‘MOM-AND-POP SHOPS’

There are more in Livonia than many realize

There has been a lot of talk this summer about the concept of creating a downtown Livonia.

The effort by a group of Livonia residents, who call themselves the Livonia Downtown Partnership, started with a focus on a potential redevelopment of the Kmart site at Seven Mile and Farmington. However, the ideas grew to seek trendy retail and restaurant redevelopments at other locations, and a coordinated series of modern redevelopments along all of Farmington Road.

There will be much debate in the future about what can and cannot be done, but this group should be applauded for their enthusiasm and collaboration with a goal of making Livonia a better place.

One common message that came from the ideas gathered by this group was the desire for more “mom and pop shops,” and less chain stores and restaurants. Ideally, their vision of a “downtown-like” development would include several unique stores and restaurants.

Livonia already has a number of family-owned, unique stores and restaurants – they are just scattered across our 36-square-mile city.

Here is a starting list of independently-run operated shops and restaurants in Livonia.

Joe’s Produce, in its 70th year, is one of metro Detroit’s premier food stores. Blazo’s Pie Shoppe offers fresh-made pies and other Michigan-made products next to Senate Coney Island. The recently-expanded Wine Palace includes fresh-made food. Town Peddler on Plymouth Road has been known for its knick-knacks for years. Colleen’s Gaelic Gifts on Farmington Road has featured its Irish inventory for more than a decade.

My Hobby Place on Plymouth at Farmington is a comfortable place to buy toys. Laurel Park Place Mall is a comfortable size shopping center with several independent stores, such as Pro Sports Zone and The Olive Store. The TRI Shop, a triathlete specialty store on Plymouth near Levan. Bill and Rod’s Appliance store on Middlebelt features cooking demonstrations, and d.vine fine wines on Haggerty has a comprehensive focus on unique wines.

Livonia has a number of independently-run restaurants. On Plymouth Road, there is Mama Mia’s, which is undergoing renovations, Annie’s Family Restaurant, Archie’s, Luigi’s Pizza Café, the historic Daly’s restaurant, Las Palapas Mexican Restaurant, and Thomas’ Family Restaurant. There’s Steve’s Family Dining on Middlebelt, G. Subu’s Leather Bottle on Farmington, Tahini Mediterranean Bakery and Grill on Haggerty, and the quaint Blue Plate Diner on Seven Mile.

Livonia features some famous carry-out places with the Detroit Bagel Co., Bates Hamburgers, Tony Baloney’s sub shop, Primo’s Pizza, and the Dairy Barn.

And there is a variety of bars in Livonia: The craft beer selection at One Under, the famous hamburgers at Mason’s, and the revamped sports watching and dining venues at George Murphy’s, Coaches Corner, Time Out Bar and Grill, and O’Malley’s.

This is just to name a few. The bottom line: Livonia has a lot of great places to shop, dine, and have fun – probably more of a selection than most suburban communities. You just might have to take a quick drive to get there.