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By Ingrid Sjostrand

WHEN ICE THAWS AND THE SNOW MELTS, Metro Detroit streets start to fill with the dusted-off motorcycles previously hibernating all winter. Oftentimes after a harsh season, these bikes could use a little love – or maybe an extreme makeover – and that’s where Bad Pig Customs takes pride.

“We service and build motorcycles; we do anything from A to Z as far as customization goes. And we’ve got a storeroom that has parts, so we can do part sales,” co-owner Dave Foster says. “We can’t sell motorcycles because we don’t have a dealer’s license, but we do everything that needs to be done on American motorcycles only.”

Located at 1806 E. Nine Mile, Foster and his partner Mark Zagacki opened their Hazel Park shop in 2012 when they saw a growth in the industry and a lack of shops like theirs.

“There was a need – not just in the city, but in the motorcycle industry. It is getting larger because of gas mileage and stuff,” Foster says. “It’s a shame that in Michigan it’s not a necessity to have a motorcycle because of our weather – real short season – and the state considers it a recreational vehicle.” Foster says.

ONE THING THAT MAKES BAD PIG CUSTOMS unique is that they have an in house parts shop, so there’s no waiting for parts to be ordered and shipped in. Zagacki is actually well-known in the community for his parts knowledge and accessibility.

“We’re actually two businesses in one. We have Oak Park Mark — he sells parts — and then Bad Pig Customs is about service and custom builds,” Foster says. “We’re partners but I try to run this side and he tries to run that side. He’s been known as Oak Park Mark for many years, so we threw the second business in there.”

Being located in Hazel Park has served the business fairly well too, and they are hoping to add a local bike night but are still searching for the right location.

“It’s actually a really good location, we’re right on the edge of Macomb County, Wayne County and the Southeast corner of Oakland,” Zagacki says. “We’re kind of positioned in between the little four corners, and we’re far enough away from Harley dealers that we shouldn’t really take away from any of their business.” “There aren’t too many bike shops in our ten-mile radius,” Foster adds.

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By Ingrid Sjostrand

ONE SIGN OF A STRONG BUSINESS COMMUNITY is longevity – when many companies thrive and expand, it’s proof that the city and its residents care about supporting local endeavors. Hazel Park has many staple businesses that have grown with the city and helped support and build a stronger community. Capital Sales Company is one such venture leading that pack.

In business for over 30 years, Capital Sales Company has been essential to the success of Hazel Park and has also received help from the City. The wholesale distributor, located at 1471 E. Nine Mile Rd., sells to businesses in more than 20 states.

ON THEIR WEB SITE they describe themselves as a “full-line distributor of grocery, candy, tobacco, health, beauty care, dry goods, meat snacks, restaurant supplies, automotive and dollar store items. We provide shoppers with unmatched customer service and are committed to meeting our customers’ high expectations for service and product selection.”

Many of Capital Sales Company’s customers include convenience stores, dollar stores, restaurant suppliers, and other retail outlets.

The business expanded their Nine Mile Rd. location after receiving a Brownfield Single Business Tax Credit of $200,000 from the city of Hazel Park in 2005. The money was used to grow their warehouse and distribution center by 38,000 ft. It also created 30 new jobs and generated $2 million in private investment.

The support Capital Sales Company received from the city has not gone unnoticed, and the business has not shied away from returning the favor. Sam Haddad, President of Capital Sales Company, donated over $10,000 to the Hazel Park Recreation Department to help with the construction of a playscape in Scout Park.

This is just one example of how businesses and cities support each other, and how everyone in the community can benefit.

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ESTABLISHED IN 1993, THE EIGHT MILE BOULEVARD ASSOCIATION (8MBA) is composed of 13 communities and three counties along Eight Mile Road. In conjunction with the Michigan Department of Transportation, businesses, neighborhood groups and corporations like DTE and ITC, they facilitate collaboration between
these stakeholders toward the revitalization of Eight Mile Road, with a focus on a span of 27 miles of the corridor.

An IRS-designated 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, 8MBA and its partners employ projects to unlock Eight Mile’s socioeconomic potential, including business assistance, community development, beautification projects and more.

The Mission Statement: “The Eight Mile Boulevard Association (8MBA) revitalizes and promotes the Eight Mile transportation, business and residential corridor be-tween I-94 and I-275 by linking the efforts of the public and private sectors.” It’s great, but it doesn’t cover everything going on in this dynamic and progressive organization.

Many jurisdictions begin, end and overlap on Eight Mile, complicating services such as public transit. Eight Mile’s reputation as a divider between Detroiters and subur-banites also fuels socio-economic inequality. The 8MBA seeks to change this.

ENTER BETHANY HOLLAND, HAZEL PARK’S 8MBA REPRESENTATIVE and meteoric fire-starter. Although Hazel Park borders only roughly one mile of Eight Mile Road with I-75 cutting through the city’s section, Holland’s energy for the 8MBA could light up the entire 27-mile span. Holland, of course, also serves on the Hazel Park City Council.

She was quick to volunteer her time for the representative position, and sees the 8MBA as a great platform for change. With a large, spirited membership, 8MBA has been focused on beautification and economic development of the Eight Mile corridor.

Hazel Park has hosted the 8MBA board meetings twice in the past year. Holland indicated that it is her highest priority to improve pedestrian safety with a proper crossing at Eight Mile and Dequindre Roads. The Belmont Shopping Center is working with the city planner on making a safer pedestrian crossing at this Tri-County corner where Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties converge.

While Hazel Park is a founding member of the 8MBA, Holland reports that the City hasn’t been an active participant in recent years due to financial and other constraints during the economic downturn. That is all changing. Cities are emphasizing art and walkable communities. And right now, Eight Mile is not walkable, but there are some colorful murals being painted on buildings along the corridor. Holland would like to continue to create those opportunities for local artists.

Another challenge that Holland and the 8MBA are ad-dressing is the public transit along the corridor. Eight Mile is one of the busiest transit routes in the Metro area, and they need improved transit opportunities. Right now, most bus stops are simply signs on a pole that indicate where riders need to stand in order to catch their bus. She would like to see more covered waiting areas for riders that will protect them from rain, snow, wind, and road debris.

HOLLAND SEES THE 8MBA AS A GOOD ORGANIZATION to rebrand Eight Mile. “Everyone in the
8MBA is passionate about making this a road you want to drive. If you’ve had the opportunity to drive Eight Mile recently due to the I-696 construction, you may have seen the economy percolating along the boulevard. Vacant buildings are filling up. Signage tells you what city you are in as you travel the corridor, and drivers will notice a ton of new development in the Tri-County area of Eight Mile Road.”

Holland recognizes the huge economic opportunities that are opening up for Hazel Park and surrounding cities. She believes that Hazel Park needs to jump on those opportunities now and build on the momentum. 8MBA is a perfect partner for that.

8MBA has played a big role in supporting the business-es and communities bordering Eight Mile Road for 25 years. 8MBA provides it membership with a voice and serves as a conduit for regional collaboration. For more information about 8MBA, its work in the community, and how you can be a part of the revitalization of this historic Boulevard, go to eightmile.org

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By Maggie Boleyn
IF YOU’VE NEVER SEEN AN EPISODE OF TruTV’s reality show, “Hardcore Pawn,” you may not know that pawn shops are a quick way to obtain cash, either by taking a loan against valuable items or by selling those items. Low interest loans are made by the shop, holding the item as security. When the customer repays the loan, the item is redeemed.

American Jewelry and Loan (AJL), featured in “Hardcore Pawn,” opened in 1978. The 50-thousand-square-foot main location in Detroit serves more than 250 customers every hour. AJL has also opened branch locations, launching a Hazel Park shop in June of 2016.

“Hazel Park is a great community of closely-connected people, and we’re thrilled to be a part of the exciting things happening here,” says Les Gold, founder and president of AJL. He is the author of the book, “For What It’s Worth: Business Wisdom from a Pawnbroker.”

“Our Hazel Park customers know that they can come to us for the cash they need when they need it,” adds Seth Gold, AJL’s Vice President. “Our core business is writing loans against gold, coins, jewelry, tools, game systems, equipment, and other items of value.”

Essentially, pawnbrokers are lenders. “Pawnshops provide access to quick cash for individuals who use their property as collateral,” continues Seth. “Of all of the alternative lending options available, pawnshops are the only ‘non-recourse choice’; meaning that pawn loans do not impact the borrower’s credit score or ability to borrow in the future,” he explained.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL PAWNBROKERS ASSOCIATION (NPA), customers come from every part of society, and have an unexpected need for short-term cash. Pawn loans typically range from 30-90 days. Approximately 80 percent of pawn customers repay their loans and redeem their collateral. NPA says about three-quarters of pawn customers take out a pawn shop loan two or more times a year. NPA says, “Pawn loans keep the electricity on, rent paid, and cars running.”

“Most of our customers pay the interest, and return to pick up their merchandise,” Seth Gold said. “Sometimes items are forfeited and become available to sell.” As a result, he says a pawnshop is also “a great place to shop.” He says, “You never know what you’ll find at American Jewelry and Loan.”

There’s no guarantee, but you could find one of the Golds in the store. As third and fourth generation pawnbrokers, the Gold family still manages AJL’s day-to-day operations, working at the stores nearly every day. They do work at the Hazel Park store occasionally, which is located one block north of 8 Mile and John R, at the northeast corner of Muir and John R, in the former home of Joey’s Pawn Shop.

AJL is celebrating their 40th Anniversary by partnering with Junior Achievement of Southeast Michigan. Through the “Gold Bank,” young people can obtain low-interest loans to set up their businesses. “The hardest part of getting a business off the ground is finding start-up capital,”  said Les Gold. “With the Gold Bank, I am pleased that these young entrepreneurs will have one more options to build their companies and their futures.”

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By R. Ennis

GETTING A NEW BUSINESS OFF THE GROUND CAN BE CHALLENGING. You may face problems with finding a good location, remodeling that space to fit your needs, and securing the right staff to help you run it. Even after you have surpassed all those hurdles, you still may encounter another obstacle: Coming up with the appropriate signage and graphics for drawing in the public.

Meet J. D. Bayer—who, together with his ATS Signs Partner Steve Corby, can help you spread the word about your products and services. Bayer has been working in the fields of videography, photography, and graphic design for over 15 years. His more recent experiences as a sign designer brought him to the attention of Corby, who hired him to enhance the graphics for Corby’s Anything That Ships (ATS) Store. Impressed with Bayer’s work, Corby suggested that combining their know-how would benefit others.

“I designed the sign atop the building, the window and van logos, and the banner in front of the counter,” Bayer says about the Hazel Park site. During the time he set about those tasks, “Steve and I talked about how our businesses complement each other quite well. We saw how we can offer everything a new business needs to promote itself.”

Corby opened his Anything That Ships Store about a year ago. The expansion of the space to include ATS Signs occurred about two months ago. To let the community know about the broader range of ATS services, they literally took to the Hazel Park streets and
approached local business owners about working with them to find solutions for meeting their advertising goals.

BAYER AND CORBY HAVE ALSO FOUND WAYS to promote their services in-house.

When people come in to ship things,” Bayer says, “we might ask them whether (the packages) are for a business. If they answer ‘yes,’ the conversation moves forward from there.”

The strategies have helped to keep Bayer busy with many projects. His clients include Sneaker Pimp, a local high-end athletic wear company, and Robertson Custom Painting in Madison Heights, specializing in painting residential properties, for whom he created both its business cards and yard signs. Presently, he is making enticing graphics for Universal Jewelry & Loan in Hazel Park.

In the meantime, you can visit www.theatsstore.com for more information on ATS and its full line of printing, packaging, and shipping services:• Digital printing, copying, and finishing services:

• Mail box services
• Packaging, shipping & receiving
• Moving supplies & packaging materials
• Additional products & services – faxing, key cutting, notary, document design (such as invitations), etc.

If signage is what you want, Bayer encourages you to contact him, or stop in to his office at ATS and discuss how he can develop materials well-suited for marketing your business. Even if your advertisement ideas are beyond his immediate scope of expertise and cannot be produced at the shop — LED signs, for example, and other dynamic displays — he says he will do the research and collaborate with other designers to make them happen.

“Our goal is to be the place to go to for your media needs.”

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By Maggie Boleyn

TONY’S ACE HARDWARE, ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF WOODWARD HEIGHTS AND JOHN R, IS A LONG-TIME COMMUNITY TREASURE.

“The store has such a long history, and many people feel connected to it,” says Matthew Abramsky, owner and operator. “I love when someone comes in the store and comments: ‘My dad worked here when he was in high school.’ That is why I opted to keep the name “Tony’s” even though no one named Tony has been involved in the business for many decades.”

Tony’s, which opened in the 1930s, is one of the city’s oldest continuously operating businesses. Abramsky managed the store from 2004 to 2010. In November of 2010, he and his wife Sharon bought the business.

“Having the opportunity to own Tony’s is a blessing,” Abramsky says. He considers it “a privilege” to serve Hazel Park, Ferndale, and surrounding communities.

TONY’S AFFILIATE, ACE HARDWARE, is the world’s largest home improvement company. However, each Ace Hardware store is independently owned and operated.

“I think many people believe Ace is a chain but, really, this is our ‘mom and pop’ hardware store,” Abramsky continued. “We buy much of our merchandise from Ace and collaborate with other local Ace owners on advertising,” he explains. “People often comment how they come to Tony’s for the hard things to find. Sharon and I have put a lot of effort into expanding every department in our store. We have had customers drive in from Canada for specialized merchandise!”

Tony’s offers services like key- cutting, paint-tinting, screen repair and glass-cutting. Currently, a wide election of Weber and Traeger grills are featured, along with Yeti products such as indestructible coolers and insulated mugs.

Abramsky recalls some unusual customer requests, such as an older man buying a large pair of metal snips to “trim his toe nails.” A dozen Dremel tools were snapped up by a woman — “for her nail salon.”

“I love owning this business,” Abramsky says. “I want to contribute as much as I can to the city and to my customers.”

Tony’s certainly contributed in 2014, selling flood-related items and cleaning supplies. “I hope we were able to make cleanup and recovery easier,” says Abramsky. He noted Ace “was a tremendous help”, quickly delivering extra supplies. “I remember selling people mops right out of the boxes as we were unpacking the truck.”

“It’s an exciting time to be in Hazel Park,” Abramsky concludes. “I believe in this community and value my loyal and hardworking customer base more than I can say.”

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By Mary Meldrum

THE FORTHCOMING CANNABIS MUSEUM, on John R in Hazel Park is the creation of owner, Curtis Goure, who is also the owner of BDT Smoke Shop next door. Goure came up with the idea about six years ago, long before he really knew if the industry was going to be a viable business.

A long-time participant of the cannabis counter-culture, Goure began working at BDT Smoke Shop as a clerk many years ago.

“BDT started as a hippie head shop that sold roach clips, pipes, black light posters and, things of that nature,” Goure explains. After a few transitions and rubbing up against local, state and especially federal laws, BDTs Smoke Shop – and other head shops –have found more secure footing in a culture that is now less “counter.”

Medical marijuana is legal in Michigan, and legislators are watching states with legal recreational cannabis, like Colorado and California, with an eagle’s eye. A report from BDS Analytics, a cannabis industry research firm, estimates sales of cannabis to hit $3.7 billion by the end of 2018. Projections demonstrate that number will increase to $5.1 billion in 2019 as more dispensaries come online, making the marijuana industry bigger than beer in California. That’s big.

According to some expert projections, legalization of marijuana nationwide – medical as well as recreational – could conservatively create $132 billion in tax revenue and more than 1 million new jobs across the United States in the next decade.

These are not the numbers of a counter-culture. This is big business, and the growth is more like a wild fire. Legislators and regulators are working hard to keep up with the pressing demands the new industry is forcing on them.

AND IN LIGHT OF THE EXPLOSION OF THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY, all of a sudden, a Cannabis Museum is completely relevant and important.

Goure had formed a relationship with celebrity Tommy Chong, and developed a fascination for old hippie collectibles many years ago. He started collecting tickets, trinkets, memorabilia, old bongs, posters, roach clips and a myriad of other paraphernalia.

Goure thought it was important to have a venue, to educate people about the history of cannabis and hemp. He approached City Manager Ed Klobucher and the Director of Planning and Economic Development, Jeff Campbell, who were both open to the idea – a complete change from previous Hazel Park administrations.

Money is a big factor in the operation of a museum. Gaining a working knowledge of how to operate a museum has been a challenge for Goure, who enlisted the help of the U of M Museum Design group. They did some research, and found key people with museum director experience. They began the tedious tasks associated with categorizing, documenting, displaying and curating the collection, etc.

The Cannabis Museum is hoped one day to be a world-class tourist-attraction. It now has over 16 curatorial and research departments, including publications, films and artifacts. There are over 300 items in the museum’s collection, all carefully documented and illustrated to help the public understand all aspects of cannabis and hemp from a social, cultural, medical, legal, technological, historical and current perspective.

Visitors will be able to learn about the biochemistry of cannabis, chromosomes and genome, taxonomy, and its etymology. In addition, the museum examines the ancient and religious uses of cannabis; historical hemp, medical and recreational use through to present day.

The Cannabis Museum was set to open up in 2018, but Goure reveals that it all depends largely on funding and if Michigan votes to allow recreational cannabis.

BECAUSE OF THE RICH HISTORY OF CANNABIS, Goure would like to ensure that a certain part of the museum will be rotating displays.

“There was a lot of propaganda in the 1930s that demonized cannabis and eventually made it illegal; state-issued stamps, movies like “Reefer Madness,” news articles that demonized cannabis and took it out of circulation for accepted medicinal use,” Goure states. “Throughout the 1930s, ‘40s and beyond, news articles show how attitudes have changed. It was a socially-accepted medicinal item in the early 1900s, then persecuted in the 1930s. Right now, general public opinion of medicinal marijuana is polling in the high 70s, percentage-wise. That is a big change in perception.”

Many patients are looking for non-addicting pain and medicinal relief, asking physicians for scripts for cannabis rather than opioids. Doctors used to be against the use of cannabis, and that is changing. Information about the benefits of cannabis has been there for decades, but has been snuffed and squashed by competing interests.

All of this industry news results in an uptick for Curtis Goure, BDT Smoke Shops, and the Cannabis Museum, and demonstrates how Hazel Park’s forward-thinking will pay off in the near future.

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By Maggie Boleyn

THE PHOENIX CAFÉ, FORMERLY LOCATED AT 24198 JOHN R RD., CLOSED ITS DOORS ON DECEMBER 23, 2017. While founder and co-owner Steve Gamburd says it wasn’t so well-known by Hazel Park
residents, it continues to hold a legacy among artists and musicians in the area.

“We created an art and music scene like no other, and it was never a bar! It was one of the few all-ages venues at the time, and now there are none in the area,” he says. “Unfortunately, I would guess that only five percent of the population of Hazel Park knew what we were.”

First opening in 2009, Gamburd, along with partners Hans Barbe and Michael Wiggins, successfully hosted themed art shows, concerts, community fundraisers and other events. The original goal was to create a community that supported sustainable living and held workshops; my goal was to have an art gallery, concert venue and community space,” Gamburd says. “Others that shared this vision made this place what it was.”

When The Phoenix Café hit a lull in late 2012, they decided to spend some time and money renovating. “I wanted a space free of old carpet, with matching furniture, an open stage, a solid cafe counter and a nice gallery. I wanted people to come in and buy art or enjoy a show in a clean space,” Gamburd says. “We completed renovation within six weeks and had our grand re-opening party on February 15th, 2013.”

After re-opening, some roles shifted with Wiggins leaving for other projects and Been Frank, a community organizer and music producer, joining the team. Been acted as sound engineer and helped coordinate events at The Phoenix Café, like Maybash – a popular, four-night concert series over Memorial Day weekend.

“Soon enough, our art events were huge, as well as many of our concerts. We had Tuesday figure drawing, Wednesday Open Jam Club, and Friday and Saturday shows on a regular basis,” Gamburd says. “Artist Steve Czapiewski became a major Phoenix associate with the figure drawing classes and art exhibits.” That success continued with local press attention for their festivals, involvement in the Hazel Park Arts Council and planning of the Hazel Park Art Fair, and a variety of themed art exhibits at The Phoenix – including Hallow Art, Steampunk Art Show, See What Stacey Started Art Show and a Nintendo Art Show. Musicians were thriving there too.

“Many bands got their start at The Phoenix, many musicians formed new bands out of the Phoenix, touring bands made The Phoenix an easy go-to for booking,” Gamburd says. “We were known on a national and regional level for booking in Detroit as a primary D.I.Y. space and resource.”

Despite success, in 2017 Gamburd made the decision to shift his career focus and close The Phoenix Café. “I wanted to be an artist again, create more and gig more with my bands. “We threw a huge, four-night closing party just before Christmas and invited all of the bands that frequented the place over the years.”

While the space has closed, pieces of its legacy remain. Several Hazel Park bars have started picking up where the Café left off: Joebar hosts occasional concerts and Cellarmens books bands and hosts monthly figure-drawing classes. Even its mural (hand-painted by Gamburd) still remains – for now – on the north wall of the barber shop and men’s clothing store that previously filled the space.

“My mural of the phoenix on the north wall of 24918 John R states the motto of Detroit, ‘We hope for better things. It shall rise from the ashes’,” Gamburd says. “As 2018 began, we already have spread our wings and are now both mobile and stationary at new venues!” Gamburd continues to hold figure-drawing classes around Metro Detroit at places like Scribblz in Utica and held a fundraiser in May for the Art Council with Hazel Park BDT. Frank still uses The Phoenix Cafe’s social media for booking concerts at Hamtramck Korner Bar and New Dodge Bar.

Gamburd sees this continued success as an extension of The Phoenix Café, and doesn’t expect it to change anytime soon.

“The Phoenix wasn’t just a space. It was and still is a strong community that will be in our hearts forever!”

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By Becky Hammond

GENTRIFICATION SEEMS AN OVERUSED WORD THESE DAYS, AND IT NOW HAS SUCH MULTIPLE MEANINGS THAT IT’S MAYBE BEEN LEFT WITH NONE. But it’s a constant topic, a current running throughout news stories that seem to be about other subjects. If you’re reading the Free Press or People or listening to NPR, whether the topic is Ford buying the historic depot in SW Detroit or the Brady Bunch house selling, the accompanying multiple meanings that its maybe left with none. But it’s a constant topic, a current running throughout news stories that seem to be about other subjects. If you’re reading the Free Press or People or listening to NPR, whether the topic is Ford buying the historic depot in SW Detroit or the Brady Bunch house selling, the accompanying changes in the communities are an automatic and expected part of the story.

Ferndale was once called “the new Royal Oak,” with some excitement. Our downtown seemed empty. Royal Oak’s new popularity and higher rents were our gain. Now, “Don’t Royal Oak My Ferndale” is a new catchphrase. It was probably inevitable that Berkley and Clawson’s business districts were doomed to be called ‘New Ferndales,’ and it’s probably just as inevitable that Oak Park’s and Hazel Park’s residential districts seeing home prices shoot up as Ferndale out of reach for many. The changes any city goes through are constant. They have ripple effects.

When is enough enough? How much is too much? And who decides? Peter Werbe, a long-time Oak Park resident, told me, “Most of the Ferndal-ization of Oak Park is occurring on the city’s East Side. Young families and hipsters are taking advantage of the real estate prices that are lower than those in Ferndale and Royal Oak, but it also means that home prices are skyrocketing. Which is good; except the down side, like in all gentrification, is what happens to the poorer people who get displaced?”

Cities and neighborhoods nationwide face these challenges. The Highlands is a funky neighborhood in Louisville, KY, which shouts its indie character. After a visit, I contacted Carmichael’s Bookstore to find out if, given the appeal of what independent people achieved there, developers were in the wings. But the Highlands have been organized and prepared for a long time. “There is an association for businesses called
the Highland Commerce Guild and several neighborhood associations in the area that are very active about growth. There is also a committee one must apply to about any changes to zoning, signage, parking, etc., and most importantly we have a very active Buy Local organization in Louisville.”

There always seems to be a connection between bookstores and neighborhoods with character. Ferndale and Oak Park boast Book Beat, King Books, and The Library Bookstore on 9 Mile. Regarding a feared influx of chains in Ferndale, longtime Library Books owner Martha Sempliner said that chains “. . .destroy every bit of individualism. We get that effort in Ferndale. We have people that will provide it. That gumption, that stick-to-it-iveness impresses me. I don’t want chains that take over individual effort. You can get that anywhere. I want a walkable city where people can go to a number of kinds of businesses that are useful to them. We don’t need a zillion bars.”

Ferndale resident Jeannie Davis echoed Martha: “In the ‘70s, Ferndale’s downtown was filled with retail, and moms shopping for kids. The kids moved away, retail dried up, and our downtown was desolate. Because of innovative thinking, we reinvented ourselves, and became a destination for people looking to eat and drink. Suddenly Ferndale was cool, and property prices went up. Now, with the guidance of different innovative leaders, we are changing again. We are greatly expanding our number of places to live. Lots more rentals, and condos. I don’t know if that’s good or bad.

CERTAIN RESIDENTS WANT SOME OF THE CHANGES, not others.

John Hardy said, “Yes, Royal Oak my Ferndale. The East side has no problem with it. Just spend some of the taxes on this side like they should be doing, and not putting new houses and apartments where they absolutely and positively do not belong!

An anonymous semi-newcomer told me, “There are a lot of people my age and younger (20s-to-mid 30s), and probably newer residents and homeowners, who see large building initiatives – which will turn Ferndale into more of an urban area – as ‘progress’ because they want to live in a cool, hip city without living in Detroit. They’re also people who might live here for five or so years before they move to a different suburb for a larger house in an area they perceive as having better schools. They kind of champion investment in a ‘good time’ instead of a ‘long time’, because they want to live in a cool, fun place while they’re young and move their families someplace they perceive as being more family-friendly later on. This seems to be in direct conflict with some people who have lived here longer and raised a family here when it was a sleepier suburb, and want to keep it that way.”

Does Royal Oak enjoy its reputation as the thing to imitate and yet not be? Comparisons abound no matter the city. Oak Park resident Ann-Marie Young said, “I don’t know about this ‘Royal-Oak-my-Oak-Park’ idea. An important distinction between the two cities is this: Oak Park is a community. We know our neighbors. We look out for each other. We celebrate birthdays and create meal trains during difficult times. If a driveway or sidewalk needs shoveling we keep going clearing the path across property lines.”

Vittoria Valenti is just as enthusiastic. “We moved to Oak Park almost a year ago and love it! We lived in Royal Oak previously, and were looking to buy in a city with more of a neighbor-hood vibe. We’re extremely happy with the city services offered and compared to neighboring cities they are exceptional. That said, I’d love to see the vacant store fronts on 9 Mile filled with a diversity of tenants. I’d prefer to spend my money within the city of Oak Park, but right now it’s hard. Royal Oak, Ferndale, or Berkley offer more variety and higher quality options. I’m not particularly interested in a nightlife scene in Oak Park, but affordable, quality restaurants would be a great addition. We don’t need to become mirrors of our neighboring cities, but we should find our niche to remain competitive and relevant. The last thing I think anyone wants to see is people moving into Oak Park for proximity to these other cities and not becoming part of our community.”

John Vavrek: “Oak Park needs a vibrant and attractive downtown area. Connecting to the Ferndale 9 Mile corridor with businesses and restaurants is also not a bad idea.”

SOME CITIES SUCCESSFULLY FOUGHT DEVELOPMENT DECADES AGO, and now are correcting their previous course. Yellow Springs, Ohio is a charming town near Dayton that took warnings about a potentially exploding population in the 1960s seriously. Executive Director Karen Wintrow’s descriptions of no-growth and no-sprawl policies make Yellow Springs sound like a small Vermont. But now a need for more housing density has resulted in a revamping of zoning laws. And successes like a thriving tourist industry give rise to fears that the walkable downtown with businesses residents actually need is leading to too many galleries and gift shops. Experiments like turning an old high school into community space worked until the private owner neglected the building to the point where now it can’t be sold.

Cities like Ferndale have similar concerns and successes. Lakewood, Ohio, is a suburb of Cleveland with a reputation like Ferndale’s. Resident Todd Flenner told me about “…all of the luxury condos going up in our city and who the hell is going to live there? Lakewood has always been a city with funky, cool, old buildings and local businesses. We try to fight the corporate chains opening up, sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. I think the city is still going in a good direction with a few speed bumps along the way. We still remain one of the most diverse cities.”

Diversity is a source of pride in Ferndale, too.

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By Ingrid Sjostrand

NINE MILE AND WOODWARD MIGHT BE THE HOTSPOT IN THE FERNDALE AREA FOR SHOPPING, DINING AND SOCIALIZING, but there are other neighborhoods popping up and competing for attention. One is the newly developing Iron Ridge District, running along Bermuda Street between 10 Mile and 9 Mile Roads in Pleasant Ridge and the northeast corner of Ferndale.

At first glance, most of the space still resembles the industrial sector of its past. But it is quickly filling with tenants, and development company Iron Ridge Holdings LLC has plans to turn it into a more welcoming, community-centric space. Brooke Gieber, Iron Ridge Holdings Team Member, explains the goals for the area.

“We really are in the business of building community. It will truly be a mixed-use development, with plans for additional retail space, hospitality and residential,” she says. “Still staying true to the industrial and manufacturing heritage of the community, but also bringing some modern amenities and neighborhood services.”

Current businesses include Farm Field Table, a locally-sourced butcher, Provisions cheese shop and Urbanrest Brewery, all located off Woodward Heights and gaining popularity and acclaim among Ferndale and regional residents. Matt Romine, founder of Farm Field Table, says choosing the Iron Ridge District for his business made sense in a variety of ways.

“First of all, Iron Ridge is a great location logistically. Second, the lease rates were great which made the decision easy for a brand-new company,” Romine says. “Thirdly, and most importantly, the attitude and vision of the other tenants of Iron Ridge was very attractive for us. It’s a place for builders and entrepreneurs to operate independently, but as a tight knit group…there are several trusted professionals who are eager to help.”

At the other end of Bermuda near 10 Mile Rd and I-696, the district crosses into Pleasant Ridge. This area is referred to as the Iron Ridge Marketplace. The main marketplace “tower” has some history; originally built as Voigt/Oakman brewery in the late 1930s, it acted as the E-Prize headquarters in the early-mid 2000s before the vacant space was purchased by Iron Ridge Holdings.

Businesses in the Marketplace include the Iron Ridge Holdings offices, Urban Ridge Realty, web development company Loudbaby, furniture designer Alex Drew & No One, 3D engineering services Fisher Unitech, business incubator Excelerate America, advertising agency Driven Creative Supply Co. and newly-opened gym Pulse Fitness.

Alex Rosenhaus, co-owner of Alex Drew & No One, has seen a benefit of the district’s efforts to build relationships among businesses.

“Iron Ridge is building an excellent community for small businesses. Having relationships with fellow tenants like Provisions has even brought us work, like the cheese boards we make for their store,” he says. “We are excited to be a part of the Iron Ridge community as it continues to grow.”

AS THE SPACE IS RENOVATED, more tenants will move in, and plans for a beer garden, brewery and even residential space are in the works for the future.

“It’s a unique situation with adaptive reuse, as we have tenants moving in all the time and there are different types of activation happening concurrently with pop-up community events,” Gieber says.

While there won’t be a hard completion date, many tenants have found unique ways to keep interest piqued during construction. Prior to opening on June 23rd, Pulse Fitness held open house and workout events at Iron Ridge, and Drifter Coffee hosted pop ups and festivals throughout the spring and summer on the property as they wait for their permanent space to be constructed. Iron Ridge Holdings has held several of their own events too.

“We have a lot of things in the works that are really exciting in terms of community programming and how we want to help,” Gieber says. “We aren’t just real estate developers, we are place-makers and are able to help with adaptive reuse of space and find ways that actually enhance what’s already going on in these amazing communities.”

Some of these community programs included a tree lighting during the holiday season, Taco Tuesdays and Food Truck Fridays. Plans are also in the works for cinematic and live music events in the next few months. Current and future tenants all agree these events have helped their businesses.

“Food Truck Fridays brings a lot of foot traffic to our studio, and is an exciting event Iron Ridge has been organizing to bring more people to the area,” Rosenhaus says.

Cathy Koch of K-Tec Systems adds, “This is a unique area where businesses collaborate to help with each other’s success. The Iron Ridge area truly promotes a livable, walkable, working neighborhood.”

Gieber says many more things are in the works for the district and the best place to follow Iron Ridge developments are through Facebook and Instagram – @ironridgemarketplace.

“As a resident of Ferndale, I’m excited to see different portions of the city highlighted and gaining neighborhood services that make it a more walk-able area,” Gieber says. “As things get more activated and new tenants host their grand openings, we are excited to see how this space will play out –not only having these amenities for our building tenants but for the surrounding community too.”

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