The first decade after Henry Ford’s creation of the automotive assembly line in 1915 saw the growth of whole neighborhoods within Detroit. The core of downtown Detroit still has architectural remnants of this era. A few of the original beverage establishments still exist from that time – but under new ownership.
Surrounding this hub are Detroit suburbs containing equally authentic, old-fashioned, bars & grills dating back to 1940. That was a formative year that affected many western Detroit suburbs and townships. In 1940 the Willow Run aircraft assembly plant was built to construct B-25 airplanes for the World War II.
At that time, the area west of Detroit was not referred to as “Metro Detroit.” But rather, residents either lived in Detroit or in the farming communities and scattered townships west of the Detroit city line. From Ann Arbor to Detroit along what would become Interstate-94, city after city was created to house workers for America’s war effort.
Along this east-west line, from downtown Detroit, through Southwest Detroit to Ypsilanti — cities grew, neighborhoods were built, and a service industry was created. These food and beverage establishments satisfied the refreshment needs of thousands of American workers. Amongst these neighborhoods many of the old-fashioned, original condition bars remain serving mostly the same drinks and meals as they have for decades.
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Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
Best Dive Bars of Detroit 