Athens Coney Island: More Than Mere Hani's

When you think about the Woodward Dream Cruise, you can't help but think about the wonderful little staples along the way, right? The places that were your grandparents favorite hang out spots, the places your mother had her first date or maybe even her first kiss, basically those special places that linger with you throughout the years.

Athens Coney Island is one of those great establishments filled with history and memories, and when mixed together it creates the perfect recipe for sweet nostalgia. And that pot keeps brewing. While brothers Mark and Greg Mitchell bought the place in 1978, its original owner initially brought it to life back in 1964. 

"We'd always been diner fans," says co-owner Mark Mitchell. "Greg and I always wanted to have a diner and it was just one of those things – we had the opportunity so we took it." Athens is somewhat of a hybrid, meaning it's about two or three different diners from around the country blended together and "that's how we got to where we are now," says Mitchell.

It didn't start there, though. It started when they were just a couple of young lads with a father who would drag their butts to work on Saturdays and over school vacations. The deal was that their father would take them to Athens for lunch. As a result, they got to know the owner and when they eventually found out that he was selling the restaurant, the boys jumped on the idea. 

"I was just a long time fan," says Mitchell. "I never thought I'd own the place, but that's life's twists and turns. You don't know where you're going to end up."

This may not have been a dream for Mitchell, but he sure did a helluva good job, especially in regards to its overall appeal. Athens is the perfect backdrop for the Woodward Dream Cruise. Believe it or not, it sort of already has been on a number of occasions. Mitchell always catches people pulling up to take a quick picture and then taking off, but that's not all – magazines do too!

"Automobile magazine, Car and Driver, pretty much all of them have shot something or other," says Mitchell. 

Its design is truly memorable, which is why you should pull through. Unfortunately, the inside isn't open to the public, although food and beverages will be sold in the parking lot.

Just like last year, Athens will be hosting the Buick GMC Dealer group in Metro Detroit so dealers are coming out and bringing with them classic cars along with some of the newbies. 

Mitchell mentioned how sad it was that there was not a big presence of GM, Ford and Chrysler at the Cruise last year, especially since these are the companies that make this event so special. I mean, we're in the Motor City, are we not?

"That's why everyone's got to remember, especially during the Cruise, that it's all about us – Ford, GM, Chrysler – just buy American!" says Mitchell. "I think it's important, especially here in Detroit and that's what's nice about Dream Cruise, it reminds us all of that."

Mitchell couldn't be more right, especially in a recession like the one we're experiencing now. People tend to forget about the things that matter most, about representing your roots and, ultimately, about the people who started the foundation to begin with. So, do Mitchell a solid favor and buy American and, oh yeah, buy Athens Hot Dogs.

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