Apparently he didn't care enough about Ferndale to try and find a place here. I'm sure that had he looked, he could easily have found an affordable place -not- in the basement of a church. I'm disappointed, to say the least.

Ferndale will be fine - HP is one of our most tragically neglected/abused assets, and *the* weak link in the Woodward Corridor. Was never a huge fan of AJ's, but this seems like a worthwhile effort, and more in line with his quixotic business model. Anything that could stabilize/improve that area....

Storefront cleanup ever going to take place at the old AJ's? I keep wondering if that mess is like an FU to the city for not being more accommodating with the lease? Just wondering...

@rolfsy

"asset"?
you're kidding, right?

Highland Park could be an asset, but it's just another city that racism destroyed. In fact, some of the most gulity are the former parishioners of St. Benedict who gleefully participated in White Flight in the 50's, 60's and 70's while failing in their Christian duty to reach out to their Black neighbors as they moved in. The hierarchy of the Church might have tried preaching what a grievous sin racism is as hard as they preach that you dare not vote for a pro-choice politician, but then, many of them are unreconstructed racists, too. Yes, sneer at Highland Park as you are OBVIOUSLY a superior human being, but for just another city that the automobile built and then abandoned, what solutions do you have to correct the problems? Good luck to the new restaurant!

I wasn't surprised AJ left a mess and I'm glad he's gone, he left the place an eye sore. For someone claiming to care so much about the community he certainly had a way of ripping people (and his employees) off. He failed here and he'll probably fail there too considering his business ethics (or lack there of).

good luck to AJ

The brothers O'Neil were born and raised in Berkley.

@Ref - Highland Park is in the condition it is in not because of the people who left, but because of the people who stayed. It amazes me that white people are supposedly racist when they flee from increasing crime and decreasing public services and property values. I also find it ironic that a supposedly open minded person like thinks that Highland Park needs to have white people to make things run. Black people are just as able to run a city as white people are. Before you call anyone racist again you might want to look in the mirror.

@Ferndale Resident, when you say that you saw someone cleaning when you drove by?? Does that mean littering the joint with Debris? BTW you have to actually put your face against the glass to see into AJ's old place... Nice try

@Don, Absolutely Correct Don! I can get a notice because I leave my garbage cans out a day late (garbage day on Thursday) because i went up north and didn't come back until Sunday, but nothing is done about the downtown aban shops.

Code Enforcement in Ferndale was went from 1st class to the pitts. I've called because the two Section 8 homes on my street can't seem to keep their yards in order. Personally, recycling should be mandatory for Section 8 homes.

@Ferndale Resident, My wife and I walked by there on Sunday evening and it was still a pigs sty just the way it was the last time we walked by but I'm sure its immaculate now, you're right. I apologize. :)