Downtown – Ferndale, Michigan

Isaac Kremer/ February 20, 2007/ downtown, Field Notes, Physical, placemaking, preservation, public art, storefront, streetscape/ 0 comments

First incorporated in 1917, Ferndale’s early development as a streetcar suburb of Detroit resulted in Ferndale having a small downtown and traditional high density development patterns. The streetcar system, with its fond memories, served Ferndale from 1895 to 1947, and was the main mode of transportation to work and play for Ferndale families for several decades. The Oakland Railway Company connected Detroit with Ferndale, Royal Oak, and Birmingham reaching FErndale, and Royal Oak on February 6, 1895 and Birmingham on June 15, 1895. The Detroit United Railway (DUR) purchased the line in 1901 and operated it until April 25, 1931. The City of Royal Oak then purchased the track from the DUR through Ferndale up to the Catalpa Street in Royal Oak and leased the tracks back to the City of Detroit’s Department of Street Railways who operated streetcars until May 2, 1947.

The Ferndale Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has ground floor offices in a storefront building with enameled panels in two colors – cream and a dark burgundy.

A streetscape project has arranged the sidewalk in a square grid. Metal and wood benches, lamps, bike parking, and trash cans are all coordinated together.

The parking lot behind buildings on 9 Mile Rd is screened with a brick wall. An effort is made to make the backs of buildings facing the parking lot more attractive.

Large scale buildings, while relatively scarce, do have a presence and provide a valuable function supporting downtown living. That is certainly the case with this brick building with stone detailing. A drip molding is over the Tudor arch central door. Stone quoins tied in with the brick define the corners, and also the edges of the central window on the third floor.

Overall Ferndale creates a very welcoming appearance, including through this name medallion on the sidewalk near one of the alleys. This creates a sense of arrival and also place attachment. When people see Ferndale they know that they have arrived at some place special.

Visit in November 2007

Professional Building, 22757 Woodward: Located at the southwest corner is the Professional Building, which replaced the Aston-Wallace Building during the widening of Woodward and is now located on the south end of the same block. Cunningham’s Drug Store opened at this corner in 1931, making Ferndale the only place in the U.S. that had a drugstore on all four corners at a main intersection.

The Badder Building, 22801 Woodward: At the northwest corner was the first two story brick commercial and office building in Ferndale, home to Leonard’s Drugs in the 1920’s and McMillan’s Drugs in the 1940’s. Two well-known businesses, Federal Department Store and Radio City encompassed the rest of the block. In the 1950’s, Federal’s extended to the corner after taking over the drug store location.

Ferndale Center Building, 22750 Woodward: At the southwest corner is the Ferndale Center Building. Originally named the C.H. Harrison Building it housed the newly incorporated Ferndale City Hall offices in the 1930s. For many years, this three story building was the tallest structure in the area.

Saint James Roman Catholic Church has a prominent presence on Woodward Avenue in Ferndale.

Woodward Avenue Brewing or the WAB is another popular attraction on Woodward Ave helping to anchor a dining and entertainment district.

Como’s Restaurant is another popular destination at the corner of Woodward and 9 Mile Rd.

The Ferndale Public Library is awaiting an expansion in these photos.

Ferndale City Hall is a modern building with a loggia with pillars supporting a flat roof across the front and sides.

A few blocks away a former school building is being reconfigured and expanded upon for use as lawyer offices.

Magic Bag theater is a popular live music venue.

The fly trap promotes itself as “a finer diner.”

Egyptian Revival details help this building on 9 Mile Road stand out, including the battered door surround with the wing and disk design over the main entrance.

The modern story of Ferndale cannot be understood or told without understanding the growing influence of LGBTQ people. Affirmations is a downtown building that speaks to the organizational strength of this group and their advocates.

Ferndale has many one story commercial buildings. This one stands out with the trefoil detail in the frieze and with a multi-colored tile roof. The uncoordinated awnings and discontinuity between some storefronts material and the historic fabric above detracts from the appearance of this historic building. Transom windows would likely have drawn light further into the building though most of these are now covered up.

House of chants is in a one-story brick commercial building with unique arcaded cornice.

This enameled panel building has Art Deco tile details on the vertical ends. Java Hutt is a popular third place in downtown Ferndale.

Other more contemporary buildings refer back to the simple stylized Art Deco detailing in the geometrical motif above the entrance sign.

Businesses like Just4Us further reinforce the LGBTQ identity of Ferndale.

While the signage is over the top, Natural Food Patch leaves no doubt what this store is about. Window space and lighting is not used effectively to draw people in. Instead it is viewed primarily as a surface to post print advertising or for large blank wall fixtures that contribute little to street life.

A view of one of the mid-block alleys connecting the parking lot with 9 Mile Road.

This apartment building with arcaded cornice on the upper floor, and distinctive arched door on the ground floor stands out thanks to this architectural detailing.

Visit in January 2012

Street paving creates contrasting color and texture to distinguish pedestrian areas from vehicular.

Woodward Ave and 9 Mile Road looking westward. This is the busiest intersection in Ferndale where two major streets meet. Here is where the Crow’s Nest served as an early traffic signal at this intersection of Nine Mile and Woodward Avenue. The structure was created to hold policemen high above heavy traffic to direct traffic in a safe environment. The Crow’s Nest was removed in 1928 during the widening of Woodward and the advent of the electric traffic signal. A sculpture was later placed in its place to recognize the historical significance of the Crow’s Nest to Woodward Ave and Ferndale.

A once vacant building at Woodward and 9 Mile became home to the Rust Belt Market. Inside different vendors are given space to sell their merchandise.

Along 9 Mile Road nearly every storefront was occupied.

Fantastic Ferndale is a mural completed August 11, 2008. The mural depicts the diversity and creativity found in the City of Ferndale. Artist Daniel Cascardo uses birds, fish, vibrant colors, and fantastic characters to take the viewer to a place open to the many possibilities of the imagination.

Finally, the public library benefited from an expansion with a sleek brick and glass addition tot he original modern brick building.

Visit in January 2026

This retro-styled public art piece titled “Fantastic Ferndale“, located on the rear exterior wall of a building in downtown Ferndale, Michigan.

Mural Features and Nostalgia

• The Intersection: It prominently illustrates the iconic crossing of Woodward Avenue and Nine Mile Road, complete with a classic green street sign.
• Vintage Scene: The composition features mid-century vintage cars—including a classic Ford convertible and a yellow Volkswagen Beetle—driving down the street in front of the historic Ferndale Center Building.
• Local Catchphrases: A billboard styled with a clock reads “Come Back to the Nine”, which pairs with the text on the far left that reads “Welcome to Downtown Ferndale”.
• Whimsical Flair: A stylized green bird flies across the right side of the frame, carrying a banner that reads “Where You Belong,” highlighting the city’s historic reputation as an inclusive and welcoming community.

The image features the vibrant public art mural titled “Celebrate All That You Are“, located on the exterior brick wall of Bakehouse46 at 301 West Nine Mile Road. Painted in 2023, the piece was created by Royal Oak-based artist Shana Preuett under her creative banner, SMP Art & Design. The mural was commissioned as part of the first annual “You Belong Here!” Public Art Program. This initiative was spearheaded by the Ferndale Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and the Ferndale Arts & Cultural Commission to champion inclusivity and enrich the district’s visual footprint. The playful, graphic mural serves as a warm reflection of the town’s supportive community values. It weaves together a collection of whimsical, everyday icons on a stark black brick canvas:

• Text: A cheerful rainbow banner arches over the left side reading “CELEBRATE all THAT YOU ARE.”
• Bakehouse Tributes: The design playfully nods to its host business, the Bakehouse46 bakery, by including a sprinkled donut, a frosted cupcake, and a steaming cup of coffee.
• Community Storytelling: Whimsical elements like a floating planet, a mystical crescent moon, an all-seeing eye, and natural botanical leaves invite onlookers to interpret their own personal journeys of individuality and belonging within the design.

Affirmations is a prominent LGBTQ+ community center located at 290 West Nine Mile Road at the corner of Allen Road in downtown Ferndale. Founded in 1989, Affirmations is one of the largest LGBTQ+ community centers in the United States and serves as a vital hub for the Metro Detroit area. The current state-of-the-art, 17,000-square-foot facility features community meeting spaces, a computer lab, the Pittmann-Puckett Art Gallery, and administrative offices. As seen in the storefront windows, the center hosts and partners with local organizations, including The Ringwald Theatre and the Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit. The center provides essential resources, including health and wellness programs, support groups, youth services, and educational advocacy.

A vibrant, pedestrian-friendly sidewalk scene along West Nine Mile Road. The sidewalk features a bright pink chalkboard sign advertising Sunday Brunch from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM outside Coeur, a highly-regarded neighborhood restaurant and bar. The view looks east toward the bustling intersection of Woodward Avenue, lined with brick storefronts, street planters, hanging floral baskets, and modern parking kiosks. This exact block sits right next to the previously shown modern residential building, ferndalehaus, embedding it directly within the heart of Ferndale’s central shopping and dining district.

Custom integrated planter benches located along the newly redesigned streetscape of West Nine Mile Road in downtown Ferndale. These modern black metal and wood-topped structures were added as part of the city’s Ferndale Moves infrastructure updates to create a more walkable, green, and pedestrian-friendly downtown environment. The tiered boxes are curated with a mix of native perennial flowers, decorative greenery, and tall hollyhocks, offering natural beauty and functional seating for visitors. This vantage point looks west across the street toward storefronts like 275 W Nine Mile Rd (visible in the background), positioning it directly across the street from the Affirmations community center.

Looking west down the commercial strip of West Nine Mile Road. The block showcases a diverse mix of long-standing mainstays and modern culinary hotspots:

• Tigerlily & Sisu: Under the prominent black canvas awnings sits Tigerlily, a stylish contemporary pan-Asian and sushi restaurant, which features Sisu, an intimate, hidden subterranean karaoke bar underneath.
• Sidecar Slider Bar: Directly adjacent is Sidecar Slider Bar, a popular upscale neighborhood pub known for its rotating gourmet sliders, craft drafts, and lively patio scene.
• The Natural Food Patch: Visible just further down the street is the colorful storefront of The Natural Food Patch, a beloved independent community grocery store that has provided organic goods, vitamins, and natural foods to the area since 1971.

The block is a hub for alternative culture, music lovers, and vintage shopping:

• Found Sound: In the foreground is Found Sound, a premier independent record store known for its massive selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, and pop-culture memorabilia.
• Signature Tattoo: Right next door is Signature Tattoo, a well-established custom tattoo and body piercing studio featuring a colorful, psychedelic mural of a winged horse at its entryway.
• The Secret Sanctuary: Further down the row is The Secret Sanctuary, an eclectic boutique and novelty store displaying fashion mannequins in its front window.

The businesses are housed inside a beautiful, turn-of-the-century brick commercial block featuring intricate decorative brickwork and corbeling along the upper roofline. This block sits directly across the street from the “Fantastic Ferndale” mural.

This section of the street highlights some of Ferndale’s longest-standing independent staples and favorite neighborhood hangouts:

• The Library Bookstore: Located at 169 W Nine Mile Rd, this beloved, cramped-but-cozy independent shop is packed floor-to-ceiling with used, rare, and out-of-print books.
• Java Hutt Cafe: Right next door is Java Hutt, a colorful, iconic local coffee house known for its retro vibe, strong espresso drinks, house-made baked goods, and welcoming patio space.
• The Downtown Ferndale Bike Shop: Marked by the prominent red vertical sign, this friendly full-service community bicycle shop serves area commuters and cycling enthusiasts.
• The Oakland Art Novelty Co.: Tucked slightly further down the block is The Oakland, a renowned, darkly lit craft cocktail lounge disguised as a classic neighborhood bar.

The Ferndale Arts Building is located at 195 West Nine Mile Road. This stately multi-story red brick building features a classical pediment over the central entryway, accented by a colorful sign that spells out “ARTS” in block letters. The top limestone cornice bears the original name engraving: “PIONEER APTS.” The building operates as a creative commercial hub hosting multiple local wellness and creative businesses, including: Local Color Tattoo (Suite B1), a custom tattoo studio marked by the framed logo plaque to the left of the doors; and Hair Cutz, a classic neighborhood barbershop/salon located in the garden level to the right of the entrance.

Patio Zone is part of Ferndale’s pedestrian-friendly urban planning initiative. They carve out dedicated outdoor seating spaces directly on the wide sidewalks, allowing residents and visitors to relax, socialize, and enjoy food or drinks from nearby restaurants. The light blue sign features playful retro typography reading “PATIO ZONE – YOU ARE HERE.” It includes lighthearted text encouraging visitors to text friends, tag @downtownferndale on Instagram, or leave reviews. A QR code at the bottom links directly to a Downtown Ferndale digital map showing local business directories, events, and shopping guides. This specific patio sign is placed directly on the sidewalk outside The Oakland Art Novelty Co. cocktail lounge, located just a couple of doors down from the Ferndale Arts Building.

The central intersection of Woodward Avenue and Nine Mile Road is the most famous intersection in Ferndale, serving as the symbolic heart of the city’s downtown shopping, dining, and nightlife district. On the left sidewalk island stands a historic white concrete post that reads “Drive Safely – Walk Right.” This is a replica of a classic safety pillar from Woodward Avenue’s early automotive history. On the right-hand corner sits the historic three-story Ferndale Center Building, a classical white structure topped with a large commercial billboard. The green, shaded lawn visible on the immediate left is Schiffer Park, a popular public pocket park featuring outdoor seating and community art displays.

This wider view of the northeast corner of the Woodward Avenue and Nine Mile Road intersection, shows the prominent white classical revival building on the left corner houses retail stores on its ground floor and office spaces above. It is topped by a large commercial billboard. On the right, the landscaped entrance to Schiffer Park features the stone-engraved “Downtown Ferndale” sign. The street layout showcases green bike lane markings painted on the asphalt, supported by a dedicated “Bike Lane” sign hung alongside the municipal “Woodward Ave” traffic sign.

Woodward Avenue at the intersection of Nine Mile Road has a prominent brick building on the right corner, located at 22757 Woodward Ave, houses one of the most recognizable and active local real estate agencies in the Metro Detroit area. The street surface features bright green thermoplastic markings spanning the crosswalk. These are part of Ferndale’s multi-modal infrastructure design, specifically marking the transition zone where the dedicated Nine Mile Road bike lanes safely intersect with Woodward Avenue. In the background to the left, you can see the wide, tree-lined median that separates the northbound and southbound sides of Woodward Avenue, a signature design element of this historic American highway.

Como’s Restaurant, is an iconic dining landmark located at 22812 Woodward Avenue at the corner of East Nine Mile Road. Originally founded in 1961, Como’s has been a staple of the Woodward avenue strip for over six decades. Following a complete ownership change and a multi-million dollar renovation in 2019, the establishment was successfully revitalized into a modern destination. Today, it is highly celebrated for its signature Detroit-style square pizzas, crisp salads, and creative craft cocktails. The venue is widely known for hosting one of the absolute largest and most popular outdoor drinking and dining patios in Metro Detroit. It is heavily decorated with pride flags along the windows, mirroring the inclusive spirit of the surrounding community.

An active commercial row along Woodward Avenue, directly adjacent to Como’s Restaurant, highlights the vibrant nightlife and craft beverage options clustered right around the Nine Mile intersection:

• Danny’s Irish Pub: Located right next door at 22824 Woodward Ave, this cozy, long-standing neighborhood dive bar features a distinct stone facade and is beloved for its classic pub atmosphere, cheap drinks, and friendly crowd.
• Traverse City Whiskey Co. Outpost: Nestled in the sleek grey brick building at 22812 Woodward Ave (sharing space with Como’s) is the Metro Detroit tasting room for Traverse City Whiskey Co. This outpost brings a taste of Northern Michigan downstate, serving up premium craft whiskey flights, custom cocktails, and small-batch spirits.