Detroit has a RoboCop statue. I watched it go in myself on Wednesday. It's a real thing.

An amazingly detailed, 10-foot tall, 2.5 ton bronze behemoth will be greeting future generations coming to Eastern Market.

For more of the story, I sat down with three of the key people who refused to let this long-running project die:

• Filmmaker and original organizer Brandon Walley
• Producer and Free Age co-owner Jim Toscano
• Omni Consumer Products' "defictionalizer-in-chief" Pete Hottelet

Together, we unpack how a jokey tweet comparing Detroit to Philadelphia's Rocky statue turned into a nearly decade and a half odyssey that pulled in Hollywood effects legends, local foundry artisans, a major studio, and countless twists and turns.

Brandon explains how the idea leapt from a viral Facebook page into a real public art commission through the old Imagination Station, and why the team was adamant that the statue be made in Detroit.

He walks through the early missteps, the learning curve on how you actually build a 10-foot bronze figure, and the multi-year collaboration with Venus Bronze Works, the shop behind many of Detroit's landmark sculptures.​

Pete gets into the legal and technical hurdles: getting MGM on board, putting up his own money to show good faith, and insisting on screen-accurate detail by restoring Peter Weller's original armor from a warehouse in Houston with artist Mark Dubois and the legendary Tippett Studio.

One of the most interesting points for me, from a community perspective, is that he talks about "defictionalizing" Robocop's Directive One — serve the public trust — by turning the statue's plaque itself into a QR code that can connect visitors to community causes, donating straight from their phones.​

Jim shares how Free Age became Robocop's eventual "roommate" after other locations, including the Science Center, fell through during the pandemic.

He and Walley talk about the symbolism of placing Robocop on the edge of Eastern Market as a welcoming figure, arm extended, and how they're bracing — in a good way — for fans who donated years ago, people honoring loved ones, and visitors from around the world to show up on their Russell Street patio.​

Throughout, the group reflects on the grind of seeing a wild idea through nearly 15 years, the friendships and collaboration that kept it alive, and what it means for Detroit to finally have a pop-culture monument that is both deeply nerdy and deeply rooted in the city's perseverance and generosity.

You're not going to want to miss this conversation, or your chance to see a bit of movie history right here in the Motor City.

More on Eastern Market's website: https://easternmarket.org/robo-cop-statue/

More on Omni Consumer Products: https://www.omniconsumerproductscorporation.com/

Free Age: https://www.instagram.com/thefreeage/?hl=en

Brandon Walley: https://www.instagram.com/brandonwalley/?hl=en

Cover art photo by Ryan Southen.

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On this episode of Daily Detroit, host Jer Staes is joined by barchaeologist and writer Mickey Lyons to explore the newest and best places to grab a drink around the city. They dig into Mickey's latest guide for Eater Detroit, "The Best New Bars in Detroit Right Now," which highlights standout spots for cocktails, beer, and wine across the region. From intimate neighborhood joints to polished hotel bars and creative cocktail dens, the conversation covers what makes each place worth a visit, how they fit into Detroit's evolving bar scene, and why thoughtful hospitality still matters as much as a good drink.​

Jer and Mickey talk about how Detroit's bar culture has matured over the past decade, what trends are emerging behind the stick, and how new openings are spreading beyond the traditional downtown and Midtown cores.

They also share practical tips on what to order, when to go, and how to pick the right spot for your next night out, date, or low‑key hang with friends.​

If you're plotting your next bar crawl or just want a fresh place to become a regular, this episode is a handy starting point.

Check out Mickey's full list on Eater Detroit here: https://detroit.eater.com/maps/detroit-best-new-bars-cocktails-wine-beer

Feedback as always - dailydetroit -at- gmail -dot- com or leave a voicemail 313-789-3211.

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Detroit's Packard Plant finally has a realistic reuse plan — and downtown's historic Leland is abruptly shutting its doors. On today's Daily Detroit, Jer Staes is joined by producer Shianne Nocerini and reporter Luciano Marcon to unpack two very different development stories that say a lot about where the city is headed.

Packard Plant reboot

Jer and Shianne break down the newly announced 28‑acre redevelopment of the southern half of the Packard Plant site along East Grand Boulevard, after going to the announcement on the city's east side.

The plan, led by Packard Development Partners in a public‑private‑philanthropic partnership with the city and groups including the Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation, calls for a new 393,000‑square‑foot Class A industrial building and an estimated 300 permanent manufacturing jobs

They outline what's envisioned for the historic Albert Kahn building: 42 affordable live‑make units, a skate park, the Museum of Detroit Electronic Music (MODEM) and more than two acres of indoor‑outdoor public and recreation space, with completion targeted for 2029.

The team talks about why keeping the 1903‑era frontage on East Grand matters to the neighborhood and the city's psyche, and why this feels like a grounded, "doable" project instead of yet another Packard pipe dream.

They also speculate, based on the more than 50 loading docks and rail/freeway access, that the site is more likely headed toward logistics or shipping than a data center.

Leland House shutdown

In the second half, Luciano joins Jer and Shianne after a very cold visit to the Leland House, the nearly century‑old former Leland Hotel downtown that's now telling remaining residents they must leave with less than a week's notice.

Management letters delivered over the holiday weekend say the building will close by Wednesday, December 3, amid bankruptcy complications and stalled redevelopment efforts following the death of owner Michael Higgins.

Luciano describes what he saw inside:

• Residents relying on space heaters
• Visible water damage
• Tarps tacked to ceilings and years of deferred maintenance

The crew talks about the scramble by the city to help people relocate, the potential loss of jobs tied to longtime nightlife fixture City Club and the scale of money it would take to save the property.

Feedback as always - dailydetroit -at- gmail -dot- com or leave a voicemail 313-789-3211. Follow Daily Detroit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-detroit/id1220563942

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On this pre-Thanksgiving episode of Daily Detroit, Norris Howard and I come to you in our Sunday sport-coated best fresh from a heavyweight fireside chat with Detroit's outgoing Mayor Mike Duggan and Rocket's Dan Gilbert.

We react to a conversation that's a look into the future of Detroit and Michigan from two people shaping where we're headed next.

We break down the biggest takeaways from the discussion, including why housing affordability tops Duggan's agenda as he runs for governor (as an independent) and why zoning reform and building more duplexes, triplexes, and other smaller-scale multi-family housing are absolutely crucial for Detroit.

We get into the realities of market demand, population shifts, and why transit is still the other half of Detroit's comeback equation. Because whether it's chicken or egg, you need both people and transit to revitalize a city.

Beyond the political stage, Norris and I swap thoughts on how local development impacts long-standing communities, and why the land value tax push in Lansing was such a key piece of the mayor's agenda.

Then, we switch gears for a rapid-fire rundown of where to shop, eat, and support local business for Small Business Saturday across Southeast Michigan, from Merry in Midtown to the Rust Belt in Ferndale.

Plus, some of our holiday traditions, why you shouldn't ring the bell at the Two Way Inn unless you're feeling extra generous, and why supporting our local spots matters more than ever.

Feedback as always - dailydetroit -at- gmail -dot- com or leave a voicemail 313-789-3211. Follow Daily Detroit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-detroit/id1220563942

Or sign up for our newsletter: https://www.dailydetroit.com/newsletter/

On your Daily Detroit, we're diving into a crisis that affects not just our classrooms, but the future of our entire region: Michigan's unraveling education and talent pipeline.

I'm joined by Greg Handel, chief education and talent officer at the Detroit Regional Chamber. We're going to unpack a new report that doesn't pull punches…. Michigan has tumbled to 40th in per capita income nationwide, a far cry from the place we held just a generation ago.

The full report: https://www.detroitchamber.com/just-released-2025-state-of-education-talent-report/

We're going beyond the headlines. On this Tuesday, November 25 we get into:

What happened to our advantages? How did our state fall behind, and what's being done to reverse the slide?

In a world where place and talent attract each other, we'll explore the hard truths and real opportunities for a region at a crossroads.

Feedback as always - dailydetroit -at- gmail -dot- com or leave a voicemail 313-789-3211.

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On today's show:

• At what temperature do you stop wearing shorts?

02:31 – Detroit Lions narrowly defeat Giants, and the season is on the line

• The "Cardiac Cats" deliver another stressful win: the Lions barely get by the Giants.

• Jer and Fletcher break down the wild ride that is the Jameis Winston experience ("more fun when it's not your team on the line!"), and how Jamir Gibbs stepped up in historic fashion.

• Deep dive into what's working and what isn't—especially a candid convo about Jared Goff, the offensive coordinator, and whether the Lions are too predictable.

• The hosts highlight what must improve for Detroit with national eyes on them for Thanksgiving against the Packers—a critical NFC North matchup.

• Both agree: If the Lions want a real shot at the playoffs, they basically need to win out.

11:12 – Detroit Pistons: 12-Game Win Streak and Rising Hopes

• The Pistons are HOT: 14-2 with a 12-game win streak, taking down Milwaukee on the road (even if Giannis was out).

• "Are the Pistons for real?" Discussion weighs schedule quality, team growth, the impact of new players, and how Detroit is earning national respect.

• Local pride watch: Shoutout to Ryan Rollins (Macomb Dakota) leading Milwaukee in the absence of their stars.

• Being able to expect the Pistons to win games, not just "play hard"—Detroit fans everywhere can relate how good this feels!

• Call to listeners for vintage Pistons gear for the studio.

18:11 – Red Wings: "Wings in Flight" and Atlantic Division Leaders

• Quick coverage of the Red Wings' strong season—they're leading the Atlantic and scoring with flash.

• Props to Dylan Larkin, DeBrincat, and Lucas Raymond, plus some talk about the Yzerplan paying off.

19:35 – Stephen Carroll retires as DCFC Captain for Front Office Role

• Longtime Detroit City FC captain Stephen Carroll announces retirement from the pitch but stays with the club in a (yet-to-be-named) front office role.

Feedback as always - dailydetroit -at- gmail -dot- com or leave a voicemail 313-789-3211.

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This episode of Daily Detroit with Jer Staes and Devon O'Reilly covers:

• Thanksgiving vibes: Jer and Devon kick off with light banter on their favorite Thanksgiving sides

• Where we've been: Devon shares his experience at the new Ford World Headquarters grand opening in Dearborn, highlighting the innovative "glass spaceship" campus, family legacy, and downtown impact. This includes the historic Dearborn Inn and its newly redone literary-themed cottages.

• Where we've been, pt 2, holiday happenings: Jer describes the festive transformation of Michigan Central Station for "Winter at the Station," complete with interactive video walls and seasonal events, making it a must-visit holiday destination in Corktown.

• Community and connection: We encourage listeners to explore diverse neighborhoods and businesses across Metro Detroit! Get to know your neighbors!

• Facing serious news: The conversation shifts to recent protests in Dearborn, debunking harmful myths (notably, the false "Sharia law" narrative) and reflecting on the robust, peaceful, and united local response. Devon, recently elected to City Council, shares some hsitory and context about Dearborn's resilience and diversity — as outsiders coming around with factually false ideas is nothing new.

• We end with calls for stores from listeners in communities across the region. After all, Daily Detroit has the core value of localism.

Feedback as always - dailydetroit -at- gmail -dot- com or leave a voicemail 313-789-3211.

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Jer and Norris are in with hot takes and hot stories around Metro Detroit!

03:12 - Sweetgreens opening day annoucement

05:32 - Belle Isle news: Zoo to be demolished and the historic Boat House will be leased to developer

11:41 - David Whitney Building converting existing apartment units to condos

15:07 - DTE Energy trying to fast track approval for data center

20:27 - Sinclair media trying to buy EW Scripps - which includes WXYZ Channel 7 here in Detroit

What do you think of the new "Nasty Dogs" Pistons nickname? Plus, Cade's getting his flowers with a new show; the Lions look kinda lacking and need to step their game up if they're gonna make the playoffs.

PLUS - Eminem and Paul Rosenberg are producing the halftime shows for Thanksgiving Day for the next three years. First up? Jack White.

We're supported by you, our members on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DailyDetroit

Feedback as always, dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211.

Me and photographer Ryan Southen reflect on Ford's new glass-clad headquarters across from The Henry Ford in Dearborn. We get into the design elements, the thoughts behind the campus, and details we noticed from the tour.

It shows an organization that's looking not only to the future, but to having a campus that top talent from around the country would want to work at.

Ford's new World Headquarters isn't just glass and steel. It's a 2.1 million square foot bet that Metro Detroit and Michigan can compete for talent with Silicon Valley.

You can see the entire photo tour on our website here: https://www.dailydetroit.com/see-inside-fords-big-bet-on-the-future-a-new-world-headquarters/