Nike opening downtown Detroit store

DETROIT (WJBK) - Athletic apparel maker Nike is the latest addition to downtown Detroit's retail offerings.

The Nike Detroit Community Store, which features photos of city landmarks on the walls, opens Thursday in the former F.W. Woolworth building. The store also carries Detroit-specific clothing and apparel for teams including the Lions, Tigers and Michigan State.

The company says it aims to hire at least 80 percent of its workers for the store from within a 5-mile radius of the location. And the store is offering $40,000 in annual grants of $5,000 each to local nonprofits via the Nike Community Impact Fund.

The line was practically wrapped around the building Thursday morning before the opening. Some showed up around 4 a.m. to stand in line. FOX 2's Maurielle Lue was there and reports they began letting people inside in groups of 50 or so.

Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo and Sparty also made an appearance at the grand opening.

"The way they've hired - having all these people so close here - this is a neighborhood store here," Izzo said.

Maurielle heard buzz that another special guest might be coming, too, but she (and the Nike officials) have been tight-lipped so far.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.