Our statewide crisis is over, Michigan. After 38 long, grueling days, Lafayette Coney Island has been opened once again.

They voluntarily closed their doors in order to best work with the health inspection team back in January, a sign of real growth from management. This was the second time in the last three years that Lafayette has closed it’s doors to do some updating, hopefully this being the last.

You aren’t going and expecting a 5-star restaurant. You’re going fully knowing that it is going to be packed and people will be yelling over you. That’s the beauty of it. 

In a world that’s full of divide, I don’t mean to further that by bringing up Lafayette. This article is not meant to pit Lafayette goers against American Coney Islanders. Who’s to say which is better (it’s Lafayette). What we can all agree on, however, is that Detroit and coney dogs are synonymous. Detroit needs both of their landmark restaurants open before Spring comes. Imagine how hard April in the D is going to hit while you’re downtown crushing coney dog after coney dog, drinking beer out of the can. 

Now, I will say, am I happy that Lafayette is open again? Of fucking course. But, a little part of me is worried that we are going to lose some of the magic that makes Lafayette so special. If they are suddenly making all these changes to their building in order to stay open, at what point do we lose what it truly is? The city’s chief public health officer Denise Fair Razo said, “Everything is brand new. It’s night and day from the new lighting, from the modernized equipment they have in place.” 

All that to say, I’m glad they did what they had to do with the health inspector to reopen, but don’t change too much, Lafayette. 

Rewind: