Entry to the Michigan Central Depot

[renf]

Ford Motor spend upwards of $950 million to restore the
former Michigan Central depot and the surrounding area.
Can you just walk in to see what has been accomplished
or do you need to schedule a visit.
I will give a tour of Detroit for the residents of my condo
soon. If I wish to take the group inside the restored depot
whom do I contact?
Thank you very much.

[Jimaz]

There's a "Connect" link in the top right-hand corner of michigancentral.com but that seems to be for receiving information not asking questions.

Maybe "Collaboration Opportunities" would get you an email address for asking about guiding tours.

Other than that they mention only "self-guided tours." Maybe that's good enough?

[renf]

Thank you very much for the information about taking a self guided
tour of the restored Michigan Central Depot.

Thanks

[Kathleen]

My understanding is that the open self-guided tours of The Station run only through August 31. Here's their Plan Your Visit document:
https://michigancentral.com/wp-conte...DF-updated.pdf

After that, The Station will not be open to the general public until the restaurants and shops and such are installed and open to the public.

I've heard that tours will be available at some point...maybe Summer 2025.

[renf]

Thank you very much for the information. I am pleased to learn
that there will be shops and restaurants opening in the restored
Michigan Central Depot in the foreseeable future.

Thank you.

[stasu1213]

What happened the to driverless shuttle that was supposed to take people from the Easter part of the Riverwalk to the Michigan Central and back?

[Honky Tonk]

What happened the to driverless shuttle that was supposed to take people from the Easter part of the Riverwalk to the Michigan Central and back?

So far they only have the one running from the Christmas part of the Riverwalk.

[stasu1213]

So far they only have the one running from the Christmas part of the Riverwalk.

Where's the Christmas part of tge Riverwalk located

[Kathleen]

I returned last evening to visit the train station after we had dinner at Mexican Village. Magical evening!!

Just heard that two additional days--Labor Day Sunday and Monday--have been added to the summer schedule!

Extended Labor Day Weekend Hours
Sunday, September 1: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. doors close at 4:30 pm
Monday, September 2: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. doors close at 4:30 pm

Full details at
https://michigancentral.com/visit/

[Kathleen]

Public guided tours now being booked! $20

"Discover The Station at Michigan Central through guided tours powered by Detroit History Tours. Expert guides will lead you on a 90-minute journey through the ground floor to experience The Station’s historic restoration and transformation from shuttered train depot to the centerpiece of Michigan Central’s 30-acre tech and cultural hub."

https://www.detroithistorytours.com/...-central-tours

[stasu1213]

Public guided tours now being booked! $20

"Discover The Station at Michigan Central through guided tours powered by Detroit History Tours. Expert guides will lead you on a 90-minute journey through the ground floor to experience The Station’s historic restoration and transformation from shuttered train depot to the centerpiece of Michigan Central’s 30-acre tech and cultural hub."

https://www.detroithistorytours.com/...-central-tours

I had already seen the ground floor on Michigan Central for free when it had opened this past June. I will only pay if the tour will go throughout the entire building and not just the ground floor

[Kathleen]

I learned a lot on my 2nd visit to the train station when it was still open for free and you could wander through on your own.

I'm sure there will be a lot more info shared on a 90-minute guided tour of the Main Hall and adjacent first-floor space.

It may be a while until more of the building is open...yet who knows how much of the building beyond the first floor will be open to the public.

In the meantime, they've announced their first retail tenant...Yellow Light Coffee.
https://michigancentral.com/michigan...f-the-station/

Sign up here for email alerts on Michigan Central.
https://michigancentral.com/connect/

[Burnsie]

I had already seen the ground floor on Michigan Central for free when it had opened this past June. I will only pay if the tour will go throughout the entire building and not just the ground floor

Above the first floor would be pretty boring except for the view. Few to none of the historic features survived and likely none were recreated. Drywall, drywall. The basement would be interesting to see for the new HVAC equipment and general floor layout.

[401don]

Have they started the build out of the hotel portion?

[JBMcB]

Few to none of the historic features survived and likely none were recreated.

My understanding is that the upper floors were all offices, mainly for shipping and trucking companies, to begin with. You can wander around the Penobscot building if you want to see what old office hallways look like, which is basically what new office hallways look like but with real wood trim and nicer floors.

[Jimaz]

Above the first floor would be pretty boring except for the view. Few to none of the historic features survived and likely none were recreated. Drywall, drywall....

That appears to be the case, judging by Michael Anthony's Video here. There was one room that looked like a classroom but other than that it was mostly drywall with a few things like sawhorses and dumpsters scattered about, all very clean though. There appeared to be an unfinished ceiling or two.

That's what's so useful about these drone perspectives. Views can be seen through windows that can't be seen from the ground.

[Kathleen]

Winter at The Station starts today, Friday, November 22!


"Winter at The Station officially kicks off tomorrow, Friday, November 22 with curated shopping, holiday lights, seasonal food & drinks and cultural programming for the entire family.

On Friday evenings, enjoy a cozy, festive lounge inside The Station’s historic Concourse with live music curated by GRAMMY^®-nominated Detroit musician De’Sean Jones, sharable bites, beverages, shopping and more.

Join us tomorrow for a special opening night performance from Detroit’s own twin sister duo Ain’t Afraid and be one of the first to snag a copy of our limited-edition coffee table book, “The Station: The Fall and Rise of Michigan Central.” You don’t want to miss out!
Tickets are still available at http://michigancentral.com/winter-at-the-station/, where you can learn more about Winter at The Station and see our new extended holiday hours."

Retail hours during the weekdays Tuesday-Sunday:

The Shop
Tuesdays – Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fridays, until 10 p.m.
Michigan Central’s official store featuring souvenirs, housewares, personal accessories, jewelry, gifts and apparel. The Shop’s merchandise captures the nostalgia, history, and memories of The Station experience and Michigan Central’s bright future.

Détroit Marché
Tuesdays – Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fridays, until 10 p.m.
Détroit Marché is an experiential retail destination, curated by Trading Post and Gonzo World, which embraces art, culture and community to create a memorable moment. Embodying the spirit of diversity and heritage, it transforms the historic restaurant space, merging the OPEN artifact exhibition with a vibrant marketplace. The concept brings together over 25 vendors each offering curated local goods and unique gift items.

Neighbor x Folk
Tuesdays – Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fridays, until 10 p.m.
Neighbor x Folk is located in The Station’s historic retail arcade. Brought to you by the trusted team behind Folk, Neighbor x Folk will offer giftables, consumables, home & tablewares, books, and body products with an emphasis on goods that are thoughtfully and locally made. Wednesdays and Saturdays will feature community-led programming focused on culinary, craft, design, and literature.

Check it out!
https://michigancentral.com/winter-at-the-station/