Daily Detroit has learned that Chipotle Mexican Grill, the fast-casual chain known for its burritos and bowls, is planning to open a new location on Woodward Avenue in Ferndale this fall. A spokeswoman tells us the new store will open at 23123 Woodward Ave., on the corner of Cambourne Street, in the site of a former Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, which recently closed. Rumors about a new Chipotle had been swirling on a Facebook group, and Daily Detroit producer Shianne Nocerini recently took photos of t...
Jul 08, 2020•26 min•Ep. 544
Coronavirus Updates (and Detroit City Hall opens for some in-person services) Bronco launches Lincoln Continental fades away A Detroit City Council Staffer is dead in an apparent murder-suicide A group erects a billboard outside of Livonia to call out police practices Republicans lose challenge to the new anti-gerrymandering laws Petition language approves to curtail Whitmer's executive power And Sven has thoughts about Michigan's thumb and how to inject some economic life into the area....
Jul 07, 2020•20 min•Ep. 543
On today's show: We track the state's official COVID-19 numbers, plus highlight a new tool to look at the situation by county across the nation from the Harvard Global Health Institute. This will help us understand things better as Michigan is a geographically large state. Look up your county: https://globalepidemics.org/ Karen Dybis stops by virtually to talk about the Detroit Kite Festival coming up, a great way to have some fun in a socially-distanced manner. https://detroitonthecheap.com/det...
Jul 06, 2020•18 min•Ep. 542
Welcome to the holiday weekend, everybody. This is certainly a strange one, with coronavirus numbers once again on the upswing in Michigan and across much of the country, adding a complicated wrinkle to what is normally one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. On today’s show, we make a house call to our friend Dr. Paul Thomas, founder of Plum Health Direct Primary Care in Detroit, for help answering your burning questions about COVID-19. We talk face masks, whether it’s safe to eat at re...
Jul 03, 2020•30 min•Ep. 540
On today’s Daily Detroit: Indoor bars across the lower half of Michigan have been ordered closed because of the coronavirus uptick. Plus: A conversation with Jarrett Schlaff, co-founder of Pingree Detroit. Their worker-owned business has some big news from a pivot - one of the recurring themes of these Coronavirus times - and they’re expanding. He joins us for more. And Journalist Tiffany Esshaki of the Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle brings us the wild story behind Bloomfield Township leaders suing...
Jul 02, 2020•30 min•Ep. 539
On today's show: A Coronavirus update, with new numbers and school start guidelines. A University of Michigan study says 1/3rd of parents will keep their kids home when the school year starts. Slaveholding former Michigan Governor and Senator Lewis Cass - his name is no longer on a state office building. It's now named after two representatives that fought for civil rights. Dearborn removes signs that used shawarma sandwiches to display distance apart from people after some pushback The nonprofi...
Jul 01, 2020•20 min•Ep. 538
Hello Detroit. I’m back from Michigan’s vacation wonderland and here to report about the efforts that many vacationers appear not to be taking to safeguard themselves and others against the coronavirus. Based on my experience, I’d recommend limiting your visits to businesses and other public spaces if you’re planning to head Up North. And wear a mask! Other things you’ll hear on today’s show: The 2020 Woodward Dream Cruise is officially canceled. What does that mean? We discuss the latest COVID-...
Jun 30, 2020•25 min•Ep. 537
When we can, it’s important to take a break. To have something fun, to help us get away mentally from what’s going on. So today, a tasting of Anteel, a Detroit-based Tequila brand - then a conversation with their co-founder, Don Ferguson.
Jun 26, 2020•21 min•Ep. 536
Three segments today: First, local Coronavirus news. Cases are up, gyms are angry they can't open, the DIA is reopening, a local drive-in movie theater takes top spot in the nation, and the city of Detroit is going to crack down on n'er do wells when it comes to bars and restaurants. Then, Eater Detroit's Brenna Houck joins us to talk about progress with To-Go cocktails as well as how restaurants are dealing with the Coronavirus and masks. Pieces discussed: Michigan Legislature Passes Bill Pavin...
Jun 25, 2020•28 min•Ep. 535
Today's show is in two parts. First, electric automaker Rivian is moving their future operations to Irvine California. This is a big blow to investment and future jobs in our state and region. Jer breaks down the story and talks about why we need to stop promoting yes-man slappys, and make some structural changes to how business is done in Metro Detroit and the state to be competitive. And that means investing in what makes our place a better place to live instead of handing out incentives like ...
Jun 24, 2020•18 min•Ep. 534
On today's show: Martha Firestone Ford steps aside as owner of the Detroit Lions, daughter Sheila Ford Hamp takes over. Gyms are reopening Friday, despite what the Governor would want. What are the most American made car brands and automakers? The answers might surprise you. Dr. Paul Thomas joins us to talk about the continued need to stay smartly vigilant about the Coronavirus and wear masks. They also have a new location of Plum Health DPC opening up in Farmington Hills. Thanks for listening t...
Jun 23, 2020•14 min•Ep. 533
For Monday: Local news around town including the latest Coronavirus numbers according to the state. Plus: The New York Times reports that Detroit was a center of Federal aerial surveillance during the protests. More: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/19/us/politics/george-floyd-protests-surveillance.html You now need a pass to get into Michigan state parks. An update on Shelby Townships' new Chick-Fil-A in progress which township officials want to get done soon. The chain is controversial and popu...
Jun 22, 2020•17 min•Ep. 532
Our Friday conversation is with former Detroit Police Chief, former Detroit deputy mayor and educator Isiah "Ike" McKinnon. He served decades in the community he loves and has big ideas for what we could do to reimagine what a police department is. Ideas you might not expect to hear out of a former police chief. And some of them might be familiar to you if you have seen the demands of protestors on the streets today. Also, a couple of housekeeping notes. Sven is on vacation next week. And thanks...
Jun 19, 2020•25 min•Ep. 531
Today: Local headlines from an embattled police Chief in Shelby Township, to Coronavirus updates, Greektown Casino is laying off hundreds, and Oakman Boulevard in the city is getting new green infrastructure. Then we check in with our man about town, Devon O’Reilly, on what’s happening in greater downtown Detroit around bars, restaurants and if people are returning to the streets. Finally, Sven Gustafson talks with Tim Hygh of Mackinac Island Tourism about how Coronavirus has impacted the touris...
Jun 18, 2020•30 min•Ep. 530
On today's show: The Bronco returns with a curious launch date. OJ Simpson's birthday. We talk about a number of places around town opening or reopening. The new Milwaukee Caffe walk up window. Tree Runner Adventure Park (and should there be a zip line place in the city?). Kabuki Korean and Japanese. How restauranteur and TV personality Dave Change likes Jet's Pizza. The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village are reopening. Also, from our last episode, listeners have a couple of statue suggestions fo...
Jun 17, 2020•22 min•Ep. 529
On today's show: A landmark ruling for LGBTQ civil rights started right here in Metro Detroit. It has big implications, but Michigan state law still has huge holes that don’t protect gay and transgender people. A metro Detroiter is being imprisoned by the Russian government. The latest on the case of Mark Whelan. Coronavirus cases in Michigan are trending in the right direction, and we have a clearer picture of what’s happening in nursing homes. The Christoper Columbus statue in downtown Detroit...
Jun 16, 2020•17 min•Ep. 528
We don’t cover Ann Arbor all that often on Daily Detroit, but we can’t deny that a lot of interesting things come out of Tree Town. Case in point: The City Council recently approved a plan, years in the making, to make the entire city of 120,000 residents go carbon neutral by 2030. That makes Ann Arbor the first city in southeast Michigan to set such an ambitious goal. The plan is called A2Zero, and it revolves around six core strategies, including moving the grid to 100% renewable energy, boost...
Jun 15, 2020•16 min•Ep. 527
Welcome to an Al Fresco Friday edition of your Daily Detroit! Very socially distanced and outdoors, but for the first time in weeks, Jer and Sven are in the same place on the air. On today's show: Three key things to know as Detroit reopens, from barbershops to street closures for socially distant dining to DDOT service expanding. The Macomb County prosecutor's office is not going to press charges against an Amazon delivery driver that was arrested this week. Amazon also weighs in and says they ...
Jun 12, 2020•20 min•Ep. 526
On today's podcast: Dashcam and viral video footage show the arrest of an Amazon delivery driver in Warren. Advocates say it was over the line; Police say don't call it a "bad cop" scenario. There's a Federal lawsuit against the city of Sterling Heights about a wrongful arrest after a young black man was placed in a chokehold for loitering while he waited outside his job for his dad to pick him up. Fixing the roads in Michigan? After the projects already funded, it looks like that's not happenin...
Jun 11, 2020•26 min•Ep. 525
Friend of the Daily Detroit podcast Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health joins Jer on today’s show to talk all about the health and medical risks of tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets, which it turns out mostly aren’t made of rubber. It’s a timely topic, given the use of these things by heavy-handed police departments across the country in response to the Black Lives Matter protests. Also, we discuss the cancellation of the 2020 Mackinac Policy Conference, after it was postponed to August, Maco...
Jun 10, 2020•15 min•Ep. 524
Donald Trump turns 74 on Sunday, and local supporters of the president plan a boat parade in celebration. No, that’s not a joke. Meanwhile, I report on a big Black Lives Matter march that took place in Ferndale over the weekend. The Michigan MAGA Boat Parade is planned to kick off Saturday afternoon at a marina in Harrison Township on Lake St. Clair and wrap up at 4 p.m. near the Ambassador Bridge on the Detroit River. It comes as public opinion polls reflect dismal views of the job the presiden...
Jun 09, 2020•21 min•Ep. 523
You might have heard of the Detroit Justice Center and The Bail Project on social media the last week or so. But what do they do? It turns out, quite a lot. Eric Williams and Erin Keith join us to talk about the changes on the ground their organization is working on. We also tackle the topic of cash bail and its role in American society. https://www.detroitjustice.org/ Then, three things you should know around town. Marches and protests were peaceful over the weekend as police are not enforcing ...
Jun 08, 2020•20 min•Ep. 522
On today’s show: Haircuts are coming back, and a bunch of stuff is reopening in northern Michigan Michigan’s Coronavirus numbers are trending in the right direction The Chief of Police in Shelby Township is in trouble for saying terrible things about protestors under a pseudonym; while a member of their city’s board of trustees is worried about the Chief's first amendment rights. Shelby Township is almost 90% white and one of the fastest-growing suburbs. The former president of the UAW, Gary Jon...
Jun 05, 2020•17 min•Ep. 521
On today’s show, we bring you the latest news about ongoing protests in the city and region, and we discuss the ramifications of new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that say unemployment in Detroit proper is at 51% right now, third worst in the nation behind Las Vegas and North Las Vegas. What does this mean for Detroit’s much-vaunted “comeback”? Also making waves across Michigan today: The parent company of HopCat, the craft beer-focused restaurant chain, has declared Chapter 11 bankru...
Jun 04, 2020•20 min•Ep. 520
Our feature stories include a conversation with Wayne State Police Chief Anthony Holt on a new de-escalation training center here in Detroit, plus Eater’s Brenna Houck tells us about a popcorn company that’s gotten burned thanks to some comments online. But first - Protests have spread in the suburbs. Pools are opening back up around the region. Auto insurance companies are going to have to pay you back some money. A local PTO Treasurer allegedly embezzled an eye-popping amount of cash And final...
Jun 03, 2020•34 min•Ep. 519
Some good news mixed with all the heaviness of late. On Monday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced she was rescinding her Safer At Home order and moving the state to Phase 4 of its reopening plan. That will allow bars and restaurants to reopen at half capacity, with social distancing and other safety precautions in place. It also allows for gatherings of up to 100 people, plus many more things we run down for you. We’re staying on the fallout of the protests that have rocked Detroit and other U.S. ...
Jun 02, 2020•25 min•Ep. 518
Today's episode is a step toward providing context and history around the events of the weekend that captured the attention of the nation and Detroit. Historian Ken Coleman joins us to talk about the long history of racial strife in Detroit that goes far beyond 1967, how that relates to the nation, and protesting in the spaces that make an impact. Here's Ken's most recent piece in Michigan Advance, "Use your passion in your backyard. Detroiters got Detroit covered." https://www.michiganadvance.c...
Jun 01, 2020•13 min•Ep. 517
Today’s show is in three acts. First, we’ll update you on some quick stories to know around Metro Detroit and the state. There's a $3B estimated revenue hole in Michigan. A lot of people hope the Feds step in to help, but Jer's not too sure that's going to happen. The Woodward Dream Cruise is canceled. Public pools across the three counties are closed indefinitely. Dan Gilbert's Bedrock is doing an interesting deal to keep their retail and restaurant tenants in business. Then, Karen Dybis joins ...
May 29, 2020•26 min•Ep. 516
On today's show, we dive into the news about the bankruptcy filing at car-rental giant Hertz. Analyst Michelle Krebs joins Sven to talk about the impact to the auto industry. And Jer speaks with Eater Detroit editor Brenna Houck about HopCat shutting down its downtown Royal Oak location. There’s news about the Detroit Red Wings and the Ford-Wyoming Drive-In movie theater. Plus, we offer the latest updates on COVID-19 numbers from the state and city of Detroit, and more....
May 28, 2020•25 min•Ep. 515
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer may have urged Michigan residents not to head Up North for the Memorial Day weekend. But the owner of a dock company says the governor’s husband asked to put his boat in the water last week before the holiday weekend, explaining that he was the guv’s husband. And how Whitmer faces her own boatgate controversy, which is ironic, because some of the first, loud complaints about her emergency stay-at-home order centered on people not being able to put their boats in the water (...
May 27, 2020•15 min•Ep. 514
