BIRMINGHAM, MI — A Birmingham fashion boutique is facing an uncertain future after a second break-in left shelves and racks nearly empty. Via Manzoni, a high-end store carrying designer clothing, shoes and sunglasses, was hit just after 4 a.m. on Sept. 17, and owner Giulia Zhou says thieves took almost everything inside.
Security cameras captured the burglary, and police came to Zhou’s home to tell her the store had been broken into. She says the losses were so extensive that the business has not been able to reopen. The shop remains closed while she figures out whether it can survive the damage and restock in time to make the business viable again.
Break-in happened after added alarms and private monitoring
Zhou says the burglary was especially painful because she had already spent thousands of dollars trying to make the store harder to target. After a previous break-in about two years ago, she added more alarms to the windows and hired a third-party security company to monitor the store around the clock.
Even with those steps in place, she says the thieves still got in and emptied the boutique. Zhou also notes that she chose the location partly because it is directly across the street from the Birmingham Police Department. That made the second burglary feel even more shocking, she said, because it happened so close to a police station and after the store had already tried to strengthen its defenses.
Police say the boutique was specifically targeted for its merchandise
Birmingham police confirm this was the second reported break-in at Via Manzoni. The first happened in June 2024, and investigators believe the shop was targeted because of the valuable merchandise it sells. Police also said the suspects in both cases appear to be from the same area outside Michigan.
At this point, police say there is no indication that other nearby businesses are being singled out in the same way. Still, the repeated burglary has raised concern among people who work in the area. Zhou says she was stunned that the business could be hit again after taking added security measures, and neighbors say the store is an important part of Birmingham’s small-business community.
Neighbors say the repeated burglary has shaken confidence
Local business owners say the incident has left them frustrated and uneasy. Jeff Merriam said he believes there should be a stronger visible police presence in the neighborhood, especially if break-ins like this continue to happen. He said businesses should not have to wonder whether the area is being watched closely enough.
Mirriah Jackson described the burglary as disheartening and confusing, saying it is hard to understand how a neighbor and a well-known local business could be targeted again. For nearby owners, the break-in is not just about one store’s losses. It has also become a reminder of how vulnerable independent shops can feel when a theft involves high-end inventory and expensive merchandise.
Insurance may help, but timing makes recovery harder
Zhou says insurance should cover the broken window and most of the stolen merchandise, but the financial blow is still serious. She estimates the stolen goods were worth at least $100,000, and the delay in replacing them creates another problem for a boutique built around specialty fashion.
Because many of the items are seasonal, some replacement inventory could arrive after it is no longer current. That timing matters for a store that relies on fashion-forward pieces and a carefully selected stock. Zhou says Via Manzoni is not a large corporate chain, but more like a family business, so any loss has to be absorbed directly by the owners.
Owner questions whether Via Manzoni can reopen at all
For now, Zhou says the store must stay closed because there is nothing left to sell. Customers can still shop the remaining merchandise online, but the storefront itself is not operating while she assesses what comes next. She says the business has already been dealt a difficult setback, and the second burglary has made her question whether reopening is realistic.
Zhou, who moved from Italy to the United States, says she has built her career here and wants to be part of the local community. That is why the repeated burglary has felt so personal. She says the situation is sad, and anyone with information is being asked to contact the Birmingham Police Department.
