Before the term “mall” existed in the American lexicon, Livernois was one of the top regional destinations for luxury shopping. Affectionately referred to as “The Avenue of Fashion,” shops like B. Siegel Co., Woolworths, and Grinnell, the famed piano, were trend setters in the local retail industry and widely respected for the highest levels of quality and customer service. Livernois has a rich musical legacy defined by American jazz. Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, America’s oldest operating jazz club, continues to anchor the Avenue since 1933. Jazz greats like Art Tatum, Dave Brubeck, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and countless others have graced Baker’s stage. Baker's piano-shaped bar inspired Liberace to install his famous piano-shaped swimming pool at his home in Beverly Hills. Marvin Gaye also used to live in the neighborhood. Behind this great history, African-American cultural heritage has played the guiding role in shaping the arts and business on Livernois.

THE AVENUE OF FASHION