Welcome to Berkley
A popular spot to live a simplistic life in Metro Detroit
Centrally located within the Detroit metropolitan area and surrounded by parks, locally-owned businesses, and major thoroughfares lie the community of Berkley. Avid participants in the Detroit art scene, Berkley residents also pay tribute to the heritage of the Motor City with their annual
classic car showcases and parades. In addition to weekend celebrations, the community holds a
Summer Fest and
Winter Fest each year to mark the changing of the seasons.
Berkeley started out as a farm and dairy land in the 19th century, but the completion of the Highland Park Ford Plant brought more residential housing into the region during the 1910s. Berkley is an inner-ring suburb of Detroit and has been named one of Money Magazine's Best Places to Live for its small-town feel and easily walkable downtown. Despite all of these accolades, this tight-knit community has long maintained one of the healthiest housing markets in both Michigan and the United States.
What to Love
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This inner-ring suburb is popular with commuters for its close proximity to downtown and quaint aesthetic.
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A central location between several freeways and major thoroughfares makes getting around easy.
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Berkley is the perfect place to come home to at the end of the day to relax and enjoy the perks of a simple life.
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Berkley’s local businesses are plentiful, including family-owned eateries and eclectic boutiques.
Local Lifestyle
With its quaint streets, close proximity to freeways, and straightaway access to downtown and Metro Detroit, it's no wonder Berkley is as popular as it is. One of the inner-ring suburbs of Detroit has become a hot commuter town for those employed in central neighborhoods. Berkley is the perfect haven to retreat back home to at the end of the day, with its quiet serenity, neatly organized streets, locally-owned eateries serving up home-cooked meals, and unique boutiques.
Dining, Shopping, & Entertainment
Berkeley is well-known for locally-owned and operated boutiques, shops, and other businesses. In addition to the abundance of shopping and dining, all sorts of fairs and festivals are held throughout the year to celebrate the arts, holidays, and the storied past of the Motor City.
Green spaces are ample, with plenty of parks throughout the community adding to Berkley’s popularity.
Detroit is arguably best-known for its unique style of soft, pillowy pizza with a crispy crust, and few in the city do it better than
Crispelli's. Their goal is to serve the city of Detroit affordable gourmet foods by bringing back old-world taste and prices. In addition to the pizza, their soups, salads, sandwiches, and other small plates pair perfectly with a glass of vino.
Another homage to the Motor City can be found at
Vinsetta Garage, actually located inside of the oldest garage east of the Mississippi. Their menu is centered around foods the auto and mechanic workers who built this city often craved after a hard day’s work. Some favorite dishes paying tribute to the past are the Vinsetta burger and Union mac and cheese with a crunchy crust.
Berkley residents also enjoy getting out to
Westborn Market. Westborn Market started out small in 1963 and has since grown into one of Detroit's top-rated grocery stores. Now a third-generation family-owned and operated establishment with three other locations across the Detroit metro, Westborn Market has taken inspiration from Europe, stocking its shelves with fresh produce, gift-worthy items, and specialty products. It truly is an essential stop before heading home or to a dinner party.
Things To Do
With plenty of parks, greenspace, and festivals throughout the year, Berkley has no shortage of ways to stay entertained. The arts and cultural scene are celebrated every year at the
Berkley Street Art Fest and
Berkley Art Bash, held every August and September, respectively. The Berkley Street Art Fest holds a live sidewalk chalk drawing contest and offers live mural paintings for the public to witness in real-time. The Berkley Art Bash has been transforming Twelve Mile Road every September for the past 20 years, attracting over 10,000 visitors to view arts, crafts, jewelry, treats, and drinks from local vendors.
Schools
Another reason Berkley is so well-liked is the presence of highly-rated schools within the area. One of the best-known educational opportunities is:
- Berkley Schools, kindergarten-12th grade; the CASA program (Center for Advanced Studies and the Arts) is available, providing students with advanced placement courses, an exceptional visual arts curriculum, and an advanced dance program