ALLEN PARK, Mich. – Allen Park is a community brimming with pride.
“They actually call us the jewel of Downriver,” said longtime resident Jim Beri.
In addition to calling Allen Park home for more than 50 years, Beri also serves as executive director of the Allen Park Chamber of Commerce.
“We’re the corridor for anyone who wants to come downtown, you have to come through Allen Park,” said Beri.
Beri introduced us to some of the new businesses that are setting up shop in town, adding, that there’s been a lot of interest.
“Houses don’t stay for sale long here in Allen Park… I get calls all the time are there any businesses available? We have real estate agents, I give them their numbers and they’re filling up the stores,” Beri said.
One of those new businesses is Qazzaz, a coffee shop that recently relocated from Dearborn to a space on Allen Road. Owner, Mohammad Qazzaz, says the city had been on his radar for a key reason.
“It’s in-between downriver communities, [close to] Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, and for our wholesale business, people come from Ohio, Kentucky, New York, Chicago,” said Oazzaz.
For Qazzaz, the move has been a dream. His new building has allowed him to create an inviting retail space that allows people to relax and sip coffee as they watch the coffee beans roast through tall glass windows.
Qazzaz says fellow business owners have been welcoming, and so has the community. Close by on Allen Road, a few other businesses are preparing to open their doors, including a nuts and spice store and a perfume shop.
The Streatery, which recently opened up, is already a new favorite for locals.
Beri says there’s a lot to like about the city.
“I think the future looks great for Allen Park right now,” said Beri.