Hudson's department store closed its downtown Detroit location in January 1983 after more than 90 years of business, unable to compete with suburban malls it helped create. The 32-story building sat vacant until October 1998, when it was imploded at 5:45 p.m., the store's traditional closing time. The site has remained an underground parking garage for over two decades.

Hudson's Detroit, Facebook

Why Hudson's Mattered to Detroit

For generations of Metro Detroit residents, Hudson's wasn't just a department store. It was Christmas. It was fashion. It was Detroit itself.

The massive building at Woodward and Gratiot avenues earned its nickname honestly. At 2.1 million square feet spread across 32 floors, the Big Store was the second-largest…

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**Updated Jan 29, 2026**

Valentine's Day falls on a Saturday this year, which means Metro Detroit's most romantic restaurants will book up faster than usual. Whether you prefer a historic mansion with tableside desserts, a moody cocktail bar with inventive small plates, a classic steakhouse where the family still runs the kitchen, or a brand new spot that opened just months ago, the region delivers options for every kind of couple.

This guide covers the best romantic restaurants across Metro Detroit, organized by county. Some are longtime favorites spanning decades of anniversaries. Others opened within the past year and already earned national recognition. All of them understand what makes a Valentine's dinner memorable: exceptional food,…

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If you've exhausted every murder podcast, binged every true crime documentary, and still want to go deeper into the macabre, Michigan has something new for you.

The Last Meal restaurant opens this April inside the Mall of Monroe, serving exact recreations of final meal requests from some of America's most infamous executed criminals. This isn't themed dining with a wink and a nod. Every item on the menu corresponds to documented prison records of what these individuals ate before their executions.

Owner Nate Thompson, who already operates the Michigan Museum of Horror just minutes away in Monroe, is bringing his second Last Meal location to Michigan after launching the concept in Galion, Ohio in 2025.

Quick Answer: The Last Meal recreates…

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**Updated Jan 27, 2026**

February transforms Metro Detroit into an entertainment hub that battles the winter blues with world-class performances, professional sports, and creative winter festivals. The month balances major concerts and theatrical productions at premier downtown venues with neighborhood winter celebrations that embrace Michigan's snowy season rather than hiding from it.

February 2026 features major R&B acts like New Edition with Boyz II Men and comedians including Bert Kreischer and Chelsea Handler at downtown Detroit venues, while free community festivals in Warren, Clarkston, and Belle Isle offer ice skating, sculptures, and family activities without admission costs.

The timing works perfectly for Metro Detroit. Schools…

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The 2026 James Beard Awards semifinalist list includes six Michigan restaurants and chefs, reinforcing what Metro Detroit residents already know: the region's dining scene rivals any in the country.

Bar Chenin in Detroit earned Best New Bar recognition. Echelon Kitchen & Bar in Ann Arbor made the Best New Restaurant list. Four Michigan chefs earned Best Chef: Great Lakes semifinalist status: John Yelinek of Ladder 4 Wine Bar in Detroit, Javier Bardauil of Barda in Detroit, Andy Elliott and Emily Stewart of Modern Bird in Traverse City, and James Galbraith of PostBoy in New Buffalo.

For home buyers evaluating neighborhoods and communities, these nominations matter beyond bragging rights. Award-caliber restaurants signal thriving commercial corridors,…

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Belle Isle Conservancy launched a new brand identity in January 2026 positioning the 982-acre island park as "Detroit's Backyard" rather than just a park. The rebrand includes a redesigned website with visitor planning tools, new visual identity centered on people rather than buildings, curated Spotify playlists featuring Detroit artists, and a "Detroit Joy" theme celebrating the emotional connection Detroiters have with the island.

City of Detroit Government, Facebook

What Exactly Changed with Belle Isle's Rebrand?

Belle Isle didn't change locations or add new attractions, but the way the Conservancy presents and positions Detroit's most visited park shifted dramatically in January 2026.

The rebrand centers on three major updates: a complete…

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President Trump announced five initiatives to improve housing affordability: 50-year mortgages, restricting institutional investors, Treasury mortgage purchases, 10 percent credit card caps, and 401(k) down payment access. Metro Detroit real estate experts warn each could backfire, hurting buyers through higher long-term costs, reduced rental inventory, and limited credit access. The proven solution remains building more homes to address the 8 million unit shortage driving prices up across Southeast Michigan and nationwide.

The housing affordability crisis hits close to home in Metro Detroit. Birmingham ranch homes on Lakeside Drive that sold for $350,000 in 2019 now list at $550,000. Royal Oak bungalows near the downtown district on Washington…

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Metro Detroit welcomes at least 26 new restaurants in 2026, spanning downtown Detroit, Oakland County suburbs, and neighborhoods from Grosse Pointe Woods to Monroe. Highlights include a $6.5 million chophouse in Rochester Hills, Michigan's first Liberian restaurant in East English Village, a Michelin-starred chef's taco bar in Grosse Pointe Woods, and Danny Meyer's first Midwest concept inside Hudson's Detroit.

The Metro Detroit dining scene never sits still. Every year brings closures that sting and openings that spark genuine excitement. The 2026 lineup leans heavily toward independent operators and local entrepreneurs expanding their footprints, though a few national names are finally planting flags in the region after years of delays.

What…

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Michigan’s property tax “uncapping” law resets a home’s taxable value to about 50% of its market price when the property is sold. In this Detroit couple’s case, buying their Midtown duplex caused the taxable value to jump from roughly $41,000 to $261,800, sending their annual property tax bill soaring from around $3,500 to nearly $20,000. Essentially, the moment they became new owners, their taxes skyrocketed, a shock many first-time buyers in Metro Detroit can face if they aren’t prepared.

A Dream Home, Then a $20,000 Tax Nightmare in Detroit

Buying a first home is supposed to be a joyful milestone, but for one Detroit couple, it came with a nasty surprise. After closing on a Midtown Detroit duplex for $465,000 in late 2024, their property tax…

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Michigan is seeing a rush of new AI-focused data centers, and state lawmakers are now moving to repeal the special tax breaks that helped attract them. The bipartisan push comes amid public outcry over the massive facilities’ impact on local communities, from potential strain on power grids and water supplies to the loss of farmland. Supporters argue these high-tech hubs can bring jobs and infrastructure upgrades, but many Metro Detroit residents and officials are debating whether the promised benefits outweigh the environmental and quality-of-life concerns.

crainsdetroit, instagram

AI Boom Drives a Data Center Rush in Michigan

Michigan may remember 2025 as “the year of the data center.” In the wake of an artificial intelligence (AI) boom, tech…

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