R Hirt Jr Co

I always enjoyed a quick diversion at Hirt for some rare and tasty treats whenever practical errands brought me to Eastern Market. I was so disappointed when I learned they were closing. I wondered why the place was such a mob scene one morning, then someone told me that the place was closing and everything was half off. So I got out of line and got a couple more tins of tea!
Now, when I visit Eastern Market, the sidewalk out in front of this place reminds me of a Middle Eastern bazaar, with all kinds of relatively useless but very Pinterest-​worthy lawn decorations.
I have not ventured inside since the re-​open, so I don’t know what else they have.

I went yesterday, it has the name Devries (or something similar) painted above door. As of today, May 20, 2012– they no longer allow customers to the second and third levels. The old fashioned elevator now says «employees only». I did walk up the stairs and saw that once up the steps the second floor was roped off and also said «employees only». Obviously I didn’t see the third floor, which was my favorite. In March of 2011 I was there and my husband took a lot of pictures of the inside of R Hirt Jr. Co on all three levels of the store. I didn’t realize how much I’d appreciate those photos. I took for granted that it would always be there. I will surely miss the magic that store had. It somehow had the ability to make adults feel like a kid in a candy store. They had the coolest gifts, I loved the raw architecture of the second floor and then would just get lost browsing on the third floor. It was an amazing place. I hope it can recapture the magic.. I asked a woman if it was the same owners, and her response was, «yes it is the same family name». I also asked a gentleman behind the counter if they would be reopening the 2^nd and 3^rd levels and he said, «yes, come back in a month». Unfortunately the staff did not have the same wonderful and welcoming attitude the previous staff had… and that was half the magic. I enjoyed shopping there and felt a sense of love that the employees had for that store; they made the customers WANT to spend money there. That is a lost art these days. I do know that when a company changes things it is very stressful for the employees to answer the same questions over and over. Perhaps that’s what I encountered. I asked the same questions they’d already answered hundreds of times. Good luck to the new owners and may they remember what was so special about that store; it wasn’t just the merchandise– it was the friendliness of the staff as well.

Hirts closed this season. Apparently a family dispute? They said that a family member may re-​open under a different name. I really hope they do. This place was great and such a Detroit institution.

Whatever you do, don’t go in here on a Saturday morning. Seriously. They get packed with all those people from the suburbs who come in to go to the Eastern Market. All these annoying suburbanites, hanging near the front, blocking the door — yech, they just don’t understand that some of us actually live nearby and shop here for groceries on a regular basis.
Anyway, this is the place to get cheese, snacky foods, cured meats, etc. Staff are friendly.

Oh!!! Closing. I hope when you re-​open as the 1887 Cheese Shoppe (stress the e), you will not be another overpriced Grosse Pointe-​y store.

I visited Hirt’s this afternoon and was shocked to find that this 120 year old family business is permanantly closing by Thanksgiving. One part of the family insists it wants to renovate, redevelop and re-​open. What a shame! its original, century-​old appearance adds greatly to its charm. There are hundreds of fancy, modern, slick places but Hirt’s is one of a kind. Reading the reviews on this site tells it all. Today baskets and non-​food items are 50% off in the sad process of closing down this historical landmark grocery.
So sorry to see this happen. Rafel’s a few years ago and now Hirt’s. There are few businesses left like this.

My last visit here I encountered a pretty wonderful conversation that encapsulates everything that is awesome about R Hirt Jr Co. Two folks were walking around the shop, browsing, and the female of the pair says «this place would be such a GREAT place to make a gift basket.» Male does not respond. Female: «I mean, look at all this! I’m going to make every gift basket I give here.» and she goes on and on about gift baskets. Finally, the male breaks in and says: «SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU EVER MADE A GIFT BASKET?!» Female: «This place makes me want to make one!»
And it’s true! it’s the perfect spot for that type of fare: gourmet meats and cheeses, teas, kitchen gear, fancy candies, prepackaged foods (but higher quality type stuff), etc etc, all in a very old fashioned general store setting. This place is truly a delight. And the best part? If you’re making a gift basket they actually have a floor devoted TO WICKER BASKETS. Did I blow your mind yet? It’s true.
The staff isn’t particularly warm, at least the few times I’ve been there, but they’ve been helpful and organized. There’s a bit of an odd check out system – you first go to the counter and get a «check» and then take that check up to the cashier. Is this the way general stores used to work? I have no idea but it seems like a few unnecessary steps but I appreciate the quirk I suppose!
Prices are decent and they have a wonderful selection. Love popping in after a trip to Eastern Market! Now, who wants a gift basket?

First thing’s first… THIS PLACE ISN’T ONLY OPEN ON SATURDAY!!!
I can’t believe I haven’t written a review for this store. I must visit it at least a dozen times a year.
Yeah…It’s right in the Eastern Market area but I generally head over there on a weekday to avoid the crowd and really take my time picking out cheeses and Charcuterie.
The store has an enormous butcher block and most of the employees are quite knowledgeable about the MILLION types of cheese that they carry. If you tell them what you like then they will find several types from different countries that will tempt you beyond belief. They can match your tastes, or even a specific wine.
The prices are also quite amazing. I can buy Piave here for 12 $ per pound and it runs 19 – 20 in Ann Arbor. Everything is really fresh because the turnover is so great. I’ve had them cut into a fresh wheel and the shelf life is almost a week more than buying it at any other market.
Ask about end pieces while you there. It is an inexpensive way to try out new products.
This store keep a made in Michigan area that makes it easy to buy local products along with hard to find imported items on the opposite side of the store.
Don’t forget to head to the third floor for some baskets and old fashioned toys. They have jewelry, herbs, chocolates, wind chimes, teas, cooking items, and a lot of cute seasonal items.
There is something here for any foodie!

I know that people love this place, and I love independent brick and mortar businesses…
…but I can only buy cheese by the pound? Like, one pound is the least I can buy? What if I don’t own a restaurant? Oh, still one pound. But what if I’m not having a dinner party? Got it, still one pound. Yup, one pound.

What a neat place to browse when you are in the Eastern Market area! Wonderful place to find things like fair trade coffee and unusual sweets (which is why I go), among other local and imported foods and a host of miscellaneous things. Just take some time to look around!
Check-​out is done the old-​fashioned way, so be patient and marvel at the fact that they have not caved in to all the technology.

From French Pâté‘ to being renowned cheese monger Hirt’s has it. Anything somewhat off the wall to a vast selection of cheese which they let you try before you buy., 3 floors of stuff, wicker, glass, pottery canned veggies, hot sauces, and dozens of types of honey.
You can easily spend hours and $$$ getting this and that.
This store is what Detroit is about.

A specialty goods store founded in 1887 by Rudolph Hirt Jr that comes with 1904 elevator that felt like an over-​sized dumbwaiter plus wooden plank stairs that creaked as you walk down the 3 storey building. I wonder how they can keep this building to code but then this place is a historical landmark if it isn’t already. (+0.5 Star)
I’m not exactly ecstatic about the 3^rd-​floor wicker baskets nor the 2^nd-​floor knick knacks but the main floor did provide plenty for a foreign epicure to browse if not to purchase a few local Michigan products.
Word of advice, do check the perishable products you intend to purchase on the back half of the main floor as some look like they might be pass their prime. The front of the shop where the staff are in attendance, everything seems quite delectable as we observe other consumers purchasing Meats & Cheeses. 3.5 *Star*

Incredible selection of items, idiosyncratic prices.
Like everyone else, I also half-​swooned when stepping into this general-​store-​like environment. Dark wood floors, walls, and shelves stocked with every kind of gift-​basket delectable you can possibly imagine. And what, NOBODY is going to mention their surprising collection of ol-​timey bicycles hanging up high on the walls? Several of them date back to the 19^th century — I was getting a stiff neck admiring them all, way up top.
I’ll just try to rifle off a few things that caught my eye only to add to the list that others before me have already established. I saw kitchen tools for cutting cheese (not THE cheese, just cheese in general), tea kettles, fancy European cookies, more cracker varieties than I would have thought possible, different styles of honey, tandoori spice packages, the largest collection of glass bottles, glass containers, and golden-​spout-​bearing glass carafes (would be awesome for making homemade sangria, cordials, or sun teas), Canadian/​British import cookies and chocolates (think Cadbury and Dare), a wide spectrum of olive oils (from virgins to lemon-​infused and truffle-​infused specialties), many balsamic vinegars, jams and preserves, caramel corn and rock candy, and scones.
Obviously, as mentioned, the focus of the store is the front-​end cheese and deli counter. An amazing sight to behold. Their selection is giant. The foods smell fresh and delicious. And they are busy busy busy. People obviously know where to come for the good stuff. (and just to counter one dopey commenter, I watched them bring all their cheeses and meats out of a truck-​sized FREEZER ROOM right behind the counter. The other commenter must have let the smell of exotic cheese go to his brain).
My only concern was the prices. Some items were a steal (like the Al Dente brand pasta noodles, which were cheaper than Whole Foods) but others seemed marked up (like the Looza brand fruit purees. I get the Mango Loozas all the time, and know they usually cost $ 2.99 and are often on sale for $ 2.50, but here they were going for $ 3.57 — why?). Best to know in advance the prices of the speciality items you may be hunting for.
I left the store only having purchased a small bag of dark-​chocolate-​mint malt balls… which made me VERY happy :)

Great cheese and dairy. If you’re looking for cute stuff for an Easter basket or fun things for stocking stuffers. This is a hit!!!
Don’t forget the hunter’s sausage. :)
Joe R. needs to get a life. This is real marketing!!!

Simply my favorite place in Detroit! Okay, maybe tied with the DIA, but you can’t get these cheeses at the DIA…
R Hirt Jr is a specialty foods paradise, situated in a 120 year old storefront that has been in continuous operation that whole time. They sell wicker items upstairs, but I only bother with the main floor. It’s like a really great bookstore, packed with shelves and stacks of merchandise, except it’s all food!
Let’s start with the cheese. Ask for a catalog at the counter and commence sampling! Check out the wall behind the counter for knock-​out deals. Havarti for $ 4 a pound. Genoa salami for $ 6 a pound. Oh yes, they have deli meats, too. You basically have to buy a pound minimum, but the prices can be such a steal that you won’t regret it. Stock up around the holidays and create your own custom cheese and antipasto trays for parties.
FYI — you can get ridiculously cheap Parmesan Reggiano here. It’s been a while since I bought some, but I never paid more than $ 12 for a giant chunk and it lasts for weeks.
I could spend hours strolling around the back of the store, snooping through stacks of gourmet crackers, browsing through their selection of olives, capers, canned fish, syrups, dressings and oils. They also have a wide selection of teas. I love St. Dalfour organic teas which are much cheaper here than at other stores. In fact, R Hirt has the best all-​around prices of any specialty food store I’ve seen. Plus, you get the satisfaction of supporting a wonderful Detroit establishment.
I really like the staff. They’re totally down to earth. They don’t bother managing the crowd at the counter — you’re on your own, so you have to be as pushy as everyone else around you. But once you make it to the counter — and it can take a very long time — the staff people will let you take your sweet old time placing your order and let you sample whatever you’re interested in getting. Try going on a non-(Eastern)market day if you want to beat the crowds. Or, just be patient and enjoy the ambiance.

Dude…
Just go there… and after you’ve shopped and figured out the counter, ask to have all the stuff you grabbed and ordered put into a box not a bag. Oh and don’t grab my last bottle of natural milk… You’ll pull back with a bloody stump.

We often refer to this place as The Cheese Shop, and from the other reviews here, you can readily see why. They also have so many specialty and imported foods (and great chocolates), it’s an impulse buyer’s wet dream.
They also feature a wide variety of rices, from long grain to arborio, for those interested in trying to recreate certain Italian or Spanish rice dishes.
The upstairs has a very interesting selection of hand-​woven wicker baskets. This fact and all that nifty stuff downstairs, once made R. Hirt Jr. my only Easter shopping stop, before I was bowed down with homeownership and the bills that come with it. For a nifty gift, a hand-​selected basket from this shop, filled with stuff from this shop, would be ideal.
There is a lift to the upstairs area, which is good news for customers who need physical assistance.
Checking out is a bit more involved than I would like it to be. First you go to the counter, where somebody tallies your purchases. They give you a receipt, which you take to a person behind a window near the door. I suppose there are security reasons, but it seems redundant.
I’m putting three dollar signs on my price range, because I have never gotten out of there paying less. However, your experience may differ depending on your degree of self control.

Finding its home in a three story red brick building in Eastern Market R. Hirt Jr and Company has got to be one of Detroit’s best specialty food shops. Located on Market St, R. Hirt offers customers everything from dairy products to breads to teas to wicker baskets.
On the first floor of this gigantic store patrons will find a cheese shop that offers a book of over 400 cheeses. If you’re looking for a cheese this place will surely have it. In addition, the first floor offers customers a great selection of cookies, teas, candy and other sweet treats. Besides the mammoth selection of cheeses, R. Hirt offers fresh milk in those vintage glass jars. I’m not a milk drinker, but love grabbing some for baking and homemade milkshakes. Yummy!
The staircases in R. Hirt lead to two more floors filed with adorable goodies. Wicker baskets aplenty, pewabic tiles, and other gifts. This is the perfect place to go shopping for that perfect houswarming gift or holiday present. R. Hirt offers great selection, fare prices, and a old timey shopping experience.

It’s hard to know how to categorize R. Hirt Jr. Company. As other reviewers have mentioned, they do sell cheese and bread. However, in addition to groceries, they also are sort of a general store and a gift shop as well. The ceilings are tall, and they’ve got really picturesque wooden floors that creak when you walk on them. It’s got a really fun old-​fashioned small-​town feel in the middle of a very big city.
On a recent visit, the store was plugging the fact that they sold «Made in Michigan» merchandise. Not everything is made in Michigan, but much of it is. They had a shelf labeled and dedicated to food stuffs, like jam, made in Michigan. They also sell gift items, holiday decorations, and apparently upstairs there’s wicker furniture, though I didn’t have the energy to take the stairs after having wandered a through bunch of other shops in the area.
In nice weather, they’ll often have carts or tables outside with sales merchandise. There were $ 1 items and 50 percent off items, including Halloween decorations and clay pots, outside in front on my recent visit.

Phenomenal selection of cheese! But, as a new customer, I had no idea what kind of cheese they have. You can ask to see a green packet of what they do have, and when you check out, you can ask for a list to take home with you. There are pound limits, usually a half pound or more. The breads they sell there are not great, the baguettes were not chewy enough and the farm loaf too airy. But really, focus on the cheese and you cannot go wrong.
Also! THE PICKLES ARE AWESOME! Yum!