TRENTON, Mich. – Local 4 News is getting out of the studio and hitting the road to be In Your Neighborhood! We’re showcasing what makes our communities great!
The city of Trenton is a small, but tight-knit downriver community. More than 18,000 people call it home and call themselves Trentonites.
The city has a whole lot packed into just 7.5 square miles.
Related: Demolition dates set for 100-year-old Trenton coal plant
It doesn’t get more mom and pop than Mom’s Restaurant in Trenton. Open since ‘91, for some families, generations have been coming here. Folks walk-in for the specials and stay for the people.
“It’s special, kind of a home away from home,” said Jane Darling.
For Jane and her brother Larry, Mom’s Restaurant helps them feel closer to their own mother who recently passed away and was a fixture. Gus Dimopoulous, the owner of Mom’s Restaurant, met her on the day it opened. Located on Fort Street, Dimopoulous has built life-long friendships through his business.
“I was supposed to be retired a few years ago but I love the restaurant and the employees and customers,” Dimopoulous said. “Now it’s like a hobby. I stick around and have a good time.”
Related: Trenton is 1 of Michigan’s few designated ‘Trail Towns’
About a mile away is the picturesque Elizabeth Park, the first county-owned park in Michigan.
“We grew up playing in Elizabeth Park,” said Larry Bennett” During the winter, they would put ice rinks with barrels of fire and huts. We lived down there playing hockey.”
Decades later, the sport is still very much a part of the fabric of this downriver community.
“It’s a great hockey town for youth sports,” said Cyril Pokoiny.
The Kennedy Recreation Center near Old Town is a sprawling sports complex for winter and summer sports.
“It’s a good atmosphere for kids to do fun things instead of playing video games all the time,” said Lindsay Smith. “Lots of sports, pool in the summertime, it’s a nice place to go to.”
If you feel like walking around, downtown Trenton has an array of shops, restaurants and boutiques.
“What I love about Trenton most is how friendly the community is and how family oriented the city is,” Smith said. “I feel like it has an old-school-kids-riding-their-bike feel. I don’t worry about my kids, there’s always ppl looking out for everybody.”
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