While other retailers are closing doors, Burlington is cutting ribbonsadding six new stores across Michigan.

Watch Meghan Daniels' video report: Burlington opens 6 new Michigan stores while other retailers close doors

The discount retailer's secret? The thrill of the deal hunt that keeps customers coming back for more.

"We get a tremendous value on our stuff and there's, it's limited quantities, so when you come in as a customer, you don't know exactly what we're going to have and it creates this treasure hunt where sometimes we'll see customers come in 2 times, 3 times, 4, 5 times a week just looking for what just came in the truck," said Marty Frent, Michigan regional vice president for Burlington.

As other retailers retreat from brick-and-mortar locations, Burlington is betting big that Michigan shoppers still love the huntand the thrill of finding that perfect deal.

On Friday, the store held a grand opening in Livonia, marking its third store opening in Michigan just this month.

"I like their quality and the prices, and they have a variety of things," said Natalie Malone, a shopper.

Malone said the in-person shopping experience offers something online retailers can't match.

"You get out, be social, you see people, you might meet someone at the store. Who knows? I like it better than online, getting out, for sure," Malone said.

That's exactly what Burlington is banking oncustomers who still want to shop in-person, touch the fabric, and see the deals for themselves.

This comes in a year when Forever 21 closed down and some Kohl's and Macy's stores shut down across the country.

"It's nice to come in so you can put stuff on and see how it looks, and man, we got teen grandkids," said Kim Harris, a shopper.

Harris said the treasure hunt aspect keeps her coming back.

"You always get good surprises, you know, things you wouldn't think would be in the store, like, oh, bear paws, UGG, you know, that you have to get online when you can come in here and try them on," Harris said.

For many shoppers, it's about the experience and instant gratification.

"You can try it on and you don't have to ship it, put it in a box and ship it, wait another 14 days, and you can get it the same day," said Monique Rahaman, another shopper.

Burlington leaders are betting on that connectionthat human element of shoppingis what online retailers can't replicate. The company expects to open more stores in 2026.

"It creates that treasure hunt experience. We're bringing people instead of just sitting there shopping, you know, in front of your computer," Frent said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Detroit's downtown area transformed into a colorful celebration of South Asian culture as families gathered for "Diwali in the D," a festival honoring the traditional holiday known as the festival of lights.

The event brought together traditional dances, dazzling light displays, and local businesses showcasing South Asian flavors and customs right in the heart of downtown Detroit.

"With everything going around the whole world, this brings a little bit of light and joy in your lives," said Nisharth Patel, owner of Social Brew.

Diwali originated in South Asia and is now celebrated worldwide to symbolize the victory of light over darkness. The Detroit celebration highlighted not just the traditional aspects of the holiday, but also the connections made between families, friends and local businesses.

"Everybody just gets together. I mean, if you look around you, you will see a lot of people just hanging out together," Patel said.

Local restaurants and shops used the festival as an opportunity to showcase their cultures and flavors. Kushi, a restaurant featuring South Asian street food with a Detroit twist, participated in the celebration.

"Fruit vendors back in South Asia, they do put this, they do put a similar spice around fruits in India and in South Asia and Pakistan, Bangladesh and India," said Nilma Khan, co-owner of Kushi.

The festival also celebrated Kukur Tihar, a special day within Diwali that honors pets for their love and loyalty. Momo Cha, a Nepali-inspired business, highlighted this tradition.

"The celebration today is Kukur Tihar, and so it's the day that we celebrate our loving pets, our dogs, and some people also honor their cats. So that's how we have celebrated in our family," said Louisa Ainsworth, owner of Momo Cha.

Event attendees Mercy and Ruben Pawar brought their pet to participate in the cultural celebration.

"In our culture, animals are considered to be very sacred and especially with dogs are so loyal, so we wanted this opportunity where he'll get the blessings and be able to be part of this celebration," Mercy Pawar said.

The festival represents more than just lights and decorationsit's about sharing culture and celebrating togetherness in what many consider one of Michigan's most diverse cities.

"There's a huge diverse group of business owners, culture and so to kind of bring everybody together in one place, I think it's a really cool thing and it's needed," Ainsworth said.

Community members expressed excitement about having such a celebration in Detroit.

"When we heard that we are having this festival celebration as a community in Detroit, we were so happy because we thought that's a good opportunity to come and be part of that," Mercy Pawar said.

The celebration continues with additional events planned throughout downtown Detroit.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

From fixing furnaces to installing air conditioners, there's a growing need for workers who can keep metro Detroit's homes running. These jobs aren't just in demand they're changing lives and providing a pathway for young people to build a future without debt.

Michael Lepinat is a service technician with C&C Heating and Air Conditioning. He says he found his path in the trades after realizing a traditional career just wasn't for him.

Watch Meghan Daniels' video report below: HVAC careers can offer debt-free path to success for workers in metro Detroit

"I get to speak with people and work in a changing environment. I'm not stuck behind a desk all day, and I'm presented with different challenges each and every day that I get to overcome," Lepinat said.

"Being in a trade has been nothing but great in my life. I wouldn't be who I am today without it," Lepinat said.

Nationwide, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates there are over 60,000 unfilled HVAC positions a gap industry leaders hope young talent can help close.

Justin Coker is the service process manager and maintenance field supervisor at C&C who oversees all of the apprentices. He tells me the company invests heavily in training new talent, often fresh out of high school.

"Every person's a little bit different, but we want to make sure that when we're putting our technicians into people's homes, they feel confident, we feel confident, and the customer feels confident," Coker said.

Coker says he knows that journey firsthand.

"I started many years ago as a maintenance technician, quickly worked my way up through service and now into management, and then there's some guys that veer off into more of a sales role. There's some guys that just continue to do service until they retire," Coker said.

While many young adults face college debt, Lepinat says the trades offer something different stability and freedom.

"I can only imagine what it would be like to have hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt and not be able to get a job in the field that I studied for. I know a lot of people that way, family members even that spent years at college and have master's degrees and doctorates, and they're constantly faced with an open job market and not knowing where their next paycheck is gonna come from," Lepinat said.

Instead, he found success through hard work and a career that continues to grow.

"You get what you give, and if you want to be the best somewhere, then there is gonna be some hard work and some long hours that you're gonna have to put in, but if it's something that you're truly dedicated to and that you love doing, it's worth it. The sky is the limit," Lepinat said.

"We love working with people that are fresh out of school and want to see their career take off," Coker said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

More than 140 metro Detroit high school seniors got a jump start on their college futures at a special event where they could apply and even be accepted into universities on the spot.

The event at Oakland University took the stress out of the college application process for many students. Instead of waiting weeks or months for acceptance letters, students received assistance filling out applications and, in some cases, found out immediately whether they were accepted.

Watch Meghan Daniels' video report below: Metro Detroit seniors get on-the-spot college acceptances at special recruitment event

"This really is about fit and that they can learn more about the college selection process, be able to talk to us individually about the things we have to offer them, and then use that information to kind of make a more informed decision," Shane Lewis said.

Lewis is the director of admissions at Oakland University.

More than 50 colleges and universities participated in the event, including Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, Kalamazoo College and Kettering University.

Alyssa Dondineau from Berkley High School found the immediate feedback particularly valuable.

"I think it's really cool how they just look at your transcript and they decide right then and there instead of having the stress and the anxiety trying to figure out am I gonna get in, am I not," Dondineau said.

She applied to Ferris State University, Saginaw Valley State University and the University of Michigan-Flint campus.

For many students, including first-generation college students like Autumn House, the day marked a significant milestone. House is a senior at Madison High School.

"They're really proud of me to see that I'm the first in my family to be kind of going to college and being committed to it," House said.

House emphasized that her journey has been about preparation and persistence.

"I've reached out to like admissions officers from different colleges who have helped me and I've asked them questions about their campus, questions about applying, things that I should say," House said.

Her advice for other students is clear.

"Start as early as possible and do not procrastinate, even though it seems like there's as much time in the world," House said.

Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars organized the event. According to the organization, it's about more than just acceptance; it's about building confidence and connections.

"Education is for absolutely everyone, but that looks different for everyone. And so you need to really be aware of what are you into, what are your natural gifts, talents and inclinations, because there's work connected to who you are as a person," Tiffany D. Haddon said.

Haddon is the success program manager for Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars.

She emphasized the importance of students considering their whole selves when choosing a college.

"Your whole self is going to college, not just your grades or your academic self your health, your physical self, your mental self, your emotional self. So make sure that when you're thinking and looking at different colleges and universities that they address you as a whole person," Haddon said.

Research shows that finding the right fit is crucial for student success.

"Find a sense of belonging. What the research tells us is that students who find a sense of belonging in their first year of school are 70% more likely to graduate. It's not money, it's not grades, it's that I belong here," Haddon said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.