Ivana, Imelda, and me (Sights & Attractions in Detroit)

Member Name: gollygumdrops

Product:	Sights & Attractions in Detroit
Date:	21/06/01 (50 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great stores

Disadvantages: Your credit card will take a pasting

The Somerset Collection used to be just the plain ol' Somerset Mall, but frankly it is way too sophisticated to be compared with any regular shopping experience.

Any complex in which Nordstrom and Hudsons are considered to be second class anchors is really serious about parting you from your money! Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus really know how to make you spend.

The mall is in Troy, Michigan, on Big Beaver (no sniggering at the back) and Coolidge, just off I75 J69, (that's the nicer, residential end of Detroit to you) and consists of two centres on either side of the road. You can park at either end as they are connected by a bridge. Parking is not always easy as the best spots are reserved for the heavily used valet service. If you do choose to go valet don't worry about where you finish up, they will bring your car to any side and any floor you like.

The South side is by far the fancier. Here Saks is complemented by Tiffanys, Cartier, Joan and David, Hugo Boss and Jaeger amongst others. I tend only to venture into this side of the mall for the Detroit Institute of Arts store.

Over on the North there is more realistic shopping. Here you will find favorites like Levis, Gap, Eddie Bauer, and my favorite toy store, the PBS shop. You can also pick up gifts at the Disney or Warner Brothers shops.

The complex clearly takes a lot of money, but it rarely gets packed out. It does tempt families with wonderful holiday shows throughout the year in the center of the North mall, so it can be worth popping in for a show and then running down the road to eat!

Chain stores charge the same price as they do in other malls so don't feel that you pay extra for shopping there, but do be prepared to be tempted by the big ticket stores. Guys can entertain themselves at the record store and Field of Dreams, a sporting memorabilia shop, which sadly carrys no stock from real sports like football, rugby or F1.


Sephora, MAC, Aveda, Bath & Body and Victorias Secret beauty are among the dozen or so cosmetic stores, so prepare to spend.

Eating ranges from serious restaurants with serious prices, like the Capital Grille, down to Millies Cookies, and you can take home Godiva chocolates and Hagen Dazs ice cream.

Not a shopper, never mind, the Somerset Collection is so big that during the long Detroit winter you find folk using the stores as a fitness trail! A speedy walk around each mall, including the bridge (no cheating on the moving walkway), covers a good couple of miles, but do be sure to leave your wallet at home. My excuse is always that the extra weight of shopping helps to give me a more complete upper body workout! This would probably be more convincing if I didn't stop by the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for a breather.

Chances are that if your company sends you to Troy on business there's a fair chance you'll be staying at the Troy Marriott, which is just a short walk from Somerset Collection. If your partners company sends them to the Marriott, you now know that you can expect a great gift!

The Somerset Collection is by no means a cheap place to shop, but it is fun, and can be an amusing winter afternoon out provided you leave your credit cards at home.


Hours:
Monday - Friday 10-9pm
Saturday (North) 10-9pm
Saturday (South) 10-7pm
Sunday 12-6pm

2800 W. Big Beaver, Troy, Michigan
Tel: (001) 248 643 6360

http://www.thesomersetcollection.com

Summary: