The Detroit City Council approved the plans for the grand opening of Michigan Central Station, set to take place this summer, during its meeting on Tuesday. Ford Motor Co. will host the event, called Michigan Central OPEN, featuring a June 6 concert to mark the beginning of the building’s restoration. The celebration, spanning ten days, will offer the public an opportunity to explore the station before its official occupancy.
Expected to draw around 75,000 attendees, the event will extend to Roosevelt Park and Book Plaza. Bill Ford, executive chair of Ford, expressed excitement about the restoration, highlighting the station’s transformation from a symbol of decline to one of renewal.
Activities from June 6 to June 16 will include performances, tours, and discussions on the station’s history and renovation. Following this, visitors can register for a unique exhibition on Fridays and Saturdays from June 21 to August 31. Advanced registration will be necessary, with walk-up attendance depending on capacity.
Michigan Central Station, once a bustling train depot, ceased operations in 1988 and remained vacant until Ford purchased it. Saved from demolition in 2009, the station underwent significant restoration efforts by the Moroun family. Ford acquired the building in 2018 and has since integrated it into a mobility district in Corktown, alongside the restored Book Depository building.
To accommodate the event, certain streets surrounding the venue will be closed to the public from May 19 to May 31.
