About Us:

East Downtown Dearborn grew up as the six-mile stop on the road from Detroit to Chicago in the 1800s. From the early to mid-1900s, it grew from being Downtown Springwells (consolidated with Dearborn in 1929) to a regional-scale commercial center.

The rich architecture of East Downtown’s long-gone department stores and movie theater is becoming home to new businesses opening to serve growing nearby neighborhoods, including even the old Springwells City Hall, now the anchor of the bustling Dearborn City Hall complex.

Waves of immigration have given Dearborn a vibrant tapestry of people, cultures and flavors. Experience them in East Downtown along a mile stretch of Michigan and Schaefer, from the district’s dozens of diverse restaurants and shops to last summer’s free Jazz On the Ave in City Hall Park! 

The East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority fosters physical and community revitalization and economic growth to generate private investment, increase commerce, boost pride, cultivate East Downtown’s identity and help it realize its full potential by partnering, initiating or managing redevelopment projects, collaborating with stakeholders and supporting area businesses.