The Peacock Room Detroit: Inside the Fisher Building's Hidden Vintage Gem

The Peacock Room is a boutique located in the Fisher Building, a historic skyscraper at 3011 W Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48202. Designed by Albert Kahn and completed in 1928, the Fisher Building is an Art Deco landmark known for its marble-lined interiors, vaulted ceilings, and detailed frescoes. Often referred to as “Detroit’s largest art object,” the building was commissioned by the Fisher brothers, who made their fortune in the automobile industry. It originally housed office spaces, retail stores, and the Fisher Theatre, which remains a significant venue for performing arts in the city.

The space currently occupied by the Peacock Room was originally home to Newhauser Milgrom, a high-end women’s dress shop that later became known as Julie’s. It was a destination for Detroit’s upper class, offering custom-made dresses for major social events such as weddings and the North American International Auto Show. Customers would first enter the showroom on the main floor, where they selected designs and fabrics. They would then proceed to the second floor, where a sales associate took their measurements and finalized the details of the dress. Garments were constructed on the third floor, where seamstresses worked on custom orders. An elevator, transported dresses between floors. The fourth floor is believed to have housed the shop’s administrative offices.

The boutique was a prominent part of Detroit’s retail landscape, particularly during the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. According to current owner Rachel Lutz, many women who shopped there decades ago have returned to the location and recalled purchasing their wedding dresses at the store.

In 2017, Lutz opened the The Peacock Room, which specializes in vintage-inspired clothing and accessories, in the space after careful restoration. The attached historical photos show one of the upper stories as it appeared in the 1920s or 30s, as well as how it looked before Lutz's restoration.