DETROIT – Local businesses in Greektown are reminding Detroit Lions fans that Greektown is still open ahead of the Lions home opener against the Chicago Bears Sunday afternoon.
As Greektown undergoes a $20 million renovation, a busy stretch of Monroe Street has been closed to traffic for the past several months.
The project aims to make the area more pedestrian friendly. Redesign plans include widening sidewalks, installing new curbless roads, and cutting down to just one lane of traffic. The redesign encompasses four blocks of Monroe Street from Randolph Street to the I-375 Service Drive.
As construction continues, businesses on Monroe Street want fans to know they’re still ready to accommodate gameday crowds.
“A lot of people get frustrated or deterred from the construction sites and the orange barrels, but we’re open,” said Yanni Dionisopolous, the owner of several bars and restaurants in Greektown. “Everything else is still in place, accessibility, our walkways to our restaurants, an abundance of parking.”
Dionisopolous owns several businesses including the restaurant Golden Fleece, the Greek market Bakaliko, Exodos Rooftop Lounge, and Delux Bar and Lounge. Ahead of Sunday’s home opener, he’s hosting a bar crawl and has already sold more than 200 tickets.
“Our plates are always full and our doors are always open for everyone,” Dionisopolous said.
Nico Gatzaros, the owner of Fishbones Greektown Detroit, is also gearing up for a spike in business this football season.
“It’s a great time of year for Detroit,” Gatzaros said. “Everybody comes out in droves and we’re super excited. Fishbones is two blocks from the stadium and it’s going to be rocking tomorrow.”
Gatzaros said although construction has slowed foot traffic over the past few months, the new renovations will transform Greektown in the long run.
“This is going to be a very pedestrian friendly city and this whole town, especially Greektown with it’s $20 million renovation, it’s going to be absolutely amazing,” Gatzaros said.