DETROIT – Serial entrepreneurs Nicholas and Nicole Piach, owners of Banner Sign Co. and Digital Print Specialties, today announced the official opening of The Color Bloc, the only independently owned and authorized Benjamin Moore retailer, the first in the city of Detroit this century.
The new shop is located at 6538 Russell St. in the Milwaukee Junction neighborhood, a creative corridor near Midtown and New Center, and specializes in premium interior and exterior paints and stains, and features all of the necessary supplies and tools to perform painting duties. It also offers a selection of handy household tools and accessories to provide a more convenient and complete range of services and solutions for customers.
“The opening of this new Benjamin Moore store in our city is an example of how Motor City Match is bringing not only unique local brands to our neighborhoods but can leverage trusted national brands to partner with local entrepreneurs, as well,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “With so many housing and commercial developments underway in Detroit right now, a recognized paint brand is a timely and welcome addition to our neighborhood business offerings.”
A ribbon cutting was held at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 6, to commemorate the occasion. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and representatives from Detroit City Council President Pro Tempore Mary Sheffield’s office, Motor City Match and Benjamin Moore joined the Piachs, along with a host of dignitaries and other supporters.
“Nick and I were inspired to open The Color Bloc after a Midtown, Inc. study alerted us to the need. Paint and related accessory stores were a type of business that city residents were looking to have in this area, but they were just coming up short,” said Nicole Piach. “The Color Bloc is building upon the exciting revitalization of our business centers and neighborhoods and we look forward to helping put our stamp on many new developments.”
Kelly Bye, director of sales for Benjamin Moore, added, “As a brand, we want to foster a sense of community. We are dedicated to providing our customers with high-quality products and supporting those who work to transform the communities in which they live. We believe that paint has the power to transform a job into a calling for contractors, a business into a passion for retailers, a vision into a reality for designers and architects and a house into a home for homeowners.”
Housed in a 10,000-square-foot building, constructed in the 1930s, The Color Bloc shares space with the Piachs’ other companies – Banner Sign Co., a large format digital and textile printing business, and Digital Print Specialties, a print service provider known for its innovation, which primarily serves the architectural and design community. RL Concetti LLC a residential and commercial design firm specializing in interior design and space planning designed The Color Bloc’s lobby area and community space.
“The opening of The Color Bloc is a true complement – a natural extension even – to our existing Detroit businesses,” said Piach. “The thread that unites all of our businesses is that we consistently provide show stopping design and leverage colorful materials to gain attention for our customers.”
As second-generation owners of the Banner Sign Co., this family-owned and operated business has served a diverse client base with the most complete line of graphic solutions for nearly 100 years. Clients for Banner Sign Co. include major organizations such as Olympia Entertainment, DTE Energy and the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“We are so grateful for the assistance of Mayor Duggan and the City of Detroit, the Motor City Match and the Motor City Re-Store programs that enabled us to expand our business into a larger space, renovate this beautiful building and bring us closer to our clients in the city of Detroit – allowing us to realize our dream,” remarked Piach.
The Piach’s were Motor City Match (Round 10) and Motor City Re-Store (Round 8) winners. The sister programs connect new and expanding businesses with Detroit’s quality real estate opportunities, providing them with funding and tools to fuel the city’s entrepreneurial revolution and have provided matching grants to existing business owners and their landlords for façade and other exterior improvements.
Drew Lucco, MCM program manager for DEGC, added, “With the help of Motor City Match, entrepreneurs like Nick and Nicole are able to open a business that can catalyze development and creativity throughout the entire Milwaukee Junction neighborhood. What started with the opening of Banner Sign Co. and Digital Print Specialties has now grown into yet another small business offering new employment and new services to Detroit’s commercial corridors.”
The Color Bloc is planning a wide range of creative, educational classes for the community across all ages and skill sets, such as how to use chalk paint or refinish a wood chair. Additionally, the independent retailer will offer complimentary activities in the building’s larger production spaces where customers can learn various graphic applications.
To accommodate contractors, The Color Bloc hosts early morning hours and is open on Saturdays and Sundays.
About The Color Bloc
The Color Bloc is an authorized Benjamin Moore retailer specializing in interior and exterior paints, stains and all of the necessary supplies and tools to perform painting duties. The Color Bloc will also offer a selection of handy household tools and accessories to provide a more convenient and complete range of services and solutions for customers. For information, call 313-484-8367or visit thecolorbloc.com.
About Motor City Match
Motor City Match is a unique partnership between the City of Detroit, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit (EDC) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Competitive financial assistance is supported by a broad partnership of Southeast Michigan community development financial institutions and corporations. Detroit Economic Growth Corporation is a non-profit organization that serves as the lead implementing agency for business retention, attraction and economic development initiatives in Detroit.
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