Ferndale’s ‘Club Red Thursdays’ provides entertainment, charity donations

By Jeremy Selweski
C & G Staff Writer

FERNDALE — All summer long, downtown Ferndale will be kicking off the weekend a little early via its new “Club Red Thursdays” promotions at various restaurants and bars around the city’s main hub of Nine Mile Road and Woodward Avenue.

Hailed as “a 13-week party” by the Downtown Development Authority, Club Red Thursdays began on June 12 and is scheduled to run every Thursday through Sept. 4 from 6 to 9 p.m.

The summer-long promotion features street musicians, performance artists and various retail specials and discounts. Every week, different bars and restaurants are designated Club Red venues of the week and will offer food and drink specials, entertainment and/or discounts.

According to DDA Executive Director Cristina Sheppard-Decius, the primary goal of Club Red Thursdays is to “get some traffic into our retail and restaurant businesses. We’re hoping we can get more and more people coming out as the summer goes along.”

She added that Club Red Thursdays is based on the DDA’s Thursdays on the Nine events of the past, which were held on the third Thursday of June, July and August.

However, current economic conditions almost prevented the whole thing from ever getting off the ground.

“People wanted to be able to promote Thursdays in general in downtown Ferndale,” she said. “But we weren’t really sure if we could continue on this year with money being so tight. Then we thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to partner with a charity?’”

That charity ended up being the American Red Cross, which, along with radio station 93.9 The River (CIDR-FM), became one of the sponsors of Club Red Thursdays. The promotional events at Club Red venues are, in part, an effort to build awareness of the services offered by the Red Cross in metro Detroit and attract a younger base of volunteers and blood donors.

“The Red Cross is trying to reach out to a younger audience — people in their 20s through 40s,” Sheppard-Decius said. “We’re, like, the perfect audience for them.”

Business owners for the Club Red venues were also thrilled with the DDA’s new promotional concept. Michael Hennes, owner of Howe’s Bayou, was happy to get on board, especially since he often donates blood to the Red Cross.

“This is for a good cause, a cause that I contribute to regularly,” he said. “We’re really looking forward to it.”

He also believes it will help boost business for the entire downtown area and enhance Ferndale’s public image. “This is a great community event,” he said. “It directly involves the restaurants and stores, and will promote the city and its businesses. Hopefully, we can create that energy and keep it throughout the summer.”

A.J. O’Neil, owner of A.J.’s Café, said that there has been a noticeable increase in business since Club Red Thursdays began on June 12.

“It’s hard to get a lot of foot traffic here, but it has been incrementally better lately,” he said. “I’m hoping this creates a ripple effect that shows that we’re a destination spot here in Ferndale.”

In addition, the buskers and other street entertainers being featured at Nine Mile and Woodward are a big part of the appeal of Club Red Thursdays.

“We want to encourage more creativity in our downtown area, with performers expressing themselves in the street,” Sheppard-Decius said.

To pump up the outdoor entertainment this year, the DDA is also launching a “Rock on 9” band competition beginning on July 3 in which music performers from bands to solo artists can enter to win a $500 prize and recording studio time.

Musicians will perform live on the sidewalks throughout the summer in a battle to win the title of Rock on 9 Artist of the Year. The public will be able to cast their vote for their favorite performers at the 93.9 The River Web site, www.939 theriverradio.com. There will then be a semifinal round on Aug. 21, with the finals being held on Aug. 28 and the grand-prize winner to be announced on Sept. 4.

It looks like the 13-week party is just getting warmed up.

For more information about Club Red Thursdays, contact the Ferndale DDA at (248) 546-1632 or visit them online at www.downtown ferndale.com.

You can reach Staff Writer Jeremy Selweski at jselweski@candgnews.com or at (586) 218-5004.