PRODUCTS

LITTLE
MANHATTAN

A gem in a jewel box awaits Detroit visitors.

alking into the spec-
tacular 75-year-old
BY LYNNE KONSTANTIN
icon of art deco glory — the
recently renovated Guardian Building in
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
downtown Detroit — one wonders why you
ANGIE BAAN
haven't made this trip sooner. A few steps up
to the mezzanine and you're convinced that
Born and bred in Oak Park, the Yeshivat
Detroit really can be revived, and you want to
Akiva graduate worked for a few years as a
make some kind of purchase just to do your
nurse in the New York area. After moving
part for the cause.
back to Southfield 13 years ago with her hus-
To the right, Becca Belle is there to help. A
band, Eli, she concentrated her creative ener-
gem inside an exquisite jewel box, this invit-
gies on raising her three children, two of
ing shop brims with gifts both lovely and light-
whom
also attend Akiva (her oldest is a stu-
hearted, as is the shop's owner, Julie Halpern.
dent at Yeshiva University in New York).
After a year and a half of researching every-
thing to do with building a business, Halpern
opened the doors to Becca Belle in mid-
November and with it brought a bit of
Manhattan to the Motor City.
"I love Detroit," says Halpern. "And
the Guardian Building feels like a little
Manhattan. Detroit has its little pockets
of energy, and I love coming to work
here every day. I like the cross-section
of different people coming through here,
and I really thought Detroit needed
something like this."
Inspired by a passion for entertaining,
Halpern says her shop is simply an exten-
sion of what makes her happy. "I love having
people come into my home and making them
feel comfortable and welcome," she says.

1 4 •

FEBRUARY 2005 • JNPLATINUM

This is evident in the delicious
details in her shop. A pink-stoned cos-
tume cocktail ring glitters across from a milk-
white ceramic tea service, glass candlesticks
drip with the glistening green prisms of its
bobeche and a robin's-egg-blue baby album
jingles with the miniature baby shoes, which
serve as its book mark.
All pop against the backdrop of simple cus-
tom pine cabinetry, finds like an A-frame
wooden ladder Halpern hand-painted and
uses for display, and the soaring ceilings of the
majestic Guardian.
Each purchase is packaged in toile
tissue and accompanied by tiny, prettily
dressed soaps.
"I'd like people to know the name of the
shop and trust that they can get whatever they
need, or even just call and say, 'I need help
picking out a gift,"' says Halpern. "I want
people to feel comfortable. I love when peo-
ple find the store and come back with their
friends, like, 'Look what I found.' That's the
best compliment." ❑

Becca Belle is located at 500 Griswold, Detroit.
Hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through
Thursday; 11-2 on Friday.
(313) 962-8080.