Photo essay: Once-grand Gratiot Avenue in Detroit is deteriorating

Photo essay by Steve Neavling

Gratiot Avenue was once teeming with restaurants, bars and retail stores.

Now more than half of the buildings south of 8 Mile are abandoned on one of original avenues laid out by Judge Augustus Woodward after a fire leveled Detroit in 1805.

Gratiot was named after Fort Gratiot, which got its name from Colonel Charles Gratiot.

In Detroit, Gratiot stretches 9.3 miles from downtown to 8 Mile. The entire stretch of Gratiot, which goes to Chesterfield Township, is 27.1 miles.

All photos taken by Steve Neavling in 2013. 

The abandoned African Amalgamation of Ubiquity is gutted.
The abandoned African Amalgamation of Ubiquity is gutted, 9980 Gratiot
One-Stop Savings Shop, destoryed by fire, 2939 Gratiot
One-Stop Savings Shop, destoryed by fire, 2939 Gratiot
Greetings from Gratiot, at Gratiot and Jos Campau
Greetings from Gratiot, at Gratiot and Jos Campau
Former Hunt Street Police Station, 220 Hunt, off of Gratiot
Former Hunt Street Police Station, 220 Hunt, off of Gratiot
Beauty supply storefront that sells human hair on Gratiot
Beauty supply storefront that sells human hair on Gratiot
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, downtown Detroit on Gratiot
St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, downtown Detroit on Gratiot
Abandoned Detroit Library, 3506 Gratiot
Abandoned Detroit Library, 3506 Gratiot
Motor City Market, 2311 Gratiot
Motor City Market, 2311 Gratiot
Abandoned restaurant, Sticky Fingers, 6800 Gratiot
Abandoned restaurant, Sticky Fingers, 6800 Gratiot
The Gold Mine, a pawn shop, 6301 Gratiot Ave
The Gold Mine, a pawn shop, 6301 Gratiot Ave
Abandoned Gratiot Tires & Services, 3652 Gratiot
Abandoned Gratiot Tires & Services, 3652 Gratiot
Architectural gem, Goeschel Building, 3230 Gratiot
Architectural gem, Goeschel Building, 3230 Gratiot

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