Warren has been my home for over two years now, but due to the pandemic, I haven’t been able to get as well-acquainted with the city as I would have liked. Luckily, I was allowed to tour the area for this blog! During my excursion through the city, I’ve come to learn that Warren is large, with a diverse population of people and home to plenty of Macomb’s parks. The people are more often than not very kind and the establishments to stop by are plentiful. Below are some of the cool places I visited during my tour of Warren.
Having dessert for breakfast isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s called a pan “cake” for a reason, and I think the Chocolate Gallery Cafe perfectly encapsulates how a scrumptious treat can be the perfect morning meal. The cafe’s menu ranges from sweet and tart specials to more simple breakfast foods such as eggs and sausage. They also offer specialty sandwiches and salads. Customer service is great, too, with a warm and welcoming staff. I don’t regret spending my morning there, and I’d love to do so again in the future.
Warren also has food markets, as well. In particular, I visited the Kutchey Family Market on Ryan Road, a place filled with local and midwestern produce. The Kutchey Family itself has a long history of farming in Macomb County that stems all the way back to the 19th century. David Kutchey, the most recent owner, showed me around a bit and gave me insight on the market’s past. In the 1800s, the Kutchey Family moved to Macomb Township from Belgium and began farming. The business expanded in 1965 when Joe and Carolyn Kutchey purchased more land in northern Macomb County. Eventually, their son, David, took over management in 1990, and ever since he has been continuing to uphold the values and commitment to Warren that his parents had. You can find more on the Kutchey Family farm’s history in a quaint sit-down area towards the back of the market.
Another market I stopped by was the Desi Fruit Market on Nine Mile. Stacked to the brim with produce and other grocery items, this market has all kinds of necessities of the Indian or Bangladeshi variety. But that’s not all. Simple spices and other utilities that you would need for any kitchen can be found here as well. The produce is fresh and the people are friendly!
For dinner, I recommend Mr. Miguel’s Mexican Grill & Cantina. There are many Mexican food establishments within Macomb County, but this one I believe to be pretty good, only matched by Grand Azteca in Fraser. If you’re really into Happy Hour, there’s good news because Mr. Miguel’s has it all day on Wednesdays and Sundays!
For those looking for takeout food, Warren has many places for this as well. For this blog, I suggest Alani’s Soul Kitchen. As the name implies, this carryout business serves soul food, some of the best in Macomb County.
Speaking of carryout, I also want to add Theo’s Family Restaurant to the list of restaurants to go to in Warren. During the first few months of the pandemic, Theo’s was my family’s comfort food. They were quick to jump on curbside pick up and they still offer the option to this day. The restaurant serves great sandwiches and burgers, but also delicious pasta and Polish dishes. Just writing about it makes my stomach rumble in delight! If you ever get the chance, I definitely recommend giving it a try.
Scattered across Warren, there are a plethora of different parks to visit in your free time. Licht Park sits behind Cousino High School and is the perfect location for a small picnic and bout of exercise. The short oval trail that encircles the park is about a one mile walk if you go around three times. The playscape is large with plenty of space for the kids, too! Not to mention, there is a pavilion with lots of seating if you wish to gather there with friends or family. Another great aspect of this park is the shade. Tall trees tower over the area, blocking out the excruciating heat of the sun. I come here constantly with family and friends either to play around or get a nice short walk in. Some of the surrounding houses face the park from behind, but it doesn’t feel uncomfortable. There’s even a chicken coup in one of the backyards where, if you’re lucky, you can catch sight of the birds strolling about.
Another park I visited was Halmich Park. With lots of parking and ample open space, this place has a variety of different activities for park goers to partake in. Soccer fields, tennis courts, baseball diamonds and tons of picnic areas adorn this enormous plot of land. It’s the perfect place for a family outing or kickball with friends. There’s even two sets of trails that go around the park. The first one is considered the long course and is about a 1.3 mile walk. The second course is about one mile.
As I mentioned before, however, Warren has countless other parks beyond just these two. You can find more of them by clicking here.
Finally, I consider it a must that visitors coming to Warren stop by Sundays at the Square if they get the chance. The name practically says it all. Every Sunday at the square in front of Warren City Hall, vendors come and set up shop. Here, you can find fresh produce, commodities and handcrafted products that are sold by very friendly people. If you’re interested in a bite to eat, there’s always a food truck and ample seating in the shade. All the while, a DJ will spin out fun tunes that echo throughout the square. The open market is also pet friendly and I highly encourage you to bring your canine friend if possible! Unfortunately, Sundays at the Square will be ending October 6 so I recommend visiting as soon as possible!
Now that I live in Warren, I plan to uncover lots more within the city that I haven’t gotten a chance to see yet. If you have any suggestions, let us know!
Rachel Dearing is an intern for Macomb County Planning and Economic Development.
