172nd Motor City Match business BFame Boutique brings affordable fashion to Aviation Sub neighborhood

BFame Boutique founder Lukisha Williams opens new brick and mortar location in her own neighborhood with support from Motor City Match.
Williams was motivated by her love of shopping and desire to provide her neighborhood with an affordable and enjoyable shopping experience for men and women
Motor City Match has awarded $19.1M in cash grants; 85% of overall winners are minority-owned businesses, 70% are women-owned and 67% are owned by Detroit residents

Mayor Mike Duggan and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) today marked the grand opening of BFame Boutique in the Aviation Sub neighborhood. The 172nd Motor City Match recipient to launch, and the third this month, BFame Boutique offers affordable, trendy fashion for both women and men.

With the help of a $45,000 Motor City Match grant, Detroiter Lukisha Williams opened the store near her west side home, bringing quality attire for men and women to her own neighborhood. Despite her background in manufacturing and healthcare, Williams pursued her dream of owning a brick-and-mortar business. She started drop shipping in 2018 before having her own storefront.

“I never thought about going into a storefront; I always thought that was farfetched, actually. I didn’t know there were resources out there that could help you along the way,” Williams said. “I built my own website, got on Shopify and did research and learned along the way. The more time I put into it, the more I learned, and it has been a blessing. I decided I was going to pour into myself and get this thing going, then I discovered Motor City Match.”

172nd MCM BFame Boutique pic1 — Lukisha Williams and her daughter share a smile following the ribbon cutting of clothing store, BFame, located at 10545 Joy Road, on Detroit's West Side.

BFame Boutique caters to diverse tastes. For women, the store offers trendy jumpsuits, denim, purses, outerwear and a variety of fashionable dresses. Men’s options include graphic tees, jeans, joggers, outerwear and sweaters. The boutique also stocks beauty products for skin and hair care.

“What Lukisha has created with BFame Boutique is exactly what we envisioned for Motor City Match,” said Duggan. “She’s not just opening a store – she’s investing in her own neighborhood, bringing affordable fashion and new jobs to her community. This is how we’re rebuilding Detroit, one entrepreneur at a time.”

172nd MCM BFame Boutique pic2 — Mayor Duggan said entrepreneurs like Williams are exactly why Motor City Match was created, and is happy to see Detroiters rebuilding Detroit.

Family is a major driving force behind Williams’ inspiration to open BFame Boutique. Her mother encouraged her to open a physical location before her passing, and as a single mother with three daughters, ages 16, 10 and 2, Williams hopes her entrepreneurial journey will inspire them.

“I make sure everything I do is positive, and I’m a big influence on them. They’re going to be women someday. Being able to share this with them and show them they can do whatever they want means everything,” said Williams.

172nd MCM BFame Boutique pic3 — Lukisha Williams was grateful to the city and Motor City Match for their support so she can open her first brick-and-mortar location.

172nd MCM BFame Boutique pic4 — Councilmember Fred Durhal III presented Lukisha Williams with a Spirit of Detroit Award for her investment in D7.

Williams is determined to provide a comfortable and positive shopping experience for her customers and wants everyone to leave happy. Mindful of affordability and accessibility, Williams has integrated in-store and online Afterpay services for patrons.

“The opening of BFame Boutique is a testament to how programs like Motor City Match empower entrepreneurs by providing the crucial funding needed to turn their dreams into reality. I’m excited to see new businesses like BFame Boutique bringing fresh energy to District 7 and strengthening our commercial corridors, paving the way for even more growth and opportunity,” said D7 City Councilmember Fred Durhal.

Located at 10545 Joy Rd, BFame Boutique received a $45,000 grant from Motor City Match which helped support building renovations. Currently, BFame Boutique employs three additional Detroiters. Williams doesn’t intend to stop with her Joy Road location and hopes to open four more locations in the city.

“BFame Boutique is an example of what can be accomplished when someone is determined to establish a legacy for not only their family but their community, too,” said Sean Gray, vice president of Small Business Services at the DEGC, which manages the Motor City Match program. “Lukisha is not only a role model for her daughters, but all Detroiters who are pursuing entrepreneurship.”

Through 27 rounds of Motor City Match: 

Total cash grants: $19.1 million (Total leveraged investment: $102.7 million) 
85 percent are minority-owned businesses 
70 percent are women-owned businesses 
67 percent are businesses owned by Detroit residents

About Motor City Match 

Motor City Match is a unique partnership between the City of Detroit, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit (EDC) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Competitive financial assistance is supported by a broad partnership of Southeast Michigan community development financial institutions and corporations including, Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank, Ford Foundation, Hudson Webber Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Knight Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, New Economy Initiative, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Motor City Match applications are available quarterly. More information is available at MotorCityMatch.com  