Business As Usual [[Shooting and Mayhem) in Greektown.

[401don]

I really noticed it around 11:00 pm as well. Best to have dinner & a stroll on a Sunday or weeknight and leave before 10:00.

[Cincinnati_Kid]

^^ It's not just here. Go to any major cities downtown areas, where there are clubs, restaurants and other forms of entertainment, and they suffer the same fate. Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Toronto etc... It's a sign of the times, and generational differences that weren't present 30 or 40 yrs ago, when attitudes were different and technology was in it's infancy.

[dtowncitylover]

No, your instincts were correct. The neighborhood started to radically transform once the temporary casino opened.

Honestly, the area should be renamed. There are so few Greek places left, all but one suck, and the neighborhood is characterized by the casino and the weekend street scene.

Totally agree. Before it was the nightlife part of downtown it was seedy and full of characters now it's the same just more open.

If the area is ever built up [[i.e. 375 is gone and the failed jail site is made over) we'll call "Downtown East" and leave it alone.

[night-timer]

I haven't been to Greektown in four years, but I always felt safe there... the casino, the Detroiter Bar, Five Guys. I would walk home from there at any time of the night, and I don't carry. I saw the occasional affected oddball or police car, but nothing too worrying. It seemed to me that Greektown looked quite slick and touristy, with neon lights and more foot traffic than cars, unlike the rest of Detroit. Maybe it really has changed. But I remember it having a good reputation, not a 'hood' area at all.

[masterblaster]

I like what is happening in Greektown except the unacceptable gun violence that occasionally mars the good vibes. All of the throngs of people down there at places like Old Shillelagh's even on a Sunday night - it makes you feel like you are in a vibrant big city. Truthfully, besides the Greektown/Broadway and Capitol Park areas, downtown is pretty dead at night.

I do wish there were a couple more Greek restaurants, maybe one that is more modern. Also, I wish the storefronts on the south side of Monroe were activated [[the block the Astoria is on; over half of that block is basically a blank wall.)

IMHO, it seems to me that alot of white people are uncomfortable when there are a number of young blacks hanging around. The crowd I see in Greektown has that element, but the crowds are very diverse actually.

[Zacha341]

^^^ Not sure if it's just white people. I'm not over-joyed when too many teens are about cursing, crowding walk-ways, rude and what not, no matter race! As society devolves, and absent of parenting, drugs, and general angst the cursing and rudeness is not always welcomed.

And I know unlike a classroom or teen workshop, etc. you can't control what goes on in the street, so I best not be around if things take a bad turn.

[masterblaster]

^^^ Not sure if it's just white people. I'm not over-joyed when too many teens are about cursing, crowding walk-ways, rude and what not, no matter race! As society devolves, and absent of parenting, drugs, and general angst the cursing and rudeness is not always welcomed.

And I know unlike a classroom or teen workshop, etc. you can't control what goes on in the street, so I best not be around if things take a bad turn.

Fair enough, when I have walked around there on the weekend, I have not felt unsafe, because, as I said, it is a diverse crowd. I don't see it being overrun with those young men, but they are definitely a notable constituent.

It is sad about the profane language of these young men, I think it is the breakdown of the black nuclear family. Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail and we don't have the shootings we had in May.

[cmubryan]

Fair enough, when I have walked around there on the weekend, I have not felt unsafe, because, as I said, it is a diverse crowd. I don't see it being overrun with those young men, but they are definitely a notable constituent.

It is sad about the profane language of these young men, I think it is the breakdown of the black nuclear family. Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail and we don't have the shootings we had in May.

Yes, the crowd is diverse, although for the most part seems like 20s and teens looking to party it up and compete with who has the flashiest outfit, car, etc. Also, the smell of marijuana permeates the air here and there. The next night we hung out in Midtown, much tamer and under control.

[mtburb]

I occasionally make treks to Greektown for the casino, Five Guys and Astoria. I have had no problems each time I've been there.

[night-timer]

Yes, the crowd is diverse, although for the most part seems like 20s and teens looking to party it up and compete with who has the flashiest outfit, car, etc. Also, the smell of marijuana permeates the air here and there. The next night we hung out in Midtown, much tamer and under control.

Yes, Downtown is quite dead after dark, maybe because business districts are like that after the 5pm clear-out of office workers. Midtown and Foxtown along Woodward are far more lively than Downtown. Even Jefferson Avenue near the Ren Cen and Michigan Avenue heading to Corktown seem quite dead at night.

[softailrider]

Yes, the crowd is diverse, although for the most part seems like 20s and teens looking to party it up and compete with who has the flashiest outfit, car, etc. Also, the smell of marijuana permeates the air here and there. The next night we hung out in Midtown, much tamer and under control.

Smells like weed in all the casino garages I’ve been in lately.

[One Shot]

Smells like weed in all the casino garages I’ve been in lately.

The whole city stinks of weed now. It’s disgusting. High, drunk AND crazy.

[Towne Cluber]

The whole city stinks of weed now. It’s disgusting. High, drunk AND crazy.

I could smell it from the car in front of me today. Keep in mind that both my car as well as theirs had the windows up. That car proceeded to completely cross the double yellow lines and drive for a few seconds. At the light, I pulled up next to them. Sure enough, the female driver and her male passenger were lighting up with smoke everywhere in their car.

[masterblaster]

Yes, Downtown is quite dead after dark, maybe because business districts are like that after the 5pm clear-out of office workers. Midtown and Foxtown along Woodward are far more lively than Downtown. Even Jefferson Avenue near the Ren Cen and Michigan Avenue heading to Corktown seem quite dead at night.

Well the Riverwalk has a ton of people during good weather times, and area around Campus Martius is fairly busy on weekdays, so maybe I mischaracterized downtown when I said only Greektown and Capitol Park were busy.

[night-timer]

Yes, Riverwalk is now a successful Detroit attraction. You're right. I was thinking more about the Jefferson Avenue roadway heading out of Downtown, not the actual riverbank... but yeah, Riverwalk has a nice vibe... and no shootings that I know of.

[Meddle]

As far back as the 80s, I felt Monroe should have been closed to traffic and made 'pedestrians only'.

[Maof]

I could smell it from the car in front of me today. Keep in mind that both my car as well as theirs had the windows up. That car proceeded to completely cross the double yellow lines and drive for a few seconds. At the light, I pulled up next to them. Sure enough, the female driver and her male passenger were lighting up with smoke everywhere in their car.

I'm seeing Cheech and Chong - Up in Smoke!

[Zacha341]

Yeah cigarette smoke is out, replaced with weed smoke in your face often.

The whole city stinks of weed now. It’s disgusting. High, drunk AND crazy.

[Zacha341]

Sounds like some extra dank stuff, stronger impact on those smoking and potentially those nearby!

I could smell it from the car in front of me today. Keep in mind that both my car as well as theirs had the windows up. That car proceeded to completely cross the double yellow lines and drive for a few seconds. At the light, I pulled up next to them. Sure enough, the female driver and her male passenger were lighting up with smoke everywhere in their car.

[lpg]

I could smell it from the car in front of me today. Keep in mind that both my car as well as theirs had the windows up. That car proceeded to completely cross the double yellow lines and drive for a few seconds. At the light, I pulled up next to them. Sure enough, the female driver and her male passenger were lighting up with smoke everywhere in their car.

Wait till it's legal. Another way to drive messed up.

[Zacha341]

^^^ Now that comment's very intolerant - for sure not very progressive......

[Zacha341]

So, going back to the main subject if they close off the GT main street to driving do you all think it will be safer? Or make for more space to people mingle and in some cases 'mangle'?

Also, what is the best authentic Greek restaurant in downtown Detroit? I am not assuming it is in what was classic GT.

[Honky Tonk]

So, going back to the main subject if they close off the GT main street to driving do you all think it will be safer? Or make for more space to people mingle and in some cases 'mangle'?

No, I think you'll have to leave your vehicle well outside of GT and walk in, opening yourself to more risk. Yes, it will make more space to mingle/mangle. I used to go to GT religiously, until it was updated, then the casino moved in. After that, it became one huge CF, the food wasn't that good anymore, [[sorta like Michelina's Greek Entree) and I lost interest. Now, I did walk in to GT about February 2018, with a friend, had dinner @ one of the older places, [[can't remember which) food was "good", and we didn't feel threatened in the least bit. I'm not sure if the "threats" are just perception, or real, or if things get weirder on the weekend. GT just doesn't have the destination attraction for me like it used to.

[SammyS]

I’m surprised with Gilbert’s presence and his security company, GT is not under more control.

[bust]

The casinos were such an idiotic idea for Detroit. They will continue to be weights that drag on its revitalization for decades to come.