Vintage, resale, and handmade items are not just visually attractive; they also hold a special place in our hearts and positively impact our communities. These items connect us to our past, creating a sense of nostalgia and reminding us of the memories and stories of those who came before us. Vintage resale boutiques like Mama Coo’s are essential for any community. They provide us access to such unique and rare finds, allowing us to relive the past and express ourselves authentically. 

Mama Coo’s, owned and operated by Lana Rodriguez, is a treasure trove of vintage, resale, and handmade items sourced locally –or made– by Lana herself. The intentionality in choosing and creating items that are high-quality and unique while keeping the price point low makes this boutique accessible to everyone, making it a strong representation of inclusivity, affordability, and creativity, and it’s a place where people can find items that speak to their unique personalities and style.

Mama Coo’s name rolls off the tongue with a sense of familiarity and comfort. As it turns out, Mama Coo’s is not just a name but an endearing sobriquet given to Lana by her grandfather. The name stuck and continues to this day, worn on the very building her grandparents lived in, making the boutique a place of immense sentimental value.

“My grandparents lived upstairs in this building when they first moved to Detroit,” said Rodriguez. “I grew up in Southwest Detroit, but when searching for a building for my business, one of the advisors from Tech Town suggested this one. Although I wanted to be in Southwest Detroit, my mother convinced me to choose this building by reminding me that my grandparents used to live here.”

Lana has quite a diverse background, which has led her to where she is today. With no experience in the retail industry, Lana’s journey began with waiting tables and serving in the military. She then worked for an oral surgeon and went to school for political science and art history, planning to work for nonprofits. However, her love for resale never left her, and she would turn her residency space at 555 Gallery into a boutique. This is where she realized her passion for running a business and started doing pop-ups around the city, leading to Mama Coo’s opening. With a grant and after taking business classes at Tech Town Detroit, Lana found the ideal space for her store and opened it to the public.

Although she has gotten very far in her journey, she is not immune to the constant struggles that every entrepreneur and business owner endures.  One of her most significant struggles is the constant need to hustle, ingrained in her from growing up in Southwest Detroit.

Lana admits it’s challenging to shake off the “hustler mentality” because it’s embedded in her upbringing. She explains that growing up in the Southwest community and being raised by a single mother instilled in her the importance of having a solid work ethic. As a result, she developed a go-getter mentality, which has helped her overcome many obstacles. However, as the owner of Mama Coo’s, Lana finds the constant pressure to keep working for and finding grants and resources overwhelming and exhausting. She longs to shift her focus to more significant aspects of running her business, such as strategizing, networking, and growing her brand. 

Another aspect of her struggle is celebrating and promoting her own achievements.

“As a Latin woman, culturally, you’re taught to be humble and modest, especially regarding our achievements,” said Rodriguez. “But being a business owner has enabled me to make a crucial shift in this cultural mindset because you have to be your own cheerleader and celebrate yourself. But it’s hard to do that because you’re not used to it.” 

 

Meeting SDBA

Lana had the opportunity to work as a personal assistant at Living Arts, gaining an in-depth understanding of the relationship shared between Living Arts and the Southwest Detroit Business Association (SDBA). She learned about the SDBA’s mission, which piqued her interest in joining the organization when she opened her own business.

“I’ve been a member since I first opened,” said Rodriguez. “That was one of the first groups I joined.”

Lana believes that SDBA has been instrumental in providing Mama Coo’s with exposure that has been invaluable to her business. She said, “You can’t put a price on exposure.” She has been able to leverage this exposure to promote her business and find support in the form of networking and other resources that have been crucial in ensuring her business’s continued growth and success.

The Future of Mama Coo’s

Lana remains hopeful about the future of her business. She acknowledges the challenges of operating a retail business. However, what motivates her to keep pushing is her passion for keeping Corktown grounded and welcoming to all. As she looks to the future, she hopes to maintain Mama Coo’s success while continuing to help her community in any way she can.