For Woodward Businesses, Dream Cruise is a Love it or Leave it Event
Some shops prefer to close up and let the cruisers drive on by while others embrace the opportunity to host parties and boost business.
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When it comes to Woodward Dream Cruise crowds and traffic jams, businesses along the Woodward corridor either eat it up or close up shop.
With the longest stretch of Dream Cruise real estate in Royal Oak, from 10 Mile all the way up to 14 Mile, the city seems to be the epicenter. Many business owners, especially those in the food industry, love it.
Like it
Just Baked on Woodward Avenue south of 14 Mile is hosting a "Just Detroit" celebration with a few legendary Metro Detroit companies and some new local favorites setting up their wares at the Royal Oak location. Look for Faygo, National Coney Island, Better Made and Garden Fresh Salsa brands at the store.
"Each of the vendors will have their products and goodies in our shop," manager Brenda Lince said.
Across the way, the Metro Buick Detroit Dealers Association will host a two-day event at Athens Coney Island, open to the public and featuring live music, classic and concept cars and a chance to win a two-year lease on a new 2012 Buick Regal or a 2012 GMC Terrain.
Some businesses find a way to do both. For example, in past years Red Coat Tavern has had long lines for its popular restaurant on Dream Cruise Saturday. This year, it will be serving its customers from its mobile kitchen unit in its parking lot while the restaurant hosts a private party.
Woodward businesses that intend to be open Saturday:
- Avenue Deli
- Sign of the Beefcarver
- Blockbuster
- Caribou Coffee
- Duggan's Irish Pub
- Fitness USA
- IHOP
- LA Fitness
- Leo’s Coney Island
- Nello’s Eatery
- Onion Roll Deli
- Pasquale's
- Radio Shack
- Red Coat Tavern
- Sherwin Williams
- Mattress & Futon Shoppe
- Tongue Thai’d
- Vinsetta Grill
While the businesses on this list say they will be open Saturday, many of them predict they will close early if business is slow. It's best to call these and any other Woodward Avenue business first to make sure it is open.
Leave it
Royal Oak Books, which is near a lot of the action south of 12 Mile, and Affordable Flowers say they prefer to close their doors and take a few days off.
Neil Glazewski, designer at Affordable Flowers south of Lincoln Avenue, doesn’t mind being closed for the day of the Dream Cruise. “It’s a shared sacrifice for the good of the community,” Glazewski said.
Other businesses are closed to the public while owners utilize their space for private parties and celebrations. Morisette Automotive hosts a private party that includes its staff.
“We embrace this one-day event whole heartedly,” said Scott Gaponik, manager at Morisette. “As a whole, we feel lucky and blessed to be part of the world’s largest one-day car event."
Woodward businesses that will be closed to the public Saturday include:
- Affordable Florist
- Annette's Hair Studio and and Spa
- Lisa's Gift Wrappers
- Morisette Automotive
- Music Castle
- Royal Oak Books
- Super Cuts
- Utrecht Art Supply
Complete Patch coverage of the Woodward Dream Cruise
In This article
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Sign of The Beefcarver
27400 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
Blockbuster
27942 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
Fitness USA
29444 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
International House of Pancakes
29202 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
LA Fitness
25352 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
Leo's Coney Island
110 S Main St, Royal Oak, MI
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Nello's Family Restaurant
25994 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
Onion Roll Deli
27302 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
Pasquale's
31555 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
Vinsetta Grill
28028 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
Duggan's Irish Pub
31501 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
Sherwin Williams Company
27958 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
Mattress World
32500 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
Affordable Flowers
25818 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
Morisette Automotive
30712 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
Music Castle Inc
28856 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
Red Coat Tavern
31542 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
Tongue Thai'd
32166 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
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Caribou Coffee Company
31901 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
Avenue Deli
32725 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI -
Athens Coney Island
32657 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI
Carol Galle
2:02 pm on Monday, August 22, 2011
As a resident, I'm all for a one-day event, but this week-long nonsense is frustrating. I wish more could be done to limit the cruising to Saturday and, perhaps, Friday. I also feel like the post event clean up was lacking this year. I don't appreciate walking my dog in the neighborhood and finding multiple empty liquor bottles. Disgusting!