Mezzanine Interview with Joe Posch
Here’s some great news for Detroit as well as for those of us who appreciate modern design. Joe Posch is putting the finishing touches on Mezzanine, which he has relocated from Ann Arbor. The new store is on the second floor of The Merchant’s Building on the corner of Broadway and Grand River. Joe was kind enough to take a few minutes from the hectic pace that always accompanies an impending grand opening, to talk to me about his store and his opinions on design in general. Here’s the interview.
DH: Why did you decide to move Mezzanine to Detroit?
JP: More and more of my clients were coming from Detroit where there’s more interest in modern design. I also wanted to be in an urban environment and most Detroiters are familiar with the building.
DH: What lines do you carry? Will you have accessories for sale?
JP: We carry the best in modern furniture. Knoll, Moooi, Artifort, to name a few. We also sell lighting and accessories like Jonathan Adler. We were was one of the first stores anywhere to carry Adler.
DH: I love accessories. What else besides Adler?
JP: We have Allesi, Rosenthal and some other smaller producers. I think it’s important to have a good mix of the big names and smaller outfits who offer great design, but are up and comers.
DH: That’s a full plate.
JP: Yes. Our plan is to open with the furniture, lighting and accessories and in a couple of months add a separate area for books, magazine and lifestyle products focused on design. We’ll have a tabletop and barware section as well as a bridal registry. We also sell things online. We’re available to all your readers.
DH: What are your thoughts on the currently saturated (in my opinion) mid-century modern trend? What will be next?
JP: I think there will always be purists who like the minimal aesthetic. The key is that certain pieces are timeless; they’ll never go out of style. But I think we’re beginning to see movement into a more eclectic look; an iconic Knoll sofa, with pieces from other eras to shake things up a little. This is reflected in what we sell. We’ve got a mix of both the iconic and modern pieces from today’s top designers.
DH: IKEA recently moved into the area. Do you think their presence will increase Mid-Westerners’ appreciation for modern design?
JP: I think not just mid-westerners, but Americans in General understand the Scandinavian aesthetic that IKEA offers. Natural materials and lots of craft in their work. You see the same thing in Shaker designs. We have a lot of Scandinavian designers at Mezzanine. It’s more accessible to Americans.
DH: Any other thoughts you’d like to share?
JP: I really would like people in the area to spend more time shopping at the independent retailers instead of running to the mall. It’s the only way to find a look that will be different.
DH: Thanks Joe and good luck with the new store. Here are some important facts: Mezzanine will open around the first of April. It’s located on the 2nd floor of the Merchants Building located at 206 E Grand River. The store hours are Wednesday through Saturday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm and Sunday 12:00pm – 5:00pm. The phone is 313-887-0900.
One Response to “Mezzanine Interview with Joe Posch”
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I’m always liked Mezzanine. I never met Joe, but I’ve always been a fan.
Harlan Turner
Http://www.pinnaclehousepainters.com