DID YOU KNOW?
The track opened in 1959 and closed in the fall of 1998.
Now, I moved into my condo in 1995, and like I said, I could hear the PA announcer and the noise of the tires peeling rubber during these drag races when I had my screen door open during the summer months. Racing always began on Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and continued on Sundays at 2:00 p.m. If you are around my age, you will probably remember the TV commercials advertising this place.
Some of the big names who raced here were Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, as well as many others.
Anyway, how many people remember Peppina's Italian Restaurant in Lincoln Park? I have been here many times during my 20s. The restaurant, known for its Italian cuisine, opened its doors on April 16, 1984. It was founded by a family in which the owner served as the cook and doorman, while family members contributed in various roles, including dishwashing and waiting tables.
Peppina's became a beloved local establishment and is often remembered fondly by residents for its pizza and family-friendly atmosphere. Unfortunately, Peppina's faced challenges and ultimately closed after a fire in 2016. What a shame. This was an iconic place that everyone went to and heard about back then. I really enjoyed the Italian food there.
This next place many people may never have heard about, but it was located down the street from where I now live in Southgate, and I could hear the noise every weekend. That would be Detroit Dragway, which was a quarter-mile-long drag strip located in Brownstown Charter Township, Michigan, on the corner of Sibley and Dix Roads.
Now, many people have heard of this next business, and that is the Gibraltar Trade Center, which was a public market in Metro Detroit in the state of Michigan. As of its closure, it had one location in Mount Clemens, Michigan, and had previously operated a second location in Taylor, Michigan. The Gibraltar Trade Center was one of the nation's largest indoor flea markets, with the facility covering more than 600,000 square feet.
On July 2, 2017, the Gibraltar Trade Center announced the closing of the Mount Clemens Weekend Market. The company blamed its closure on the rise of online sales. The Taylor location had already closed permanently on November 16, 2014, and was demolished in 2015. The former Gibraltar Trade Center property in Taylor is now occupied by a Menards store.