World Famous Detroiter Truck Stop
Woodhaven, MI
It was cold when we arrived in Woodhaven, MI last night and it did not seem much warmer this morning. We were already missing the fabulous weather we had enjoyed in New Orleans. It is times like this that we question our decision to move back to Canada. I just really do not like winter all that much! However, here we were heading back home to Toronto.
World Famous Detroiter Truck Stop
Woodhaven, MI
When we pulled into our hotel last night we noticed the sign for the Sunoco / IHop / Detroiter Travel Center across the highway. We took advantage of the complimentary breakfast in our hotel, so were not interested in breakfast at IHop, but figured that this would probably be our last truck stop before entering Canada so wanted to check it out. It was Christmas morning about 9 AM so we expected the place to be dead. Boy, were we ever wrong. We could hardly find a parking space.
I have never really understood the appeal of IHop. Maybe it is just because I am not a big breakfast person, or because it is so easy to make pancakes and waffles at home, or .....? I used to pass by the IHop on College Ave in Fort Collins, CO everyday and was always amazed at how busy it was. So, I suppose we should not have been surprised to see so many people here, but it was Christmas morning and this was a truck stop / travel centre and although just outside of Detroit there did not appear to be much else around here.
IHop Parking Lot @ World Famous Detroiter Truck Stop
Woodhaven, MI
The interior was reminiscent of a late 1980's renovation of a 1970's mall with hints of a modernized retro diner. Skylights, marble, angled walls, beige floor tiles contrasted by black, white and neon. We did not go into the IHop, which was filled to capacity and looked very much like an IHop you would see anywhere.
We did, however, get sidetracked by the used book sale set up in the hallway, between the IHop and the General Store, and wrapping around the back of the store near the restrooms and trucker store / lounge area. At first I was just curious to see the types of books that were available. I ended up picking up Aristotle's Poetics, Germaine Greer's The Change, Susie Orbach's Fat is a Feminist Issue, Marilyn French's The War against Women, Naomi Wolf's Fire with Fire, Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale together with nine other titles one would not expect to find in a truck stop. In total I spent $26.
World Famous Detroiter Truck Stop
Woodhaven, MI
Of all the places we stopped along our route, in many ways this was the most odd. It had a slightly corporate feel, as although it was Christmas morning there were a number of "management types" wandering around and going in and out of the offices in the back. The physical space was divided into maze-like areas that had distinctly different feels. Although overall the Detroiter was fairly large, it felt convoluted and small.
World Famous Detroiter Truck Stop
Woodhaven, MI
Along the back corner of one of these areas were the refrigerated cases containing soft drinks, juice, dairy products such as milk and cheese, and frozen food. The white, black and red tiles with the neon signage gave it a distinctive retro diner feel which did not mesh with the rest of the interior.
World Famous Detroiter Truck Stop
Woodhaven, MI
The General Store looked much like many touristy travel centers with abundant postcards, posters, t-shirts, trinkets, toys, hats and junk food.
World Famous Detroiter Truck Stop
Woodhaven, MI
The area immediately adjacent to the professional drivers store offered a mix of convenience, deli and food items.
World Famous Detroiter Truck Stop
Woodhaven, MI
Although we did see trucks fueling up and parked in the adjacent parking lot, we were wondering if this really could be considered a truck stop as it seemed geared more to the general motorist than to the needs of truckers?
World Famous Detroiter Truck Stop
Woodhaven, MI
However, as we continued to explore we realized that despite the disjointed interior design and organization, the Detroiter really had carved out a niche, where they were attempting and for all appearances were managing to be a one-stop shop that could be all things to a variety of different people. After all - didn't I just purchase an armload of feminist books?
World Famous Detroiter Truck Stop
Woodhaven, MI
We had seen the occasional rack of free publications aimed at truck drivers along our route, however, the Detroiter had by far the best assortment of titles. The majority were really just enhanced glossy employment / recruiting brochures, however, a few had more expanded editorial content. One thing we had noticed was a lack of magazines, newspapers or reading material available in most of the truck stops we had visited. We wondered do these drivers do all their reading online, or do they stock up on reading material before they leave home? We had noticed a number of drivers reading while eating - so they are getting their reading material from somewhere, just obviously not at the truck stops we visited.
Professional Drivers Store
World Famous Detroiter Truck Stop
Woodhaven, MI
As we made our way to the other side of the building we found the section that catered to professional truck drivers. This area was smaller, functional but felt a little dingy and a bit cramped. However, they had a reasonable selection of canned and packaged grocery items, together with snacks, dog food, treats and toys, and other products of interest to drivers.
Drivers Lounge
World Famous Detroiter Truck Stop
Woodhaven, MI
I mentioned to the clerk that I had noticed that a number of the truck stops had dog food, treats and toys and he told me that a number of drivers travel with their dogs. I cringed at his mention of "purse-sized dogs" as we had our own "totebag-sized dog" waiting for us in the car. He commented that he could see the benefits of traveling with a large dog for protection and security, but you could tell he was not quite buying the companionship and portability concept of traveling with a small or tiny dog.
I have to admit that I had not given much thought to the need for extra security when traveling with a load of valuable cargo. How most of these drivers are traveling alone, responsible for ensuring that the load they are carrying makes it safely from point A to point B and that like with everything, there are individuals and / or organizations that would love to get their hands on whatever it is that is in those trucks. I was thinking that traveling with a pet was more for companionship and an added incentive to get out and go for a walk. My guess is that for most drivers traveling with their dogs, it is a bit of both.
While I was busy talking to the clerk, Phil wandered around exploring the truckers lounge areas. Like most, this one was dark and housed a pool table, arcade games, photocopiers, and a piano. In addition to private showers, a video / TV room, laundromat, barber and massage therapist, motel rooms were also available.
Game Room
World Famous Detroiter Truck Stop
Woodhaven, MI
What makes a good truck stop? What is it that truck drivers need and want? I would think that I would value a place that is clean, comfortable, safe and nicely but not necessarily brightly lit. I would want friendly and helpful staff. A place where I could relax, chat with other drivers if I felt like it, or find a quiet corner to just sit by myself. I would want a good affordable fresh food as well convenient ready to heat meals. Why do we have aisles of frozen single and family serving sized ready-to-heat meals in every grocery store, but here where they are really needed they are almost impossible to find?
I wondered why all these trucker's lounges and areas feel like an afterthought, a place that has been lost in a time-warp? Why they do not have nice comfortable seating, decent lighting, a microwave, a book and DVD lending library, and a table with chairs where one could eat lunch, set up their laptop, or work on paperwork. I understand why drivers need a place that is separate from the traveling public, a place that is theirs, but why does it always seem to have to look so old, dingy and rundown?
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