Tuesday, June 1, 2004

Ricardo Thomas / The Detroit News At Johnny G's Tavern, waitress Amanda Maier, 23, of Roseville talks to Jeff Nitterhouse, 29, of Mount Clemens. Each year, Mount Clemens spends about $150,000 to market itself, according to the Downtown Development Authority.

Mount Clemens: Blue-Collar Chic

Mega dance club anchors 20-somethings' nightlife

Coffee houses perk up after bars, restaurants dim

By Tony Manolatos / The Detroit News

Ricardo Thomas / The Detroit News C.J. Barrymore's is a family-focused, fun-for-all-ages venue that offers indoor and outdoor entertainment. The Clinton Township park is a short drive from Mount Clemens. Photo Gallery Entertainment in Macomb County Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

MOUNT CLEMENS — With three floors, 10 bars, two VIP rooms, a massive dance floor, pulsating lights and dance music that booms to the last row of the 364-seat balcony, the Emerald Theatre is the crown jewel of downtown Mount Clemens’ club scene.

A rising star in Metro Detroit, Mount Clemens is the east side’s answer to Royal Oak. Five trendy restaurants, including The Fondue Room; eight bars, including the Post Bar; and a coffee shop line a two-block area on Walnut Street and Macomb Place. Ten years ago, the strip had three restaurants and two bars.

Emerald, a sprawling, big-city dance club and concert venue is a magnet for twentysomethings. Kid Rock filmed his 2003 Christmas concert there.

The VIP rooms over each side of the dance floor and stage were built two years ago for locals Kid Rock and Uncle Kracker, who party there. Two guitar cases and pictures on the walls give visitors a glimpse into the Emerald’s past: Tommy Lee, Megadeth, Staind, Styx and the Psychedelic Furs performed here in the last two years.

Stretch limos line up out front before dawn.

“It’s fun as hell,” said 19-year-old Alan Consiglio. He drove 50 miles, from New Hudson in far west Oakland County, on his day off as a club bouncer. “The Emerald brings a lot of people to Mount Clemens who wouldn’t come to Mount Clemens. But this whole area is a great bar area.”

On weekends, the main parking lot that serves the downtown bars and restaurants is packed by 11 p.m. By summer’s end, the 300-space lot will accommodate 512 as part of the city’s $5 million parking lot expansion plan.

Each year, the city spends about $150,000 to market itself, said Kent Kukuk, executive director of the Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority. “The downtown isn’t where we want it yet, but it’s a far cry from where it used to be,” Kukuk said.

Mount Clemens is an easy drive from Macomb County’s fast-growing and affluent suburbs, including Macomb, Shelby and Chesterfield townships.

Laura Daniel, 25, of St. Clair Shores was part of a group of 13 women who picked Mount Clemens on a recent Saturday for a bachelorette party.

“We chose Mount Clemens because we can dance, we can have martinis or we can chill out. Mount Clemens has it all,” she said.

You can reach Tony Manolatos at (586) 468-0520 or tmanolatos@detnews.com.