Woodward Throwbacks Is Turning Throwaways Into Heirloom Decor And Furniture In Detroit, Michigan
By Sarah McCosham|Published September 11, 2023
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Detroit, Michigan, is a place that’s been through a lot. Known for cars and music, Detroit has also, unfortunately, experienced more than its fair share of obstacles over the years. I spent two years living in Detroit for graduate school during the economic fallout from the “flash crash” — and the mood at the time was, frankly, quite grim.
But the people of Detroit are tenacious and tough, and Motor City is currently in the midst of an amazing renaissance. Along historic Woodward Avenue, stately old Victorians are being revamped, and old storefronts are welcoming new tenants. And in Hamtramck, a ‘burb just 10 minutes north of Detroit, Woodward Throwbacks is quite literally giving new life to old things. Owned and operated by partners Kyle Dubay and Bo Shepherd, Woodward Throwbacks uses salvaged materials — literally, throwaways — and turns them into beautiful, heirloom-quality furnishings. This small business is a microcosm of what’s happening in Detroit, Michigan — an encouraging tale of redemption I’m honored to share.
Interested to learn about other unique American small businesses? Our Small Business Spotlight series highlights the often-overlooked work of small business owners across the country, from Maine to Southern California.
What do you see, when you look at a scene like this? A wall that's crumbling and beyond salvation? Or...
It's all about perspective, you see. We live in a disposable society of fast fashion and instant gratification where, sadly, it's easier to throw things out than to fix them.
Homes like this stately old Victorian in Detroit's Woodbridge neighborhood get razed to the ground so that bigger, better homes can be built. But there's another way, a better way -- a way that Woodward Throwbacks owner Kyle Dubay says is "not the easy way, but the right way."
Dubay co-owns Woodward Throwbacks with his partner, Bo Shepherd. Finding inspiration from the many dilapidated homes and abandoned ruins of a bygone era of glitz and glam in the Motor City, the couple designs and builds its pieces with reclaimed materials, making old things new again.
For the duo, Detroit is a place of endless inspiration -- and materials. "My partner Bo and I started the company in 2013," says Dubay. "We were just always biking around Detroit and noticing there was lots of illegal dumping happening. So we started scouring through those sites and using the materials to make furniture and decor for our homes."
"We did a couple of farmer market events and just kept growing," muses Dubay. "Now we have nine employees and are building furniture for customers across the country.
Today, Woodward Throwbacks has made a name for itself for constantly "pushing the boundaries" of what furniture and decor can be. "We are always creating new products and reusing new materials to create really authentic and interesting furniture and interiors."
This "out-of-the-box thinking translates to our staff as well," says Dubay, who is quick to add that he and Shepherd hire members of the community – "at the moment, all but one of our employees lives in Detroit or Hamtramck," making Woodward Throwbacks the very definition of a Michigan-proud business.
Step inside Throwbacks Home, and you'll see mid-century pieces straight out of "Mad Men," but with Detroit swagger and panache. The team finds diamonds in the rough, transforming materials and objects that many would deem "beyond repair" into true works of art.
"Our business works with the community in helping to reduce some of the trash from construction and demolition projects," explains Dubay. "We work with local homeowners, contractors, and developers to save some of the materials coming out of the historic homes and buildings in the area."
At the end of the day, Dubay and Shepherd give Detroit credit for, well, everything: "Our main inspiration was just the texture of the city and all the materials we'd find. It was always a treasure hunt for materials, and we loved the raw look of working with reclaimed materials [...] the city itself is our greatest inspiration."
Many thanks to Kyle Dubay for sharing the story of this forward-thinking small business in Michigan. Learn more about Woodward Throwbacks at its website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
Of course, Woodward Throwbacks is part of a great community of small businesses in Michigan; please nominate your favorite attractions and businesses for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Only In Michigan article. And be sure to follow Only In Michigan on Facebook and Instagram to learn about the Great Lakes State’s most incredible places, attractions, and events.
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