Eastern Market, Detroit

If you love the combination of big city living and yet want to enjoy some of the amenities of a small town, then this is a great spot for you. So many people visit Eastern Market throughout the year to get their food and yet they may not realize that this is a great part of town to live in.

People come from all over the area, particularly in the warmer months, to get fresh produce and flowers, fresh meat and bread, and experience a true sense of community. This has been a landmark since the 1800's and continues to draw people in for the excellent marketplace feeling that many long for. Though there are other areas of town that offer weekly farmer's market, nothing is quite like Eastern Market!

In terms of living you have some great amenities right at your fingertips. It's a great and very safe area of town to live in, and if you want a loft then there are some great ones to choose from. This is and will likely continue to be one of the best areas of town to live in and it is therefore a popular destination!

Eastern Market is one of Metro Detroit’s not-so-hidden jewels. I first learned about the area when a friend lived at the Lafayette Towers downtown used to take me there. Later, I took several dates to Bert's Marketplace. On the weekends when all the fresh produce is out for sale, the market is alive with activity, and people from everywhere are buying up stuff. There are vendors selling everything you can think of. The Eastern Market area itself is like a six-block area where all of that commerce and business takes place. It's right by the freeway also, so you can connect to the Lodge, I-75, and I-94 very easily from there.

I do not like the surrounding area, though. Homeless people and shady characters walk the streets, so you have to keep your eyes and ears open, especially at night. But the main attraction for me is Bert's Marketplace. It's a small little jazz club with a nice bar, indoor and patio seating, and live bands on certain nights. The food is great in here also, especially the wings. Trust me; I have impressed several dates by taking them there over the years. It's a low-key, mellow spot where you can enjoy the music and the atmosphere, have a drink or two and just chill. I go back to buy produce and hang out at Bert's every chance I get.