The Detroit Auto Show’s return to its traditional January timeframe has sparked a wave of optimism among downtown businesses. After years of schedule shifts and a pandemic hiatus, the iconic event—now scheduled from January 10 to January 20—is anticipated to bring a much-needed economic boost to local establishments during the winter months.

Detroit Auto Show, Facebook

A Welcome Comeback for Local Businesses

The auto show’s January return marks a revival of a cherished tradition, one that has historically attracted large crowds to downtown Detroit. Business owners, like Grace Keros of American Coney Island, see the move as a restorative step for the city’s event-driven economy. Keros highlights the importance of such events, noting, “Downtown depends on conventions and major gatherings to draw in foot traffic, especially during the quieter winter months.” This sentiment echoes a broader belief that the show’s timing will help reinvigorate local businesses.

With the addition of the Detroit Lions’ playoff game at Ford Field coinciding with the show’s final weekend, restaurants, hotels, and other businesses are preparing for a surge in visitors. Lisa Walters of Mootz Pizzeria and Bar has adjusted staffing levels to accommodate the expected influx, emphasizing the restaurant’s readiness to cater to both locals and visitors exploring the city.

  

Reviving Downtown’s Economic Pulse

Detroit’s downtown core, long characterized by its reliance on office workers and event-driven traffic, has seen shifts in its economic landscape. Eric Larson, CEO of the Downtown Detroit Partnership, stated the transformative role of winter events, stating, “Winter has become an increasingly popular season for downtown activities, and the auto show enhances this trend by drawing significant crowds.” From Cadillac Square’s winter markets to the Campus Martius ice rink, the city has positioned itself as a year-round destination for both residents and visitors.

Ancora, a private wealth management firm, estimates the economic impact of this year’s auto show could rival the pre-pandemic highs of $430 million seen in 2019. With hundreds of thousands of attendees expected, the show is poised to energize businesses across sectors, creating opportunities for increased revenue and visibility.

Businesses Gear Up for Success

Restaurants and bars near Huntington Place, the venue hosting the auto show, are particularly optimistic. Parlay Detroit, a newly opened establishment on Washington Boulevard, is preparing for an uptick in lunchtime traffic and group reservations. Co-owner Joique Bell highlights efforts to “beef up” lunch and happy hour staffing to accommodate the anticipated crowds.

Similarly, Mootz Pizzeria and Bar has expanded its capacity to host larger parties, while maintaining flexibility to adjust staffing as needed. Walters notes that events like the auto show encourage day trips to the city, often leading to extended visits that benefit surrounding businesses.

Detroit Auto Show, Facebook

A Broader Winter Renaissance

The return of the auto show complements a series of high-profile winter events in Detroit, including the NFL Divisional Round playoff game and ongoing activities at Campus Martius. The combined draw of these events is expected to sustain downtown’s vibrancy throughout the season, providing a much-needed boost to a city still recovering from pandemic disruptions.

Beyond immediate economic gains, the auto show underscores Detroit’s evolving identity as a cultural and business hub. From cutting-edge vehicle reveals to the bustling restaurants and bars that make the city a destination, the event symbolizes a dynamic convergence of tradition and modernity.

   

Looking Ahead

As the Detroit Auto Show reclaims its January spotlight, it signals not just a revival of a beloved tradition, but also a pivotal moment for downtown businesses. With an array of attractions drawing visitors to the heart of the city, Detroit is poised to showcase its resilience and adaptability, ensuring that both residents and tourists experience the best it has to offer during the winter season.


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THINKING OF MOVING TO Metro Detroit, OR LOOKING TO RELOCATE IN THE AREA? VIEW A LIST OF CURRENT HOMES FOR SALE BELOW.

Metro Detroit Homes for Sale

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50574 Mistwood Dr, Macomb township

$744,900

↑ $35,000

50574 Mistwood Dr, Macomb township

4 Beds 3 Baths 3,285 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050175580
7919 Grand Street, Dexter city

$744,500

↓ $10,500

7919 Grand Street, Dexter city

4 Beds 4 Baths 2,730 SqFt Condominium MLS® # 81025034034
4825 Huston Dr, Orion charter township

$744,000

4825 Huston Dr, Orion charter township

3 Beds 1 Bath 1,008 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250026367
3542 Royal Ave, Berkley city

$739,999

↓ $10,000

3542 Royal Ave, Berkley city

5 Beds 3 Baths 2,500 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250033736
52590 North Ave, Macomb township

$739,900

↓ $10,000

52590 North Ave, Macomb township

3 Beds 4 Baths 4,320 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050177533
20847 23 Mile Rd, Macomb township

$739,000

20847 23 Mile Rd, Macomb township

3 Beds 4 Baths 3,766 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050190635
2134 Ascot Road, Ann Arbor city

$735,000

2134 Ascot Road, Ann Arbor city

3 Beds 2 Baths 1,831 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025052043
5570 Golf Club Road, Genoa township

$730,000

5570 Golf Club Road, Genoa township

3 Beds 3 Baths 2,000 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025046399
41 Starr Drive, Troy city

$730,000

41 Starr Drive, Troy city

4 Beds 3 Baths 2,459 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025045911
2413 Provencal Dr, Commerce charter township

$729,995

↑ $10,000

2413 Provencal Dr, Commerce charter township

4 Beds 4 Baths 3,272 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250027783
721 Enchantment Dr, Rochester Hills city

$729,900

↑ $5,000

721 Enchantment Dr, Rochester Hills city

4 Beds 4 Baths 4,416 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250029471
45155 Twin River Dr, Macomb township

$729,900

↓ $35,100

45155 Twin River Dr, Macomb township

4 Beds 3 Baths 3,080 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050186452
50452 Timberstone Dr, Macomb township

$729,900

↓ $25,000

50452 Timberstone Dr, Macomb township

4 Beds 3 Baths 3,312 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050175571
3100 Millbury Lane, Ann Arbor city

$729,000

3100 Millbury Lane, Ann Arbor city

3 Beds 4 Baths 2,323 SqFt Condominium MLS® # 81025052128
3316 Waldon Ridge Dr, Orion charter township

$725,900

3316 Waldon Ridge Dr, Orion charter township

4 Beds 4 Baths 2,993 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050185692
20007 Holiday Rd, Grosse Pointe Woods city

$725,000

20007 Holiday Rd, Grosse Pointe Woods city

4 Beds 4 Baths 3,138 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050191157
2724 Aspen Court, Ann Arbor city

$725,000

2724 Aspen Court, Ann Arbor city

3 Beds 4 Baths 3,134 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025050383
55420 Jewell Rd, Shelby charter township

$725,000

↓ $25,000

55420 Jewell Rd, Shelby charter township

4 Beds 3 Baths 2,275 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050188287
55390 Jewell Rd, Shelby charter township

$725,000

↓ $25,000

55390 Jewell Rd, Shelby charter township

4 Beds 3 Baths 2,275 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050188286
7448 Secretariat Drive, Pittsfield charter township

$725,000

7448 Secretariat Drive, Pittsfield charter township

4 Beds 4 Baths 2,895 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025046140
14326 Merci Ave, Sterling Heights city

$725,000

14326 Merci Ave, Sterling Heights city

4 Beds 6 Baths 6,457 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050187029
276 Lewiston Rd, Grosse Pointe Farms city

$725,000

276 Lewiston Rd, Grosse Pointe Farms city

4 Beds 3 Baths 3,706 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050183330
41829 Steinbeck, Novi city

$725,000

↓ $35,000

41829 Steinbeck, Novi city

4 Beds 3 Baths 5,206 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250033699
3978 Chanda, Highland charter township

$725,000

↓ $25,000

3978 Chanda, Highland charter township

6 Beds 5 Baths 4,134 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250033459
1 Brighton  Rd, Genoa township

$725,000

1 Brighton Rd, Genoa township

4 Beds 3 Baths 2,404 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20230082967
New
3251 Waldon Ridge Dr St, Orion charter township

$724,900

3251 Waldon Ridge Dr St, Orion charter township

4 Beds 4 Baths 3,010 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050191846
50975 Baileys Landing, Canton charter township

$724,000

50975 Baileys Landing, Canton charter township

4 Beds 3 Baths 3,257 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025050774
11997 Moore Ln, Washington township

$722,215

↑ $21,540

11997 Moore Ln, Washington township

4 Beds 3 Baths 3,189 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250028754
New
6890 Duchess Court, Troy city

$720,000

6890 Duchess Court, Troy city

5 Beds 4 Baths 4,313 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025053069
54888 Ridgeview Dr, Shelby charter township

$720,000

54888 Ridgeview Dr, Shelby charter township

4 Beds 5 Baths 4,573 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050191042
822 Westlake Ave, Oxford charter township

$720,000

822 Westlake Ave, Oxford charter township

4 Beds 4 Baths 3,003 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050183636
New
58144 Pheasant Rdg, Washington township

$719,900

58144 Pheasant Rdg, Washington township

4 Beds 5 Baths 4,484 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050191577
1419 S State Street Street, Ann Arbor city

$719,900

1419 S State Street Street, Ann Arbor city

0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Multifamily MLS® # 81025050269
199 Arthur St, Plymouth city

$719,900

↓ $40,000

199 Arthur St, Plymouth city

4 Beds 3 Baths 2,059 SqFt Residential MLS® # 57050186388
63011 Indian Hills Dr, Washington township

$719,900

↓ $30,000

63011 Indian Hills Dr, Washington township

4 Beds 4 Baths 5,175 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050176083
45595 Shoal Dr, Macomb township

$719,900

↓ $10,000

45595 Shoal Dr, Macomb township

4 Beds 4 Baths 2,965 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20240078779
2277 W Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor charter township

$719,000

2277 W Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor charter township

3 Beds 2 Baths 2,336 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025051679
52221 Chickadee Lane, Shelby charter township

$719,000

↓ $20,000

52221 Chickadee Lane, Shelby charter township

3 Beds 4 Baths 2,871 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025044689
3956 Highlander Way E, Pittsfield charter township

$717,420

3956 Highlander Way E, Pittsfield charter township

4 Beds 5 Baths 3,003 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81025047462
11610 Hillside Drive, Dexter township

$715,094

11610 Hillside Drive, Dexter township

4 Beds 3 Baths 3,050 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81024055165
57287 Meadowridge Dr, Washington township

$715,000

57287 Meadowridge Dr, Washington township

3 Beds 3 Baths 2,385 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050190894
5856 Willow Grove Dr, Troy city

$715,000

5856 Willow Grove Dr, Troy city

3 Beds 3 Baths 2,100 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050189455
18468 Stallmann Dr, Macomb township

$714,900

18468 Stallmann Dr, Macomb township

4 Beds 3 Baths 3,260 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250025429
13953 Quail View Drive, Washington township

$709,900

13953 Quail View Drive, Washington township

3 Beds 3 Baths 2,370 SqFt Residential MLS® # 81024041309
4262 Duck Dr., Scio township

$709,900

4262 Duck Dr., Scio township

2 Beds 2 Baths 1,853 SqFt Condominium MLS® # 543292095
55641 Laurel Oaks Ln, Shelby charter township

$709,813

↑ $10,000

55641 Laurel Oaks Ln, Shelby charter township

4 Beds 3 Baths 2,834 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050179964
57290 Veridian Blv., Washington township

$705,900

57290 Veridian Blv., Washington township

3 Beds 3 Baths 2,637 SqFt Residential MLS® # 58050189166
209 Mountain View Lane, Milford village

$705,000

209 Mountain View Lane, Milford village

4 Beds 3 Baths 2,404 SqFt Residential MLS® # 20250019271
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