On today's show, I sit down with Francis Grunow, the guy behind the Greater Detroit Windsor Project.
We dive deep into thinking about a bigger future for our area – not just the city, not just
The Weekender: Tips for Tigers Opening Day
The Detroit Tigers home opener is a veritable holiday in Metro Detroit, with tens of thousands descending on Downtown Detroit to cheer on the city's oldest team.
It's also a marker of spring. Today is
On today's Daily Detroit: First we do a little "Where we've been" talking about a new coffee shop in Hazel Park and Devon's potty training technique.
Then, tariff talk.
It was announced Wednesday that there
The Jackson Home, originally in Selma, Alabama was a crucial place in the fight for true freedom for African-Americans.
It's been moved here to Metro Detroit at Greenfield Village in The Henry Ford, so
On today's all-local Detroit podcast with Fletcher Sharpe and Jer, three big topics:
01:36 - Understanding the direct impact of tariffs in a practical way
06:
On today's all-local daily podcast with Jer and Norris:
- New Area Code: 679 is getting added to the City of Detroit and nearby suburbs in Wayne County due to the exhaustion of numbers in
We discuss the rise of Pickleball in Metro Detroit, as well as the auto tariffs that look to be coming.
We get into the minor irritations of life in the digital age and in Michigan... starting with a shared grievance about the overuse of the term "hidden gem" to describe anything slightly off the beaten
On today's Daily Detroit:
00:33 - Discussion about legendary historic Detroit mayor Hazen Pingree and his legacy, as we also thank all the people who came out to Tocororo last night.
06:00
Today's show is in two parts.
First, we have more details on the demolition of the old Southwest Hospital and cleanup of neighboring lots to make room for a new soccer stadium for Detroit City.
On today's show:
- Michigan Central Station: Jer and Shianne discuss their planning meeting at Michigan Central Station, noting changes in the back area and its popularity for weddings [00:35].
- National News and Tariffs: They
On today's Daily Detroit:
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Tariffs possible impact on consumers
Rocket's Acquisition of Redfin
Road closures in Greektown
Business closings (Coffee Down Under and Zeoli's)
Street Beet Takes Over
A partnership between Ste. Anne's and the newly-formed The Catholic Initiative is paying for a $30 million rehabilitation of the Basilica of Ste. Anne, aiming to guarantee its future for the next couple hundred years.
Built in 1886, Ste. Anne's is one of 89 churches in the U.S. to have the "minor basilica" distinction. It is the eighth structure in the parish's history. Ste. Anne's dates back to July 26, 1701, two days after Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac and a group of French people traveled from Quebec and settled in Detroit.
The parish's history is linked to the whole state. One of its early pastors Fr. Gabriel Richard printed the first newspaper in Michigan, co-founded the University of Michigan, and was a delegate to Congress from the Michigan territory.
The Vatican approved this partnership. Part of the agreement transfers ownership of the building and campus to a non-profit to preserve the basilica and property.
The Catholic Initiative assumes all responsibility for maintenance and renovation, while the Ste. Anne's parish retains exclusive and permanent rights to use the property as a Catholic church and basilica through a 200 year renewable lease.
The Catholic Initiative is supported by the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, paying for $111 million in projects to guarantee long-term perpetuity for community institutions and programs.
Coffee Down Under, an Aussie-inspired basement coffeeshop at Shelby and Congress in Detroit's Financial District, will be done on March 15. They had been open for four years.
For some time now, a one-person operation has been all we can justify, but that has come with a bit too much unpredictability for the kind of reliable experience we strive to offer our guests.
While this chapter is coming to an end, we’re already working on ideas for what’s next—whether it’s a new concept in our space or the right partner to better suit the space and the evolving downtown landscape. If you have thoughts, we’d love to hear them!
The closure will not impact The Shelby, the bar next door.
I interviewed Coffee Down Under owner Tarun Kajeepeta for PBS Detroit at the start of 2023. He raised concerns then about the decline in office workers.
Of the three businesses I talked to for this piece, two are now gone from downtown. One left their retail space and consolidated at a building they own in Hamtramck, and the other restaurant is open — but has more limited hours and days than before COVID.
In a number of follow-up conversations, I've been told that the area seems to now have more foot traffic on weekends and evenings than during the day as more regional tourists spend time in downtown Detroit.
The Owner/Chef Megan Shaw says the new Street Beet spot will be "a full-service dining experience, a walk-up window for quick bites, an innovative bar program heavy on mocktails, and an in-house bakery program."
Street Beet has gotten a name for itself making fast-food inspired plant-based dishes.
They aim to create a true "third space" at 1800 Michigan Avenue in Detroit with "game nights, DJs, and a multifunctional community hub."
Street Beet will be open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner — and do a brunch. They'll be open at their current spot in Third Street Bar until the new spot is ready.
Washed Up Coffee is also coming to the space, ran by Emily Potter and Amélie Haakonsen, will run alongside their breakfast service and serve pastries as well.
If you're a listener to our show, you might know the name Amélie Haakonsen as also is part of Dessert Oasis - who we talked with for Detroit Coffee Week last year.
Haakonsen is adding this project on top of the other work.
No opening dates were given.
The Prince of Brightmoor, Norris Howard, is in as we talk about the latest impacting Metro Detroit and Michigan.
Plus, we field a flock of Canadian feedback on our Monday show and get into limits
A bakery that doesn't exist in Ferndale, Lafayette coney returns, it's the end of the line for Bobcat Bonnie's in Corktown, A historic district for the rencen gets denied, and more! Today with Shianne Nocerini.