Imagine this! It’s the year 2020, or shortly thereafter, and busloads of tourists from around the world are visiting the new $50 million dollar Motown Museum expansion. The iconic “Hitsville U.S.A.” music brand is being talked about everywhere. We hope Motown’s recent announcement to enlarge the historic site is the catalyst for turning this long overdue dream into a reality!
The excitement is there but the hardest job still lies ahead; living up to high public expectations. Motown expansion talk and fundraising, of one sort or another, has been going on for years. But what we all want to see are shovels in the ground, construction underway and an eye-popping ribbon cutting one day soon!
The classic American story about how Berry Gordy Jr. along with his family and friends founded and built a Detroit music empire is history that should live forever. Much of the Motown memorabilia has been boxed up for years because there isn’t enough room in the current museum to display it all. Expanding the 10-thousand square foot facility to 50-thousand will greatly enhance exhibits, theater, café, retail and hopefully, parking opportunities.
The architectural renderings look fantastic! And the museum’s close proximity to the Henry Ford Healthcare development and up-and-coming Q-Line is perfect. Detroit is on the move and so should the home that gave birth to the Temptations, the Four Tops, the Supremes, the Miracles, Marvin Gaye and countless musical legends.
We suggest that Motown set a target date to raise the needed expansion funds. Campaigns, companies and people usually work better when there’s a well-defined goal to reach. The story of Motown is one of a kind but it must be protected and cultivated if we want it to remain a Detroit landmark that is relevant for generations to come.
I’m Mike Murri, Vice President & General Manager
