After 40-years in business, The Broadway will be closing come 2019

(WJBK) - After 40-years of dressing the most fashionable Detroiters, The Broadway will be going out of business. 

"At the time in downtown Detroit, polyester double knits and super fly outfits were what was in and we said we're going to start something different," said owner Pepper Martin. 

That was in the 70's, but Martin had a vision and was on a mission to bring high end fashions to Detroit. He called it, "The Broadway" 

"We started putting in leather and jeans and European suits in and Detroit bought it," he said. 

For over four-decades, Martin grew his store into an iconic shopping destination for locals and celebrities like Tony Bennett and Rapper Biggie Smalls. 

Over the year, Martin has either owned or co-owned 8 retail shops, but the Broadway is his last one. At age 70, he has decided to retire. 

"At some point in everybody's life, you have to move on," said Martin. 

Martin said he reached out to BedRock, a real-estate company owned by Dan Gilbert, and a deal struck for BedRock to buy his building. 

"I'm very excited to see what he might do with it," he said. 

The store is set to close in early 2019 and currently there is a liquidation sale taking place. 

"I just came down and bought some stuff, so I am very happy," said customer William Praeyor. "I am sorry to see them go though." 

As this Broadway store closes, we're told that another Broadway store could open soon. The new potential store will be owned by a current employee. 

"We're going to open up on the Avenue of Fashion on Livernois and 7-mile and we'll be there," said current Broadway General Manager, Wallace Bell. 

So what's next for Pepper Martin? 

"The Internet looks very promising to me," Martin said. 

Martin also believes that his legacy will be centered in love. 

"I love Detroit and I think I got that back from Detroit. It's been a wonderful ride," Martin said.