The Detroit Icons
The ICON Series (Coming Soon)
The Detroit ICONS:
A Legacy of Endurance and Excellence
Every great venture starts with one spark—an idea. For small businesses in Detroit, that spark has ignited engines of innovation, resilience, and community spirit. These Detroit ICONS are not just companies; they are the heartbeat of a city that refuses to fade.
From Humble Beginnings to Timeless Brands
In a world where trends come and go, these businesses have defied the odds. They transformed a simple dream into a lasting legacy, standing tall through economic storms and changing markets. Their stories are proof that perseverance, passion, and purpose can turn a hobby, a creative project, or a bold concept into something unforgettable.
Why Storytelling Matters
In today’s digital age, how you tell your story online is as crucial as the idea itself. The Detroit ICONS mastered this early, blending authentic narratives with bold marketing to create fierce brand identities that engage and inspire. Their online presence isn’t just about selling a product—it’s about inviting the world to be part of a shared journey.
Join the Movement
Stay tuned as we dive deeper into these small business legends — the creators, the innovators, the dreamers who show us how to build legacies that last. Because every icon started somewhere. It all begins with an idea. What’s yours?
Meet the Crew
Meet the talent behind the scenes—those relentless visionaries who shape every frame, every note, and every moment you thought you knew. From the lighting crew bending shadows to create mood, to the sound engineers capturing whispers that pull you deeper into the story, their craft is nothing short of wizardry. Editors mold chaos into seamless storytelling, weaving hours of footage into cinematic gold. Costume designers inject personality with every stitch, while set builders transform empty spaces into immersive worlds. These unsung heroes don’t seek the spotlight—they are the reason the spotlight exists. Without their precision, passion, and grit, the magic simply wouldn’t happen. This is where art meets discipline, and the impossible becomes reality. Meet them, honor them, because behind every great production lives a powerhouse of hidden talent. It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
Jason (Dean) Waldron
Host / Executive Producer
Steve Heintz
Executive Producer
Nikki Bell
Co-Host / Producer
Roberto Boschian
Engineer / Producer
Detroit’s rich cultural identity and enduring small business legacy take center stage in Detroit Icon, a new six-part streaming series created by Jason Dean Waldron, owner of Time Warp Vintage in St. Clair Shores. Detroit Icon takes viewers into the heart of the city, spotlighting the small businesses that have weathered Detroit’s highs and lows and emerged as powerful forces in shaping its future.
The series premiered its first three episodes on March 30 and is currently streaming on multiple video platforms, with continued expansion planned throughout April.
Following a year in production and the recent achievement of a YouTube Silver Creator Award (100,000 subscribers) for his Time Warp Live video podcast, Dean’s latest project expands his storytelling beyond vintage culture and into the streets of Detroit capturing the businesses and people who keep the city moving forward.
The Detroit Icon production team includes Host and Executive Producer Dean, Executive Producer Steve Heintz, Co-Host Nikki Bell, and Video Producer/Editor Roberto Boschian, whose combined efforts bring the series’ vivid storytelling and authentic voice to life.
A Love Letter to Detroit’s Enduring Businesses
Detroit Icon is more than a documentary series. It’s a celebration of the businesses that define the city’s soul. Through a cinematic, behind-the-scenes lens, the series highlights the importance of physical storefronts, emphasizing community loyalty, generational legacy, and the resilience of Detroit’s entrepreneurial spirit.
“Detroit has always been defined by its builders, but it’s not just the big names,” said Dean. “It’s the small businesses that have fought through every high and low to keep this city moving. Detroit Icon is about telling their stories, honoring their perseverance, and showing how they’re still shaping what Detroit becomes next.”
Detroit Icon Series Highlights
Season One:
• Pewabic Pottery — Featuring an immersive look at the handcrafted process, from raw clay to finished tile• Henry the Hatter — Exploring the shop’s storied past, including ties to Detroit’s infamous Purple Gang• John King Rare & Used Books — Offering rare access to hidden vaults and historic texts, including a first edition of Frankenstein
Season Two is already underway. Three additional episodes, including one featuring The Peacock Room, will complete the six-part series.
Streaming & Distribution
Detroit Icon is currently streaming on Relay and FAWESOME (Future Today platform), where it is already gaining early traction with audiences. The series is rapidly expanding its national footprint, with upcoming availability expected on:
• Amazon Prime Video (April)• Apple TV (April)• Pluto TV (late April)• YouTube TV (late April)
Additional platforms will follow as distribution continues to roll out.
Premiere Gala at the Detroit Historical Museum
To celebrate the launch, a special Detroit Icon Premiere will take place on May 1, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Detroit Historical Museum in the spectacular Allesee Gallery of Culture.
The evening will offer an immersive, vintage-inspired experience and include:
• A preview screening featuring highlights from Season One and exclusive sneak peeks of Season Two upcoming episodes• A live panel discussion with featured Detroit business owners and creators• Light appetizers and a curated mocktail experience• A 1940s–50s themed atmosphere, complete with vintage-inspired service and presentation
Guests will enjoy all the Detroit Historical Museum has to offer, with full access to three floors of engaging exhibitions.
Panel participants (tentative) include:
• Jason Dean (Moderator)• Joe Renkiewicz Sr. (Henry the Hatter)• A representative from Pewabic Pottery• A representative from John King Rare & Used Books
Tickets are $40 and will be available through the Detroit Historical Museum.
Tickets: go.detroithistorical.org/DetroitIcon
Origins of the Series
The origins of Detroit Icon trace back to 2020, when Dean began creating digital content during the COVID-19 shutdown through his Time Warp Live (TWL) show. TWL is a weekly live-streamed YouTube podcast airing Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m., co-hosted by Nikki Bell, that explores vintage, antique, and odd items through expert insights, care tips, history, and guest interviews. What started as a way to stay connected with Time Warp Vintage customers quickly evolved into a larger vision: documenting and preserving the stories of Detroit’s most enduring small businesses.
Dean’s work stands out for its inclusive, accessible storytelling approach, capturing voices and histories that resonate across generations and backgrounds. With Detroit Icon, he continues to build a platform that not only entertains but also preserves and amplifies the stories that define Detroit.
About Time Warp Vintage
Time Warp Vintage, owned by Dean and his husband Steve Heintz, is a popular vintage, antique, and collectibles shop in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, known for its well-organized and nostalgic shopping experience. The store features a diverse range of items from the 1950s through the 1990s, including clothing, toys, pop culture memorabilia, and Detroit history pieces.
About The Detroit Historical Museum is located at 5401 Woodward Ave. (NW corner of Kirby) in Midtown Detroit. Permanent exhibits include the Allesee Gallery of Culture, the famous Streets of Old Detroit, Origins: Life Where the River Bends, Doorway to Freedom: Detroit and the Underground Railroad, Detroit 67: Perspectives, Detroit: The “Arsenal of Democracy,” and The Glancy Trains. Historical content and virtual tours and exhibits are available at detroithistorical.org.
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TWL Clips,
Get the best moments from our weekly TWL show—the boldest, most electrifying conversations and exclusive insights. Tune in live every Tuesday evening from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Don’t miss a beat! Maybe you have a creative project with Vintage items to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
TWL (Time Warp Live) erupted onto the scene in 2020 out of necessity—a bold move to keep our small business alive amid the chaos of a global pandemic.
What started as a survival tactic quickly transformed into a powerhouse event, redefining live entertainment in a time when connection seemed impossible. Today, TWL stands tall as a major show, a testament to resilience and innovation that turned lockdown limitations into a groundbreaking platform. We didn't just adapt; we dominated.
With over 50,000 YouTube subscribers and counting, and more than 25,000 followers across other social media platforms, this rising star is dominating the digital scene.
Their bold content strategy and relentless energy are captivating audiences and setting new standards for engagement every day. The momentum shows no signs of slowing down—get ready, because this is just the beginning of a powerful media empire in the making.
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