning as Wilson transformed her path from recovery to reinvention, blending creativity, resilience, and purpose into what is now Vesey Lane Goods. What started as a side hustle selling handmade greeting cards grew into a full-fledged storefront by September 2024. Now, with the launch of the Asé exhibit, Wilson’s vision expands once more, spotlighting the artistry and cultural contributions of Black women and carving out a vibrant, unapologetic space for creativity and community.
Featuring works from 11 dynamic local artists, including Inez Brown, who is 76, Larry Green, and Faye Gibson, the collection honors cultural titans like Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Maya Angelou, and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Perfectly timed as Black History Month transitions into Women’s History Month, Asé stands as both a tribute and a declaration: the legacy of Black women isn’t just history; it’s living power in motion. Rooted in the Yoruba concept of “Asé,” meaning “so it is” or “the power to make things happen,” the exhibit is open to the public through July 19.
Ruby Johnson, a retired teacher and implant from New York who made Detroit her home, is leaning into her artistry in this part of her life at 71, as her work is in the current exhibit.
“Unforgettable Love is my love of Detroit and New York, but my love is here, and I think I have lived longer here than I’ve been in New York. I love everything about Detroit,” Johnson said.
During the grand opening, guests gathered not only to browse handcrafted paper goods but to feast, toast, and celebrate a story decades in the making that blends legacy, artistry, and the power of Black-owned businesses shaping Detroit’s future.
Neither freezing temperatures nor biting winds could chill the excitement captured as guests gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Vesey Lane Goods; the evening was filled with warmth, community spirit, and the unmistakable flavors of Detroit. Guests mingled over charcuterie, gumbo, and finger foods crafted by The Kitchen by Cooking with Que, a Black woman-owned culinary gem. Wine flowed courtesy of Grandeur Cru, a soon-to-open wine bar adding to the city’s growing food and beverage scene. More than just a store launch, the event celebrated local talent, Black entrepreneurship, and the power of community connection.
Vesey Lane Goods is more than just a store for gifts, home decor, and greeting cards. Wilson is intentional about the space designed to inspire creativity, allowing people to connect with their cultural heritage and feel empowered by their unique backgrounds.
Wall of books and clothing items for sale
Bold splashes of color and legacy make the store’s design a living tribute to Wilson’s lineage, a fusion of history and creativity stitched into every corner. Inspired by her late grandmother, a milliner and poet, Wilson crafted the space to celebrate entrepreneurial spirit and a canvas for her roots. A yellow wall, alive with portraits of her ancestors, invites visitors into a visual storybook of the generations that shaped her identity.
Vesey Lane Goods is just getting started. Though the Asé exhibit runs until the summer, Wilson envisions the space transforming into a creative hub where artists and creatives of all stripes gather to learn, collaborate, and spark inspiration, keeping the creative energy alive long after the gallery lights dim.
Vesey Lane Goods
9920 Kercheval Ave. Detroit, Michigan 48214
https://www.veseylanegoods.com/
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