Made in Detroit: Part 2

Hamtramck is a small city weirdly nestled inside northern Detroit. It's named for French-Canadian American Revolutionary War veteran Jean François Hamtramck. More than 56,000 people lived within the city limits in 1930, mostly of Polish descent. Today, there are about 22,000 of many backgrounds. One good thing to know here: Pączki Day = Fat Tuesday.


Let's not forget Kowalski's Sausage Company, which also makes an appearance in Andrei Codrescu's Road Scholar. Started in 1920 -- right after the Great War.

What is it about wars and new startups? First destruction, then re-creation? Like Pączki Day, for everything there is a season, for everything there is a reason . . . . .


Next: La Michoacana Tortilla Bakery at 3428 Bagley Street, owned by the Gutierrez family. Started in either 1940 or 1945, depending on where you look. Given its Detroit, maybe both dates are accurate, with some modifications. The 1945 date fits into the general post-war idea better, certainly, but even during wartime, people need to be fed, so . . . . . (more will be revealed, no doubt.)



Hacienda Mexican Foods is another success story, started generally in 1984 and specifically in 1994 from what I can tell so far. Lydia Bermudez Gutierrez and her husband (who died in 2005) started the enterprise small but now, after much effort and stamina, it employs more than 100 people and makes a wide variety of food products.



Finally for now, keep an eye out for Topor's Pickle Company, Inc., and its many pickles, relish and similar products. Established in 1960, they're located downtown at 2850 Standish.

Today's Rune: Growth.