Mr. Alan’s Elite sounds like it might sell men’s tuxes, but manager Bill Ruiz explains the name: “Mr. Alan Bishop started a store forty years ago in Southfield on the corner of Ten and Greenfield called Mr. Alan’s. We were known as the ‘twenty-nine or two-for-fifty place'”–the price of its cut-rate gym shoes. Even forty years ago, he says, that was a low-rent shoe. But then, “Mr. Bishop passed on the business to his son Jake, who took it to a new level.” As Mr. Alan’s Elite, they no longer sell shoes for $29. It’s all exclusive name brands of footwear and apparel–Nike, Adidas, Air Jordan in shoes; Rock Revival and True Religion jeans; Staple and Post Game jerseys. Ruiz says the clothing is pretty much all men’s street wear, but there’s a sizable shoe section for women and children.

Mr. Alan’s Elite opened in February in Pittsfield Plaza between Wheels in Motion and Sherwin Williams. It’s the tenth store in Jake Bishop’s southeastern Michigan chain.

Mr. Alan’s Elite, 3408 Washtenaw (Pittsfield Plaza), 531-6468. Mon.-Wed. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Thurs.-Sat. 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. noon-6 p.m. mralans.com