Daily Detroit

There's been a ton of scrutiny, including from this podcast, about the Ilitch family's failure to follow through on its promises to develop the District Detroit. Now, The Detroit News reportsthat the Ilitches also own 44 vacant lots and eight empty buildings surrounding the MotorCity Casino Hotel complex, where the family now hopes to build a seven-story parking structure.

But ya know, yours truly has been doing some thinking about the whole District Detroit thing, and I may have actually found a silver lining, which I discuss in this episode.

Elsewhere, we round up some recent food and fun news:

• The New York Times name-dropped two Detroit chefs among its list of 16 Black Chefs Changing Food in America. And here's our friend Melody Baetens' writeup on the same at the News.
• Syd Gold's Request Room opens Friday.
• Taqueria Mi Puebla is expanding to Macomb County.
• The Detroit Symphony Orchestra will hold a pop-up old-school video game arcade on Tuesday, coinciding with the performance of "Video Games Live."

Last but certainly not least, soccer correspondent Fletcher Sharpe joins us to talk about Detroit City FC's NPSL Midwest Region semifinal match Friday against Minneapolis City SC, plus some weird shenanigans elsewhere in the Midwest Region.

Thanks for listening to Daily Detroit. If you like what you're hearing, tell a friend about us, leave us a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or support us by becoming a Patreon member.

We previously told you about a project that would overhaul the Livernois streetscape, north of 6 Mile (McNichols) to 8 Mile. But it seems that things, at least for local businesses, aren't going so well.

Jonathan Merritt joins me on the show today to talk about what's happening on the Avenue of Fashion. He says the project — though he's excited about what it will bring — is putting many of the businesses in danger of closing, including his own, Narrow Way Cafe.

Narrow Way opened in 2017 and has quickly become a neighborhood anchor.

Beyond the immediate things happening on the Avenue, I took the time to talk to Merritt about being of service in the community and what that looks like. After all, he has a unique perch of the city and region as a Pastor at Straight Gate International Church, an entrepreneur, and now an author.

His new book is "Step Out: Leave Your Impact On The World."

On today's show, Jer talks with Jill Gonzalez an analyst from WalletHub about Detroit being the most stressed city in the United States.

Then, Sven talks with Drew Kups from the Michigan Glass Project about the upcoming glass show at the Russell Industrial Center this weekend.

Also, here's a pair of quick stories around town.

• The Detroit City Council has rejected a plan make Spirit Plaza a permanent instillation.
• Kuzzo's Chicken and Waffles in the Avenue of Fashion has temporarily closed for renovations. They are expected to reopen in November.

Thanks for listening! Love what we're doing? Consider telling a friend to subscribe free on Apple Podcasts.

Today we're talking about Michigan's emerging recreational marijuana economy with Roberta King.

She's the founder and owner of Canna Communication, a communications firm focused on the cannabis sector.

Plus, we bring you up to speed on:

• The start of UAW negotiations
• The Regional Transit Authority (2045 priorities map is here)
• The city of Detroit has partnered with 3 universities to get its own economic data
• And upcoming Detroit City FC playoff matches.

Happy Friday, friends! On today's show, we run down the new proposal by Lansing Republicans to fix the damn roads in Michigan. They want to borrow $10 billion against teacher pensions. What could go wrong?

Also, Jer tells us about his recent visit to the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood on Detroit's east side. Specifically, the flooded streets east of Jefferson, where canals that cut through the neighborhood from the Detroit River have topped their banks.

Lastly, what's up with White Claw? Sales of the so-called "hard seltzer" — which tastes to me like a LaCroix mixed with vodka, blech — have surpassed those of all other craft beers save for Blue Moon. We discuss.

Thanks for listening to Daily Detroit. If you like what you're hearing, tell a friend about us, leave us a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or support us by becoming a Patreon member.

The Detroit Shipping Company is a recent success on Peterboro, just west of Cass.

The "shipping company" part, if you didn't know, doesn't refer to logistics and freight but to the 21 shipping containers that make up the two-story building.

It's about 10,000 square feet of food and beer hall, having a variety of culinary outposts and a couple of bars in a blended indoor/outdoor space. Reports last year said it cost about $3 million dollars to build.

And before we go any farther, cards on table. We kind of have front row seats. As long time listeners of the podcast probably know that we often record at the Podcast Detroit studios within the complex.

The Detroit Shipping Company has now been open a year, so I figured it's a good time to take the temperature and talk to their Events General Manager Julie Sailus about the story of the place, what they've learned, what they'd really like to see in the neighborhood and how they're celebrating a year in business.

DSC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DetroitShippingCompany/

We run down your headlines plus Randy Walker joins us to talk about Duck in Novi, Bread at Kroger and Dumplings downtown.

The RISK! Podcast lives in a unique place in the podcasting world. If you're not familiar, the show is a series of short stories by the known and unknown that are true and boldly told.

What does that mean? It means the topics are very real. They're sometimes heartfelt. Sometimes risqué. And most often, hilarious.

So my guest today is the ring leader of the podcast, comedian Kevin Allison. He has credits in a variety of media, but the for the last decade — along with his talented co-conspirators — he's been producing RISK!

It has a passionate following and millions of downloads to their credit. It's often a traveling show and they're coming here to Metro Detroit on August 15 to Ferndale's Magic Bag.

We chat about storytelling and podcasting, including how to develop the good stories that are already inside of you. Enjoy.

If you like what you're hearing and want to keep pushing Detroit's conversation forward, support us on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

Welcome back from the holiday weekend, comrades. Today's show is Episode 300 of your Daily Detroit, and for that we thank you, our listeners. We also dive into two pieces of Ilitch-related news:

• First, that Olympia Development has missed a deadline to submit a development proposal for a parcel on Woodward between the Little Caesars Arena and I-75. After already receiving a one-year extension. [Crain's]
• Secondly, that Chris Ilitch signed Tigers GM Al Avila to a "multi-year" contract extension, because the Tigers rebuild is never-ending going great!

Other things you'll hear on No. 300:

• Soccer correspondent Fletcher Sharpe joins us to recap Detroit City FC's big weekend, in which it clinched the conference championship and a spot in the NPSL playoffs.
• Stevie Wonder is getting a kidney transplant.
• Ann Arbor could get a new 19-story high-rise behind the Michigan Theater. [MLive]
• Lobster Week is a thing, and it's happening at two Detroit-area eateries.
• Two Guys From Italy pizzeria is closing in Hazel Park.
• The newly reopened Belle Isle conservatory is extending its summer hours.

Thanks for listening to Daily Detroit. If you like what you're hearing, tell a friend about us, leave us a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or support us by becoming a Patreon member.

Welcome to the final podcast before Independence Day!

Here's what we cover around town:

Sven and Jer ruminate on the legacy of Lee Iacocca, who died at the age of 94. [NY Times]

The state of Michigan has issued new emergency rules outlining requirements for new marijuana businesses now that voters have legalized recreational weed. The rules are meant to help local municipalities and prospective business owners decide whether they want to participate in the new industry.

Plum Market is opening in downtown Detroit. Randy sent us details. It has groceries. A grab and go bar. And a Moet champagne vending machine.

Detroit Eatz is opening in downtown Farmington. With a drive thru deli counter. And yes, it's another business that ends their name with a Z. [Crains]

And, Fletcher Sharpe joins us to talk about the red-hot Detroit City FC.