I like Penny's response. As an area resident and a non-car enthusiast the cruise has frustrated me many times. But people like cars. So what! It's good for the city. My nephews think the monster trucks are awesome. I know Magic Bag wants to be the cool kid on the block but really just suck it up for a week and "slum it" with the rest of the cruisers.

This guy has been cruise bashing since day one, nothing new. As a cruiser since 1995, I have yet to spend a dime in his place.
Might be a just coincidence

For a town that prides itself on its diversity and open mindedness this, I feel, goes against what makes our city great. You don't see offensive marquees bashing the folks that come down for Pride Fest or the Art fairs. This shows me that the folks at the Magic Bag only like you if you're "Hip". Very disappointed in the message it sends to out of towners from what they can perceive as the people of Ferndale. I understand it can be disruptive but so are the other events that Ferndale hosts each year. It's what make us great and why I'm proud to call it home. Why not open those doors, work with Ford or some other group, fire up the projector, show some retro hot rod flicks and sell the bejesus out of alcohol...I guess that wouldn't be as hip as The Hangover 2.

I agree with both Penny and Greg. I would ask a couple of questions of Mr. Magic. Not trying to bash anyone, but have you seen some of the folks waiting to get into your building some nights? They don't appear to be rocket scientists. So, whatever, those folks are doing their thing, and coming to your place to do it. That's great. You don't see people hanging signs trying to discourage your clientele do you? Live and let live for crying out loud. I really don't understand the negativity....dare I say, hatred. Why do you feel the need to be so mean-spirited? Did a '57 Chevy run over your foot? I just don't believe that there is any room in THIS community for that kind of nastiness. As Greg said, I've also had more than several occassions where I could have come and spent money in your establishment....I choose not too. I'll spend my money in the places that SUPPORT this community!

Great Letter! Thanks for saying, with such grace, what I have felt for many years!

And here's my response.

1. It's funny to me. Danged funny.
2. It's not FOR out of towners. Locals get the joke. That's what made it funny.
3. I personally don't view the passing fad of the Woodward Dream Cruise as playing a role in the "emergence of Ferndale." The Dream Cruise costs us more than it makes us, and that will only be more so as time progresses, not less.

So grow a funny bone.

Thank god there are people with a sense of humor or we'd all be walking around like Stepford robots afraid to laugh at anything half ironic.

Mark Blackwell
I doubt if you like the gay joke people make when they talk about Ferndale. I have friends from TN. that come here every year and spend a lot of money here. Maybe not much in Ferndale, but in the area. Hope your boses at WJR Radio read your post.

The marquee message does seem over the top. There are a lot worse things that the Magic Bag can rail against that are far worse for citizens and residents. Come on Bag, get over it and play nice. We love the Bag and the acts that you bring. Minor correction needed.

I have a sense of humor. So you can gay-joke away as far as I'm concerned.

BTW...I am the boss where I work.

You did some research. Happy day, bully for you. You could just ask, I'll tell you anything you want to know about me. Or is that some sort of comments section technique; to make tacit personal, stalkish threats about my personal life?

It doesn't work, it's cheap and it's small.

Actually if you did some research, you'd find out that the City of Ferndale brings in over around $105,000 ($50,000 from Ford alone) in revenue which exceeds it's expenditures. Not to mention bars and restaurants that are cram packed for 2-3 days. Or how I noticed Dana Corp bought out the W.A.B. for almost the whole day this year. I'm sure they would haven't done that if it wasn't a good business decision and I don't recall too many other events where that has happened.

13 years, grows every year, over 1.1 million people this year...yeah that's a fad. I'll be sure to honk at the Magic Bag in another 13 years when the cruise is still going.
If the guy could get over himself and out of his own ways; maybe he'd realize that with over a million people in town with nothing to do on a Friday and Saturday night after the cruise closes...he could probably make a fortune doing a brew'n'view with some old cult classic car movies.

Oh well, I think I went there once in the last year; there's plenty of other venues in Metro Detroit with better acts than the Mega-80's every other weekend.

"Thank god there are people with a sense of humor " That sense of humor is ok if the insult is not directed towards you. Right?

I live north of Sandusky, Michigan (small town in the thumb), I shop at Walmart regularly, and I had no problem with that sign during the Dream Cruise. Honestly, I laughed my ass off when I read it, because it's true. Really, I can laugh at myself, because I absolutely fit the stereotype. My family and friends felt the same way - it was hilarious! The Dream Cruise brought me and my cousins out of the back woods, and down to Ferndale. Usually the biggest city we visit is Port Huron, other than that, we have all we need in our small town.

Anyone upset about the sign needs to relax and lighten up. At least the Magic Bag had something more interesting to say than the other businesses' "Welcome Cruisers".

By the way, when people from the city come up to my neck of the woods, we welcome them, but we laugh at them too. I invite anyone from Ferndale to drive up and catch some movies at the Hi-Way Drive-In in Sandusky. It's a classic 50's drive-in, and I promise you'll have a great time. It's just under 2 hours from Ferndale, and worth the drive. We'll even hang a sign "Hipster Douche Bags Welcome"! LOL!