Favorite Things: Dicker and Deal manager Adam Smith and ‘The Blues Brothers’ replicas

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These used to be left outside on Grand River Avenue and Ingersoll Road. The owners had some buffaloes too out there. They had them out on some concrete blocks out front and everyone from the area knew them.  Since they were made from fiberglass, they withstood the elements. We didn’t even have to give them a touch up because they didn’t need it.

Customers always ask if they are the same ones. And I tell them, “That’s them.” We bought them in the ’90s and they hung out in Music Manor for a few years before being brought here. People still come in and take pictures with them all the time. Some give them a high-five. They are a real cool way to put people in a good mood when they walk in the door.

It’s good to have the first thing customers see put a smile on their faces. It puts people in a good mood to see all the other things we have here in our half-store and half-museum. We have a lot of things not for sale hanging on the wall.

But they are probably the one thing that has been here the longest. There is a lot added, but we’ve had these things for over 25 years. That is almost the entire time the store existed.

At one point I did look these up. You can order these from a company out of California. They make all sorts of statues like this. They ran from $1,500 on up depending on who you got. I don’t know where the previous owner got them from before us.

These are not for sale. On average I think three to five people a day ask us if they can buy these things. We tell people they are priceless because we will never sell them. Generally we also have at least one person taking a picture with them. Kids love them too.

“The Blues Brothers” were a Detroit thing and people know that. These are definitely a symbol of Michigan and people from around here really enjoy that.

I’ve been here four years and first saw them when I came here because I worked for a guy who runs an auction house in Potterville. I worked with him for five years and I used to buy and sell in here with him too.

We keep a lot of good quality things here from ending up broken or ending up in a landfill. We give a second life to a lot of things. It is a constantly changing atmosphere, but I think these will be here forever.

(This interview was edited and condensed by Dennis Burck. If you have a recommendation for “Favorite Things,” please email dennis@lansingcitypulse.com. You can visit “The Blues Brothers” and Dicker and Deal at 2408 S. Cedar St.)

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