Welcome to Corktown
A town with a historic past and an even brighter future to come
Adjacent from downtown Detroit, Corktown is an industrial and trendy revitalized district brimming with live music venues, craft beer breweries, and bars mixing unique cocktails. The streets are lined with quirky thrift stores and authentic, foreign eateries. Corktown is the oldest neighborhood in Detroit and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Ireland's Great Potato Famine caused mass migration to Canada and the United States. By the middle of the 19th century, the Irish were the largest immigrant group within Detroit. Many of them hailed from County Cork, thus giving Corktown its name. Since the turn of the century, Corktown has seen a large number of revitalization projects take place within the community, including
Michigan Central Station. Once abandoned, the building has since been purchased by Ford Motor Company and will be restored to serve as the center of their new
Mobility Innovation District. Here, innovators and rule-breakers will develop, test, and launch urban transportation solutions. This 30-acre walkable hub will include new buildings, outdoor plazas, and over a million square feet of public commercial space. The new jobs and entrepreneurial spirit of this center will transform and bring new value not previously seen to Detroit’s oldest community.
What to Love
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Corktown is the oldest neighborhood in Detroit and is brimming with history.
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Downtown is within walking distance.
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Corktown is also surrounded by several freeways, making it easy to get anywhere within the Detroit Metropolitan area.
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In modern times, Corktown has solidified its reputation as a funky and fun district with a plethora of quirky shops.
Local Lifestyle
To put it simply, life in Corktown is fun! One does not need to look far to find food, wine, live music, or a festival. Corktown pays tribute to its rich Irish past with parades every year on
St. Patrick’s Day, with local pubs joining in on the celebration. Residents working downtown don’t have far to commute and can be found celebrating the end of a long work week at one of the down-to-earth restaurants or lively wine bars.
Dining, Entertainment, & Shopping
One of Detroit’s major cultural hubs, Corktown has excelled in the culinary arts. Many restaurants in Corktown have been open for several years and have established loyal followings. One prime example of this can be found at
Slows BBQ. It all started with a spin on the classic barbecue sandwich in 2005, and this locale has since grown into one of Detroit’s most famous restaurants, taking over the space next door to add more tables, a bar, and 36 more beer taps.
Despite Corktown’s industrial past, many restaurants specialize in high-end, fine dining. One local favorite is
Ottava Via, a rustic Italian restaurant with private dining space available for events. Their truffle butter pasta is famous, and the drink menu is impressive.
Drinks in a historic, Irish subdivision are meant to be enjoyed in a traditional pub, and
Nemo’s Bar is just the place. The inside is warm and features a welcoming, mahogany bar. The burgers are famous, affordable, and made to order, and they pair perfectly with one of the beers from their extensive list. Named one of Sports Illustrated’s best sports bars in America, Nemo’s is a popular game day spot, with shuttle busses running fans to
Ford Field, just two miles away.
Quieter nights eating in require a stop at
FOLK Market + Cafe. Having appeared in Bon Appétit and The Wall Street Journal, this award-winning establishment offers takeout, an impressive selection of wine to grow your collection at home, gifts for your next dinner party, and an array of unique household provisions.
Things To Do
Corktown residents are proud of their history and celebrate the bright presence of the neighborhood.
The Detroit St. Patrick’s Parade is held every March and attracts close to 100,000 attendees, making this one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the nation. Quieter days can be spent getting fresh air at
Roosevelt Park. Located directly across from Ford’s Michigan Central Station project and future campus, Roosevelt Park holds seasonal events across their greenspaces.
Schools
Corktown residents have access to a few different educational opportunities. In addition to Detroit Public Schools, some private options are located close by. One of these is: