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A pit stop at Michigan's oldest bar, the New Hudson Inn

The New Hudson Inn is believed to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Business

The divey New Hudson Inn in western Oakland County claims to be the oldest bar in the state, and it&#x27;s worth a visit for history buffs.The big picture: The neighborhood spot with a rich history dating <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="back to 1831" data-vars-click-url="https://www.newhudsoninn1831.com/" data-vars-content-id="ffef79f5-efbe-4a09-9d0f-322c380ecbd4" data-vars-headline="A pit stop at Michigan&#x27;s oldest bar, the New Hudson Inn" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.newhudsoninn1831.com/" target="_blank">back to 1831</a> is known for its burgers, jovial atmosphere and popularity with the biker crowd.

Michigan tops UConn to win NCAA title

The Wolverines used defense and transfers to secure their first title since 1989.

Sports

U-M survived a brawl with UConn Monday night, 69-63, to win the men&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="college basketball" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/04/03/michigan-arizona-final-four-2026-matchup-preview" data-vars-content-id="9a7afb30-8742-4856-b3b6-ac1b296c4ed2" data-vars-headline="Michigan tops UConn to win NCAA title" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/04/03/michigan-arizona-final-four-2026-matchup-preview" target="_self">college basketball</a> national championship.Why it matters: It&#x27;s the first Wolverines title since 1989, snapping a four-game losing streak in the title game.

Metro Detroit small businesses weigh in on economy

Confidence is falling among small-business owners, per a recent national survey.

Some Metro Detroit business owners are echoing the economic stress felt by entrepreneurs across the country.Driving the news: Confidence among American small-business owners fell for a second consecutive quarter, according to the recently released <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index" data-vars-click-url="https://www.uschamber.com/small-business/small-business-index-q1-2026" data-vars-content-id="3e70fab0-836b-47da-b649-189d083e546b" data-vars-headline="Metro Detroit small businesses weigh in on economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.uschamber.com/small-business/small-business-index-q1-2026" target="_blank">U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index</a>.

What Metro Detroit homeowners do for a living

STEM and skilled trades workers have higher homeownership rates here than nationally.

Real Estate

Management and business professionals are most likely to own a home in the Detroit area, according to a National Association of Realtors analysis of Census Bureau data.The big picture: Homeownership occupation trends in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area diverge from the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national pattern" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/30/homeownership-rate-job-occupation" data-vars-content-id="fb0d51db-90e9-49f1-92d4-c5396ae7790a" data-vars-headline="What Metro Detroit homeowners do for a living" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/30/homeownership-rate-job-occupation" target="_self">national pattern</a>, as we have higher overall rates of homeownership here among all the careers studied.

Detroit to get innovative in goal for new-build housing

City leaders are exploring avenues to make it easier and more affordable to build new homes.

Detroit hopes to attract innovative homebuilding companies like 3D printers as it seeks creative strategies to build housing on its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="vacant land" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/11/12/vacant-land-bird-diversity" data-vars-content-id="a4e49265-0798-4b60-8c0a-fa4a9452ac19" data-vars-headline="Detroit to get innovative in goal for new-build housing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/11/12/vacant-land-bird-diversity" target="_self">vacant land</a>.Why it matters: Homeownership is seen as a pathway to building generational wealth in a city where <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="poverty is on the rise" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/09/19/income-poverty-mayoral-race-election-economy" data-vars-content-id="a4e49265-0798-4b60-8c0a-fa4a9452ac19" data-vars-headline="Detroit to get innovative in goal for new-build housing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/09/19/income-poverty-mayoral-race-election-economy" target="_self">poverty is on the rise</a>.

Food trucks return downtown for 14th season

More than 80 food trucks are back with weekday lunches through early October.

Food and Drink

Downtown&#x27;s food truck scene, with more than 80 vendors in rotation, returned this week to Cadillac Square for its 14th season.Why it matters: The trucks <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="draw big lunchtime crowds" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWyy1W3DdQC/" data-vars-content-id="706bd4a4-94f5-4fb7-b18e-da5ddb2e9b63" data-vars-headline="Food trucks return downtown for 14th season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWyy1W3DdQC/" target="_blank">draw big lunchtime crowds</a> downtown each spring and summer.

Detroit coalition offers cash to boost population

Move Detroit is offering financial help and an ambassador program to grow and retain its population.

A new coalition, chaired by billionaire Dan Gilbert and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="supported by Mayor Mary Sheffield" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/04/01/sheffield-pushes-lowering-property-taxes-in-state-of-the-city-speech" data-vars-content-id="8f0d58ba-a048-4511-a3a3-d31aa03dec86" data-vars-headline="Detroit coalition offers cash to boost population" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/04/01/sheffield-pushes-lowering-property-taxes-in-state-of-the-city-speech" target="_self">supported by Mayor Mary Sheffield</a>, is offering financial incentives and marketing the city in order to grow its population.Why it matters: After decades of steep population loss, Detroit is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gaining residents again" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/05/16/detroit-biggest-population-growth-michigan" data-vars-content-id="8f0d58ba-a048-4511-a3a3-d31aa03dec86" data-vars-headline="Detroit coalition offers cash to boost population" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/05/16/detroit-biggest-population-growth-michigan" target="_self">gaining residents again</a>.

Best Detroit patios for spring drinks, coffee

From rooftop views to cozy cafes, these Detroit patios are prepping for spring.

It&#x27;s the first day of spring, and we&#x27;re already craving that first patio beer.Why it matters: It&#x27;s been a long winter. We deserve a local drink out in the sunshine without wind or snow pummeling us.

Bosch opens hydrogen facility in metro Detroit

The new site will produce hydrogen for testing and future mobility uses.

News

Bosch opened a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hydrogen" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2024/08/28/detroit-is-exploring-hydrogen-as-a-clean-fossil-fuel-alternative" data-vars-content-id="af57eb57-034b-44be-af4a-30a131ac2892" data-vars-headline="Bosch opens hydrogen facility in metro Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2024/08/28/detroit-is-exploring-hydrogen-as-a-clean-fossil-fuel-alternative" target="_self">hydrogen</a> production facility this week in suburban Detroit, part of a broader push for clean, reliable energy.Why it matters: Detroit wants to remain a global center of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mobility innovation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/01/30/eastern-market-clean-freight-pilot" data-vars-content-id="af57eb57-034b-44be-af4a-30a131ac2892" data-vars-headline="Bosch opens hydrogen facility in metro Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/01/30/eastern-market-clean-freight-pilot" target="_self">mobility innovation</a>. Hydrogen is among the technologies that city and state officials want to harness if it starts moving from pilot projects to real-world use.

Saffron De Twah trims hours, teases new cafe

Chef Omar Anani says rising costs are squeezing restaurants as he plans a new cafe concept.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Notable" data-vars-click-url="https://detroit.eater.com/2020/2/26/21154387/james-beard-awards-semifinalists-detroit-michigan-restaurants-chefs-bars-bakers" data-vars-content-id="abdb25d0-4eab-4081-8d03-24c13ec67bd5" data-vars-headline="Saffron De Twah trims hours, teases new cafe" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://detroit.eater.com/2020/2/26/21154387/james-beard-awards-semifinalists-detroit-michigan-restaurants-chefs-bars-bakers" target="_blank">Notable</a> Moroccan restaurant Saffron De Twah has narrowed its hours to weekends while its founder works up a new cafe concept.Why it matters: The small restaurant on Gratiot Avenue isn&#x27;t sustainable in its current form, chef Omar Anani wrote in a letter to supporters last week while teasing several upcoming changes.

Property owners launch Rivertown improvement zone

The new zone will fund cleaning, landscaping and security in the neighborhood.

A revitalization strategy is growing in Detroit in which property owners band together to pay voluntary, tax-like fees to upgrade their corridors.Why it matters: The creation of a third Business Improvement Zone (BIZ) in Detroit is an example of property owners and businesses buying into the future of their communities — in a city where landowner negligence is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="all too common" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0UcYXWCPR8" data-vars-content-id="39a92960-3509-4aa4-a721-48a394582f4c" data-vars-headline="Property owners launch Rivertown improvement zone" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0UcYXWCPR8" target="_blank">all too common</a>.

Business 🏦

Detroit to get innovative in goal for new-build housing

Metro Detroit small businesses weigh in on economy

Food trucks return downtown for 14th season

A pit stop at Michigan's oldest bar, the New Hudson Inn

Detroit coalition offers cash to boost population