Darrell Gordon was 12 years old when started cutting hair.
The self-taught son of a Muskegon hairdresser was in middle school when he started making $50 a week on $5 haircuts. After 16 years of honing his craft, Gordon now owns a barbershop inside the Lakes Mall where clippers buzz next door to an Auntie Anne’s and across the hall from a comic book store.
“The mall can work out and be a good starting point for a new, upcoming business,” he said after opening Premium Drip in 2020.
Malls have faced a gloomy forecast in recent years, with about 25% reportedly predicted to close within five years and the national vacancy rate hovering around 10%, according to Moody Analytics. But as shopping centers look for new ways to attract customers—in part by attracting a mix of tenants—Black entrepreneurs are filling vacancies at malls across Michigan.
“When I see all the stores leaving the mall, I see that as a great opportunity,” Gordon said.
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