Shinola Joins NAIAS Festivities With Entertainment, Food Trucks, Clay Models

DETROIT (WWJ) -- The celebration of manufacturing is happening all over Detroit this week, and not just at Cobo Center for the North American International Auto Show.

Shinola in Midtown is providing live entertainment and food trucks for the public to coincide with the downtown auto event. Marketing Director Bridgett Russo says this week is meant to highlight not only the auto show, but also the spirit of Detroit's manufacturing.

"You know, you can't be in the Motor City -- and I feel like the Auto Show is really the Super Bowl for Detroit -- and not do something," Russo said. "This is our hometown, so we really want to celebrate and even though we don't make cars, we make things that are made in Detroit and we're proud to be here."

Shinola, famous for its watches made in a factory in the heart of midtown Detroit, also manufactures bicycles, journals, pet supplies and other leather products.

"We have students from CCS -- the transportation department -- carving a clay model, we have a pop-up shop from the Business Institute where different entrepreneurs from Detroit will be here this weekend and next weekend," Russo said. "We have valet parking and we also have a pop-up shop at Cobo, so on the concourse."