Detroit is upbeat over Hard Rock Cafe

[Allan]

Detroit is upbeat over Hard Rock

Cafe, Borders open with fanfare, pickets

Denine Townsend serves lunch to Mike Hill, left, of Westland and Reggie Garrett of Canton during the cafe's opening Monday in downtown Detroit.

By Karen Dybis / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Labor protesters amicably shared the sidewalk with upbeat book lovers and music fans as two new downtown attractions -- a Borders Books & Music store and a Hard Rock Cafe -- opened Monday at Compuware's headquarters.

About 20 representatives from the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 876, AFL-CIO, in Madison Heights stood in front of the bookstore, next door to Hard Rock, carrying signs and handing out fliers explaining their actions.

The union represents workers at Borders' downtown Ann Arbor store, which went on strike Saturday demanding higher wages and better benefits at that location, one of two unionized stores nationwide. The average Borders worker at the Ann Arbor store makes about $8.50 per hour, union officials said.

Meanwhile, lines formed at each doorway of Hard Rock, the first of the music-themed restaurants to be located in Michigan. The Detroit restaurant at the intersection of Woodward and Monroe houses a Madonna dress, Kid Rock guitar and Marvin Gaye address book, among other items.

For diners like Pam Bastianon of Warren, the arrival of two nationally known retailers in the city was a day to celebrate.

"We're just glad Detroit is picking up, and we wanted to be part of that," the 52-year-old medical building manager said.

"It's about being part of the party," said Terri Farrar, 39. The St. Clair Shores resident is an employee at Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights in Detroit and a part-time band booking agent.

Borders' new 8,000-square-foot store drew raves from shoppers, including Silvia Muldrow, a 46-year-old Detroiter who works a short walk away at SBC Communications Inc. Muldrow said the union's boycott did not deter her shopping trip.

"I decided I had to go. This is the first day, and I wanted to be one of the first here," she said. "This is Christmas shopping already. This way, I don't have to go to the mall."

Roslyn Dobbins of Detroit flips through a book at the new Borders Books & Music store in the Compuware headquarters building in downtown Detroit.

Paul Miller of Washington, D.C., has 199 Hard Rock Cafe pins on his jacket. He says he has been to 74 other Hard Rocks.

Lines formed outside the various entrances for the grand opening of the Hard Rock Cafe in Detroit, on Monday, November 10, 2003. It is the first of the music-themed restaurants to be located in Michigan.

The Hard Rock Cafe's guitar sign hangs from the Compuware building in downtown Detroit.

First-day visitors wait outside the restaurant, at the intersection of Woodward and Monroe.

From left, Mike Hill, 23, of Westland and Reggie Garrett, 27, of Canton are served lunch by Denine Townsend, 21, of Detroit, during the grand opening.

Music memorabilia, primarily from rockers with Detroit ties, lines the walls inside.

A guitar from Metallica's Robert Trujillo is on display.

Bottom left, Cheri Tupling, 33, of Windsor, Theresa Jakubik, 43, of Woodhaven, and Pam Ryan and Chris Fairbairn, both of Windsor, arrived at the Hard Rock Cafe at 5:15 a.m. to get in for their pins and lunch.

Server Michael Yanez of Detroit shows a variety of hats to Nick Dismuke, 23, right, and his mother, Brenda Dismuke, both of Detroit.

This is the Detroit version of the Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt.

A guitar played by Detroit rocker Ted Nugent and other Nugent items hang at the Hard Rock Cafe.

You can reach Karen Dybis at (313) 222-2319 or [email protected].