Customers browse through merchandise during the grand opening of Ford’s Garage, 21367 Michigan Ave., July 5.
By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN — A popular Florida restaurant has made its way to Dearborn. Ford’s Garage, 21367 Michigan Ave., celebrated its grand opening July 5 just miles away from Henry Ford’s first garage.
The first restaurant location in Michigan sits near the John D. Dingell transit center and The Henry Ford, ready to serve over 200 food and car enthusiasts at a time.
During the grand opening, owner Billy Downs said the Dearborn location was two years in the making with construction starting last year.
“We began searching for a location two years ago and this spot had been unoccupied for a while,” he said. “Ford Land helped to make our dream into a reality in Michigan.”
The restaurant has a 1920s feel with vintage Ford vehicles, memorabilia, photos, assembly line signs for the kitchen, merchandise and service station with an outdoor seating area.
“We wanted to create a hub for the community in Dearborn and anyone visiting from the region where they can come and connect to other people,” Downs said.
The menu includes sushi grade ahi tuna, baked potato soup, low carburetor burger, patty melt, berries and gorgonzola salad, cajun chick ’n’ shrimp mac and a warm brownie sundae.
The “Henry Ford Hub Cap,” a 10-pound hamburger, is also on the menu along with more than 100 beer options including 30 craft beers from Michigan.
Mayor John O’Reilly Jr. said the city was more than happy to work with Ford Motor Co., Ford Land and Downs to get the restaurant open.
“It was great to have Ford engaged in the restaurant process because it will go great with their development in west downtown Dearborn,” he said. “This location has been the one from the start with the high exposure and train station nearby which will attract Dearborn residents and people from all areas in Michigan or neighboring states.”
The first Ford’s Garage restaurant opened five years ago in Fort Myers, Fla., where the Ford family sent time at their winter estate.
For more information on the restaurant go to www.fordsgarageusa.com
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected].)