About Detroit and Grosse Pointe
Originally settled by French colonists in 1701, Detroit is the largest city in the state of Michigan, with a population of nearly 640,000. It was one of the nation’s leading industrial centers until the U.S. auto industry started to decline in the 1970s. After several decades of economic and social challenges, Detroit is in the midst of a comeback, drawing new residents to this diverse, historic, business-oriented city.
The suburb of Grosse Pointe shares a border with the city of Detroit, along Mack Avenue and the shores of Lake St. Clair.
Living in Detroit
Located on the Detroit River, which flows into Lake Erie, Detroit is a regional transportation and economic hub. Its economy is driven by manufacturing, trade, transportation, finance, healthcare, and professional and business services. Notable companies include Ford, Fiat Chrysler, General Motors, Quicken Loans, and Deloitte.
Local Communities in Detroit
Detroit is home to nearly 6 million people who live in its 10-county metropolitan area. Some notable suburbs, including The Pointes (Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Park, and Grosse Pointe Shores), Harper Woods, St. Clair Shores, and Harrison Township. Additionally, Belle Isle, the Detroit River, Detroit-Windsor tunnel, Ambassador Bridge, and Windsor, Ontario are just a few miles from our Detroit EZ Storage facility.
Local notable businesses
- Village Market: This upscale Grosse Pointe Farms grocery offers organic provisions, local produce, and prepared food.
- Ray Laethem Motor Village: A large auto dealership located on Grosse Pointe’s Mack Avenue Ray Laethem offers Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, RAM, Buick, GMC cars, along with used cars and a collision center.
- Ripe Records: This Grosse Pointe store sells new and used vinyl, along with turntables and other stereo equipment.
- Hugh: This furniture and barware store with a “Mad Men” vibe pays tribute to Old Hollywood — a perfect place to pick up items for your new pad.
- Bob’s Classic Kicks: This boutique offers brand-name, on-trend sneakers, clothing, and hats for men and women — both new, used, and on consignment.
Local malls and shopping plazas
- Macomb Mall: Located in Roseville, this long-standing (since 1964) enclosed shopping center features Kohl's, At Home, and Hobby Lobby.
- The Village: This renovated shopping center on Kercheval Avenue in downtown Grosse Pointe offers a unique and diverse selection of high-quality stores.
Notable popular eateries/restaurants
- Cliff Bell’s: This swanky art deco downtown Detroit jazz club is known for its upscale cocktails and satisfying food.
- Jagged Fork: This laid-back Grosse Pointe Farms eatery is a popular choice for pancakes and other breakfast favorites.
- Slows BBQ: This barbeque joint in hip Corktown is always busy serving up pulled pork, brisket, ribs, wings, and the usual sides.
- Cadieux Cafe: Located in a former speakeasy a few blocks from Grosse Pointe, this Belgian restaurant features mussels, beer, feather bowling, and live music.
- Side Street Diner: An old-school diner in new-school digs in Grosse Pointe offers classic American fare.
Schools
The Detroit metro area includes many school districts, including Detroit Public Schools and Grosse Pointe Public Schools, along with many private and charter schools. Notable schools include Richard Elementary (Grosse Pointe Farms), Grosse Pointe North High School, and East English Village Prep Academy (Detroit).
Wayne State University, University of Detroit Mercy, Oakland University, and Wayne County Community College are among the universities and colleges located in the Detroit area.
Attractions and Landmarks
- Bird Island at Edsel & Eleanor Ford House: Located on the waterfront in Grosse Pointe Shores, the home of Edsel Ford, Henry Ford’s only son, offers tours of the 60-room mansion and its gardens and grounds.
- The Grosse Pointe Historical Society: promotes and preserves the heritage of Grosse Pointe through programs, events, and education.
- Motown Museum: Learn about the history of the iconic R&B music label by touring the Detroit house that served as the original headquarters and recording studio.
- The Detroit Historical Museum: Located in Detroit’s Cultural Center on Woodward Avenue, it showcases the history of Detroit from the early fur-trading days, through the rise of the auto industry, to the present day.
- Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation: This complex offers three attractions: a large indoor museum focused on cars and other industrial innovations, the Greenfield Village outdoor living museum, and a tour of the Ford Rouge Plant.
- Lakeshore Drive: This iconic scenic drive along the shores of Lake St. Clair offers fantastic views of the lake and Grosse Pointe.
- Eastern Market: Open on Saturdays year-round and summer Sundays, this large market offers produce and meat vendors, restaurants, shops, and live music,
The War Memorial: The Russell A. Alger Jr. House in Grosse Pointe Farms was dedicated to the memory of WWII veterans and soldiers. It also serves as a community center and event space.
Parks, trails, and recreation areas
- Belle Isle Park: Located in the Detroit River, this 982-acre island park offers vast green space, water views, and historic buildings.
- Patterson Park: This Grosse Pointe park features a boardwalk along Lake St. Clair, nature trails, a hockey rink, and other recreational facilities.
- Detroit Riverwalk: This 3.5-mile network of walkways provides access to a string of riverfront parks and greenways.
- William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor: Located near downtown and part of the Detroit Riverwalk, this park offers a marina, trail, and other amenities.
- Neff Park: This small Grosse Pointe park is known for its pool and marina.
Moving to Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area offers a wide range of neighborhoods to appeal to everyone from young singles and families to retirees. All of the suburbs are within easy driving distance to downtown, office parks, and shopping.
Apartments and condos in the area
- Neff Lane Apartments: a two-bedroom apartment community conveniently located one block from downtown Grosse Pointe.
- Elton Park: a historic and luxury apartment complex in Corktown.
- The Kales Building: a high-rise apartment building in downtown Detroit.
- Pointe Park Condominium: this community of condos in Novi offers a wide range of styles and prices.
FAQs
For the curious, we’ve brought together answers to a few commonly asked questions about.
Is Grosse Pointe a nice place to live in?
Grosse Pointe offers all of the advantages of the suburbs — nice homes, good schools, excellent shopping, and green spaces — while being within easy driving distance to the workplaces and cultural institutions in downtown Detroit and other communities. The region is experiencing an economic resurgence, with new businesses, development, and infrastructure improvements throughout the metro area.
How safe is Grosse Pointe?
The Grosse Pointe suburbs have a much lower violent and property crime rate than the national average, perfect for families looking to relocate to a quaint suburban area.
Where should I live in The Pointes?
The Pointes are different municipalities, and each has a somewhat distinct personality. All five are wealthy suburbs. Grosse Pointe Woods, along the waterfront, is the most affluent, and Grosse Pointes Woods is considered the most middle-class. They all share the same school system, so deciding which one to live in depends mostly on housing availability and your preferences and needs.
If you’re interested in living in downtown Detroit, there are plenty of apartment buildings in the Washington Boulevard and Woodward Avenue corridors. Other close-in options include Midtown and Corktown.