Green Crawl to tour spots in Madison Heights, Hazel Park

MADISON HEIGHTS/HAZEL PARK — Nearly 20 restaurants, pubs and cafes will offer special deals as part of the annual Green Crawl, set for March 15, the Friday before St. Patrick’s Day.

The event, organized by the Madison Heights/Hazel Park Chamber of Commerce and the Madison Heights Downtown Development Authority, is an economic driver for local businesses — many located in the John R corridor — bringing in new foot traffic that organizers hope will elevate the profile of each establishment. Many of the venues will offer green eats and drinks for the occasion.

“COVID definitely changed people’s ways of doing things for a while. Not all of them reverted back to how they were prior, when they went out more (to restaurants and bars). So it’s good to have events like this where people remember the feeling of going out and having fun,” said Mike Wilds, owner of House of Shamrocks, a venue with a name especially fitting for the occasion. “It’s also about creating new clientele by showing them what it’s like here. The more exposure, the better.”

Attendees can travel to any of the venues in any order. Ace Transportation will be on call to assist people if they need a ride, with more information available by calling (248) 543-1300.

The concept for the Green Crawl came about in 2022 when the promotions subcommittee of the DDA was looking for ways to promote businesses in the district without added expense.

According to Roslyn Grafstein, the mayor of Madison Heights, the event was such a success that in 2023, the DDA partnered with the chamber and expanded south into Hazel Park.

“This year we are expanding again, venturing out of the downtown and going north along John R and out to Dequindre,” Grafstein said via email. “I am a big believer in working with our neighboring cities and businesses for our mutual benefit. Supporting the success of our neighboring businesses helps to stabilize and foster growth within our entire community.”

The Madison Heights DDA itself was set up in 1997. Shaped like a cross, the district runs along 11 Mile Road from Stephenson Highway to between John R and Dequindre roads, and along John R Road from 10 Mile Road to Gardenia Avenue. The mayor said the district is home to many light manufacturing businesses that are not open to the public, but there are also many storefronts conducive to the goal of walkability that the DDA first envisioned more than 25 years ago.

Andy LeCureaux, a member of the Hazel Park City Council, said that events like the Green Crawl have a ripple effect across both communities.

“These crawls encourage people to experience a little bit of a whole bunch of businesses, and find something they didn’t know about before, but that they end up loving,” LeCureaux said.

Sean Fleming, a member of the Madison Heights City Council, said it’s imperative to support small businesses, which serve as the economic backbone of a community.

“Most of the businesses featured in this event are family-owned, or run by a single person — they’re typically not big box stores or chain restaurants. So they really depend on patrons to get by. And when we can promote them to new people and drive traffic their way, well, it contributes a lot to the downtown district and the city,” Fleming said. “Events like the Green Crawl and the Memorial Day Parade really raise awareness for what the city has to offer. And the more events we can hold here, the more it will entice other businesses to move in as well.”

 

Now in its third year, the 2024 crawl will feature the following venues:

• Cadillac Straits Brewing Company, 27651 John R Road.

• Celina’s Bar & Grill, 623 W. 11 Mile Road.

• Mia’s Tasty Grill, 26085 John R Road.

• John R Grill, 26623 John R Road.

• Biggby Coffee, 222 W. 11 Mile Road.

• Boodles Restaurant, 935 W. 11 Mile Road.

• Woodpile BBQ, 630 E. 11 Mile Road.

• Salty Dog, 26033 John R Road.

• Amori’s Market, 26122 John R Road.

• On The Rocks Bar & Grill, 28167 John R Road.

• The Coach Grille, 26685 Dequindre Road.

• Smoked Lotus BBQ, 21509 John R Road.

• Eastern Palace Club, 21509 John R Road.

• Hazel Perk Cafe, 21403 John R Road.

• House of Shamrocks, 23420 John R Road.

• We Juice, 906 E. Nine Mile Road.

There are also two hair salons offering St. Patrick’s Day deals: Amore Beautiful You Salon, 27681 John R Road, and the Green House Hair Salon of Detroit, 26040 John R Road, Suite A.