Detroit’s Hallstarz Business Center is a purpose-driven company in the Bagley neighborhood

Growing up as a young businessman in training, Mario Hall did not have access to a company car. However, he did have a reliable bus — the Dexter Bus to be exact — and on Saturdays, instead of sleeping in or bingeing on cartoons, Hall jumped on the bus and headed to work.

The other passengers on the bus had no way of knowing then that the young man, dressed in shirt and tie, was already “management” and a “customer service expert.” But he was prepared to be those things and more when the bus would stop at Livernois and Santa Maria in the heart of the Bagley community on the city’s northwest side.

Awaiting Hall across the street was the family business. And more than 30 years later, the business, now named Hallstarz Business Center, is still Hall’s destination. The only difference now is that he arrives six days a week. And in his own vehicle.

“I’ve been dealing with customers all of my life,” said the 45-year-old Hall, who now manages the company’s day-to-day operations. He recalls being about 13 years old when the Dexter Bus began dropping him off for days of spontaneous action, including answering phones, sending money, shining shoes, working the cash register — and counting back the customer’s change the old-school way, by doing the math in his head — and even working the lottery machine in a pinch. “To walk in here daily and see how far we have come, I’m just honored to work in the family business.

“I’m here with a purpose.”

And so is the family business. Hallstarz is housed in a building that used to be a Bank of the Commonwealth branch. There was a time when it was common for families nearby to have silverware, toasters or other gifts that they received from the bank branch for being good savers. However, today in that neighborhood, there are no full-service bank branches to be seen for at least 3 miles. But after setting up shop 36 years ago, Hallstarz has become an anchor for the neighborhood, while providing packing, shipping, printing and a variety of other services all under one roof.

“Cities are only as strong as their neighborhoods. Therefore, to have a Black, family-owned business come into a location where a bank branch once stood and provide needed services for 36 years is not only a significant accomplishment, but also a vital economic boost for that neighborhood,” said Ken Harris, president and CEO of the National Business League, the country’s first and largest trade association for Black businesses. “I also think that it is no question that Hallstarz is one of those entrepreneurial endeavors that continues to serve as an economic model toward the resurgence of local Black businesses throughout the neighborhood today, particularly along the Livernois corridor.”

When the subject of being important to the community is brought up to Hall, a prideful and humble tone can be detected in his voice as he begins to explain some of his customary practices, like making sure every customer hears “Welcome to Hallstarz,” regardless of how busy things might be when they walk into the shop.

“It’s about respect for the city of Detroit and respect for our community. Without the community we simply have no business,” Hall said matter of factly. “We didn’t set out to replace a bank, but we did have a mindset that we would use every corner of the building to offer services. And from that we became a place where our customers and community could take care of most business needs.”

Serving the community is truly a family affair at Hallstarz. The organization chart includes Hall’s mother, Vanessa, who was the inspiration behind the TRU Pro Tax Service, the tax preparation business inside Hallstarz. A registered nurse, she also established and manages the All My Children Maternal Infant Health Program and the nonprofit All My Children, which both operate within Hallstarz.

Hall’s brother, Marquis, assists with tax preparation and helped remodel the building that houses Hallstarz. In addition, Marquis helps with driver skills testing for A&M Driver Testing, which along with Hall of Fame Driving School
— established by another brother, Milton III — all are headquartered inside Hallstarz.

Mylan, who falls next in the line of brothers after Milton, created and operates MLH Construction, which handled the total remodeling of the company’s building in 2006 and continues to provide maintenance and repairs when needed. The printing and shipping services offered by the business are managed by Martez, the second-youngest brother, who also is responsible for offering property, casualty, life and health insurance services at Hallstarz. Malik, the youngest brother, is equally versatile in his contributions to the family business, which has included assisting with running services and being involved with remodeling the building on Livernois.

And then there’s dad, lovingly known by his middle name Dewain, who acquired Hallstarz’s current location in October 1985, and as Mario describes it, continues to “mentor and motivate.”

“The community — that is the family,” Dewain Hall explained. “I always believed that if you provide a service to your community, you help yourself out and later you don’t have to worry about getting knocked in the head because you’re giving people in your community what they need to move their lives forward.”

Dewain Hall, 65, proudly tells a story about Hallstarz’s origins, including how the company “derived from HVM (Hall’s Variety Mall) Incorporated, and prior to that Hall’s Shoe Repair,” which was established by his father, Milton Hall Sr., who, in 1963, “started his venture of being a self sole proprietor.”

When Dewain Hall gets to the part of the story when he and Vanessa purchased the 2,300-square-foot building located at 17301 Livernois in 1985, he talks about feeling like a “little kid with a big truck,” because the space was significantly larger than the cozy building that housed Hall’s Shoe Repair No. 2 on West McNichols just west of Livernois. And for the big space, Dewain Hall had a big vision involving services — many services — because as he put it, just like a good African American prepared feast, “it takes many sides for a complete meal.”

But Dewain Hall said the most important ingredients to the company’s success was when his sons became “members,” which began in earnest when Mario returned to work for the family business after graduating from Grambling State University with an engineering degree in 2000.

“I have to commend all of my children, they’re doing a tremendous job and they brought the vision I had of a family business to fruition,” said Dewain Hall, whose company also has regularly hired young people from the community through the years, often the sons or daughters of longtime customers that see a positive, first-time employment opportunity for their children at Hallstarz.

Dewain Hall jokes that the fact that he can reminisce about the company’s history in the middle of the day is further proof that his sons and other staff are doing a pretty good job. However, he also lets it be known that he is not done “pressing” just yet. In fact, he is working on establishing a second Hallstarz location at 4440 E. Seven Mile, which is tentatively planned to open midyear 2022. A man of deep faith, Dewain Hall also does not shy away from being a role model when it comes to African American entrepreneurship in Detroit. And he has provided advice for others that may be considering a similar path.

“I always thought if only I had that $1 million loan,” said Dewain Hall, with a momentary tone of longing in his voice and then his tone and tune changed. “But even if you were to receive that loan, you still have to understand what it takes to work the business. It still has to come from you to make it work. And if your mind is determined, you can make it work regardless of the obstacles. “