Coney Detroit

October 15, 2012

As a kid, there were many things I assumed were universal.

Devil’s Night, physical pranking the night before Halloween. Toilet-papering trees and nabbing things? Soaping windows? Egging of property and burning things? Nope. Not everyone did this. Seems like most people didn’t. (I only did the first one! I swear!)

Mr. Dressup, along with Mr. Rogers (As a kid, I often conflated them). Most of you did not have the benefit unless you lived along the Canada- U.S. border in the pre-cable days.

Prolific and good radio stations. Definitely not everywhere!

Party stores. The rest of the world apparently thinks these are where you get decorations and favors for celebratory events. We know these as places where you buy the hard stuff for your celebratory events. Party store = booze, snacks, ice, gum, lottery tickets, etc.

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Coney Island restaurants. When I eventually learned that Coney Island was an actual place and not located in Michigan, I was really surprised.

These restaurants are a unique feature of the metro Detroit region. They are a huge part of its significant Greek heritage, via Ellis Island. New York. Coney Island.

See ‘n’ hear this NPR story for a better job of telling–about a book that also does the telling–way better than I:

Patrons pack in at American Coney in this undated photo. 1942
[Courtesy Grace Keros.]

“Take a hot dog from New York’s famed Coney Island, throw in plenty of Greek immigrants and a booming auto industry, add some chili sauce, a steamed bun, chopped onions, mustard and an epic sibling rivalry and you’ve got the makings of a classic American melting pot story.

That story is told in Coney Detroit, a new book that serves as paean for what’s become the quintessential dish of the Motor City. Coneys — a name that designates not just the dogs but the diners that serve them up — dominate the Detroit landscape. Where many other cities offer the chance to navigate by national chain (turn right at the third Starbucks), in Detroit, directions come in Coneys.” LISTEN/READ MORE HERE.

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