New Center - Detroit, MI

Much of the Central neighborhood has long been a residential area. However the southern half of the neighborhood, closest to Midtown, began as an area filled with industrial plants. By the early 1900s, several major automobile companies, including Ford and Cadillac, built plants in the area. After decades of decline, the area has slowly come alive with refurbished homes and new neighborhood restaurants and bars.

The Central neighborhood has two museums. The Detroit Children’s Museum features hands-on exhibits and a planetarium, but it's only open to Detroit Public School children, not the general public. The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant showcases the birthplace of the Ford Model T and has a large collection of this historic car to explore. The neighborhood also houses the historic Fisher Theater, which hosts major Broadway musicals.

The Central neighborhood of Detroit has a variety of mostly casual restaurants in the area to choose from. Among the standouts in the area includes Cuisine, an elegant dining establishment in the New Center district. Housed in a beautifully restored home, this restaurant serves upscale French and American cuisine. Menu options include seared sea scallops, Maine lobster and almond-crusted soft shell crab. Save room for the hot souffles, such as the Grand Marnier or Kahlua souffle.

For a more casual dining experience, head over to Turkey Grill, which serves Southern and Cajun-style turkey dishes. This restaurant only has a few seating booths, but the food more than makes up for it whether you choose to eat in or carry out. Try the hickory-smoked turkey legs, the turkey chili and the turkey and seafood gumbo. Don't forget a slice of iced lemon cake, the restaurant's signature dessert.

At Z’s Villa, enjoy a wide variety of meals housed in a historic, three-story Victorian home. This hidden gem stands as a local favorite for both the food and the ambiance, and it includes a spacious outdoor patio, free Wi-Fi and a volleyball court available in the summer. The varied menu includes St. Louis ribs, fish and chips, burgers, nachos and Detroit-style pizza. You should also try the cheesy garlic bread when you get a chance.

Nightlife in this somewhat quiet neighborhood stays generally low-key. The Northern Lights Lounge provides one of the few places in the area to hear live music. This sleek, stylish lounge regularly hosts local bands in all music genres, from jazz and blues to electronic and punk. The lounge also has a full menu and a popular weekend brunch, as well as karaoke nights. Firewater Bar & Grill acts as the popular dance party spot in the neighborhood and has a spacious dance floor and an excellent cocktail menu.

While some parts of the Central area have pedestrian walkways, particularly the New Center district, public transportation provides an easier way to get around this large neighborhood. The Detroit Department of Transportation operates many bus routes that travel all over the area. If you wish to drive, the neighborhood sits at the center of both Interstates 75 and 94, the Davison Freeway and the Edsel Ford Freeway, which all provide easy access to the area. Parking options in Central consist primarily of street parking and parking garages, which range in price depending on the day and events in the area.

It's possible to hail a cab in some parts of the neighborhood particularly on major thoroughfares, such as Woodward Avenue and Grand Boulevard. The ride-sharing service Uber operates in the Detroit metro area and provides an often faster and more convenient option than traditional cabs. In addition, the neighborhood has very few bike lanes, which can make cycling dangerous.

The Central neighborhood has a few parks for local residents to enjoy. The New Center Park, a fenced-in area across from the Fisher Theatre, features a bar and grill and a stage for concerts and events. In the summer, the park hosts outdoor movie nights, free evening concerts and dance parties with local bands. The annual Caribbean Cultural Festival also calls this park home. Other parks include the spacious Voigt Park in the Boston-Edison area and Bradby Park, which has a basketball court.

The cost of living in the Central neighborhood stays on par with most of Detroit at one percent higher than the city average. Expect to pay an average of $654 for a one-bedroom apartment in the area. Getting to the city center from Central costs $1.50 without any transfers. Gas prices sit around eight percent lower than the national average, and a pint of beer at a local bar costs between $3 and $4.

As a mostly residential neighborhood, you won’t find major shopping centers in Central, but that doesn't mean you have to travel far to shop. You can find the largest concentration of quality shops in the New Center district, which offers a mix of high-end and budget-friendly stores. Stop in and browse the latest styles in fur at the luxurious Dittrich Furs. A local institution since the late 1800s, you’re sure to find a warm coat there to protect you from Detroit’s bitter cold winters. You can also find stylish and affordable footwear at Roby’s Shoes, which carries designer labels at discount prices.

A number of small grocery stores service the Central neighborhood, which includes Save-A-Lot, a discount grocery store chain. Other small, locally owned markets and convenient stores in the area have a limited amount of grocery items. For the freshest produce, visit the Oakland Avenue Farmer’s Market, which opens on Saturdays during the summer and early Fall. There's also the mobile community market Peaches & Greens, which aims to provide fresh produce to the under-served local community. It also has a mobile truck that travels a two-mile radius around the store selling affordable produce.