Earlier this year, Time magazine named a Detroit venue as one of the world’s greatest places to visit. The magazine is known for including places that are both well known (like Paris’s Notre-Dame, also on this year’s list) and little known, but Motown’s nod went to a place that we’ve found most locals know little or nothing about. We ourselves have written about it briefly, yet we had never visited — until this summer. Here is what we found in this culture and arts center located in Detroit’s East Village and developed by husband-and-wife team Anthony and JJ Curis of Library Street Collective.
The Shepherd
The heart and the catalyst of this cultural district, this repurposed century-old Romanesque-style church (formerly the Good Shepherd Catholic Church), lays the foundation for Little Village. With public access to a collective library, two ever-changing galleries, a workshop, and a performance stage, art in all forms is available. Despite showcasing primarily contemporary art, the building knows and owns its historical roots. Peterson Rich Office, a firm specializing in transformative reuses of buildings, left The Shepherd’s exterior untouched, restored the stained-glass windows, and maintained the building’s structural integrity, specifically the domed ceilings and pillars.
Inside, the first section of the gallery is a giant box with disconnected walls that features a constantly changing lineup of curated art on its bright-white walls and an oculus atop to provide space for works of all sizes to flourish. On the other side of the box is the central nave gallery, allowing for artists to display their artwork spaciously. Beyond this section is the church altar, which was transformed into a space for music and performances, artist talks, and other programming. The altar still has its original Pewabic tiles, arranged to form Christian motifs: an angel, ox, lion, and eagle. To the left are the church confessionals, which have been transformed into reading nooks for visitors to enjoy the more than 500-book archive belonging to Detroit-based curator Asmaa Walton.
ALEO
Occupying what was once the church’s rectory, ALEO offers a culture-rich bed-and-breakfast experience. Furnished top to bottom with eclectic and vintage touches by local interior designer Holly Jonsson and a collection of works from the Curises and numerous Detroit artists, the B&B immerses guests in historic charm and cultural significance. For $250 to $395 a night, ALEO offers four distinct suites: Angel, Lion, Eagle, and Ox (remember The Shepherd’s Pewabic tile motifs?). Breakfast is provided by James Beard Award-winning pastry chef Warda Bouguettaya, and guests can access communal spaces, rental rooms, complimentary bikes, and other amenities including complimentary soft beverages and locally grown flower arrangements. The third floor is headquarters for the Modern Ancient Brown Foundation, artist McArthur Binion’s non-profit, which hosts four visiting artist fellows yearly, who have access to a private apartment and studio in the building.
Lantern
Just north of The Shepherd on McClellan at Kercheval, you’ll notice a building with lots of dots. This is Lantern, a former commercial bakery built in the early 1900s. It was transformed into a creative hub by internationally recognized architectural practice OMA. Today, it is home to multiple artists’ studios, the headquarters for two Detroit arts nonprofi ts (Progressive Art Studio Collective and Signal-Return), and the o ces for Assemble Sound, a local record label and music company. There are also some shops: Coup D’état (a hip boutique), Cøllect (a beer bar), and the soon-to-open coffee shop Café Franco.
Father Forgive Me
Steps away from ALEO is the cocktail and wine bar Father Forgive Me, which opened in June. Located inside The Shepherd’s repurposed garage, it was given its name as a tribute to the building’s history as a Catholic church. Anthony Curis tapped longtime business partner and beverage professional Joe Robinson to bring the concept to life; the two are co-owners of several downtown Detroit bars and nightlife spots (Standby, The Skip, Deluxx Fluxx). With pet-friendly rules and heated outdoor seating, it’s one of the more distinctive bar-going experiences you’ll find in the city.
It Takes a Village Skatepark
Detroit’s skate culture is not forgotten at Little Village, where Tony Hawk willed (wheeled?) his passion into a park. Hawk’s family ties to Detroit and love for skating drove the community-focused project, which he designed in collaboration with artist McArthur Binion. Between Binion’s thought-out visual intricacies — such as incorporating brick colors and Romanesque arches beneath rails — and 70-plus artists’ assistance in fundraising, Hawk’s vision could not have been brought to life without the community’s support.
Warda
The second location for Warda Bouguettaya’s renowned bakery (Warda Pâtisserie) is located at Little Village inside BridgeHouse, two former homes that were transformed into commercial spaces with a connecting porch. The project was designed by Detroit-based architect Ishtiaq Rafiuddin. Menu items at Warda include savory bites (mushroom tortas, quiche) and sweets (financiers, mousses, mango cheesecake) as well as coffees and teas. The building opposite Warda — 1282 McClellan — will eventually be occupied by another eatery.
The Grounds
Designed by Simon David, principal and creative director of the New York City-based landscape architecture firm OSD, the 3.5-acre surroundings of green space are unmatched. What was once overgrown grass and broken driveways and alleys now consists of a series of outdoor designations lined with native plants and flowers, the majority being dogwood bushes. Even the pathways have an ornate and historical charm, with crushed stained glass covering the color spectrum along with repurposed and crushed red brick. Open daily from sunrise to sunset without fences, the grounds know no bounds.
The Sculptures
When you initially enter the parking lot, three figurative sculptures are difficult to miss, ranging from 8 to 12 feet tall. These are the 3D versions of figures depicted in the painting “Time Is Now” by the late, great Detroit artist Charles McGee. Alongside are McGee’s Linkage Series and black-and-white patterned pieces, encouraging visitors — especially kids — to play on them. Together, they make up the Charles McGee Legacy Park, which serves to honor the life and legacy of McGee, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 96. Close by and tucked away in the nave gardens is an area with a street sign that says “Hood Closed to Gentrifiers.” The sign was created by local artist and activist Bryce Detroit, one of several signs that have been displayed as part of a campaign around the city — the first in his neighborhood, the North End, in 2020. Beneath the sign is a functional art piece called “Angle of Repose” by Castor Design and artist Olivia Guterson: mounds of soil and greenery that visitors are welcome to sit on to relax.
Coming Soon
Little Village isn’t so little anymore, as JJ and Anthony Curis have several works in the making. On the property on the opposite side of Jefferson Avenue is Stanton Yards, an upcoming project designed by architecture firms Solid Objectives Idenburg Liu and OSD (see rendering above). Situated alongside the Detroit River with views of Belle Isle, the former marina will be transformed into a 13-acre development with over 80,000 square feet for commercial and creative spaces, as well as an area for boat parking. Plus, anticipated for this fall, The Shepherd’s former convent site is being transformed into the headquarters for contemporary art gallery Louis Buhl & Co. The building will include a reception area, retail space, a production studio, and an area for galleries and exhibitions.
This story originally appeared in the October 2025 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Click here to get our digital edition.
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