Ford HQ move sparks winners and losers in lunch crowd battle

The Impact of Ford's Headquarters Relocation on Local Businesses

Ford Motor Co. is relocating its headquarters just a short distance—about two miles—but this move could have significant consequences for the local businesses that have long relied on the lunch and after-work crowds from Ford employees. As the company prepares to move, restaurants and food trucks in the area are bracing for potential shifts in customer traffic.

One of the key factors in this transition is the planned development of seven new executive chef-designed food and beverage pavilions inside the new headquarters. These spaces could attract a large portion of Ford’s workforce, creating intense competition for nearby eateries.

Many local restaurant owners and managers are uncertain about how the relocation will affect their business. Some are taking a wait-and-see approach, hoping that their loyal customers will continue to visit even with the change in location.

For example, The Canteen at Midtown, a popular food hall and food truck park near Fairlane Town Center mall, has been a go-to spot for many Ford employees during their lunch breaks. Youssef Hazimi, who operates the So Cheesy food truck there, acknowledges the uncertainty surrounding the move.

“Especially on lunch breaks, they do come often,” he said. “Who knows the severity of the impact it will have, and the extra mile or so that they’re moving. Hopefully not too much of an impact, but at the end of the day, only so much we can do here.”

Another establishment affected by the shift is P.F. Chang's, which once saw a significant amount of business from Ford employees. Jody Bauer, an assistant operating partner for the location, noted that the business started to decline after the pandemic, when many employees began working remotely.

“We were glad to see Ford’s recent policy mandating a return to four days a week in the office, which already appears to be boosting lunch traffic a bit,” Bauer said. However, he also pointed out that the ongoing decline of Fairlane Town Center has had a broader impact on his business.

“A mile or so probably won’t make a big difference,” he said. “The big issue we have is the mall.”

On the other hand, some local business owners are optimistic about the move. They believe that the closer proximity of Ford’s new headquarters could lead to increased foot traffic for nearby restaurants. Many places that closed for lunch during the pandemic due to slow business may now have an opportunity to reopen.

Jim Seavitt, owner of Village Ford dealership, sees the move as a positive development for his business and others in the area. He believes that having thousands of Ford employees located in the heart of Dearborn will create more opportunities for local restaurants.

“You’ll have more employees working out of that building right in the middle of Dearborn, so the restaurants that have been closed during COVID will reopen and places like The Henry and the Dearborn Inn will start getting more business,” Seavitt said. “I want to see all the businesses who’ve been suffering for lunch trade, do better.”

As Ford continues to adjust to its new location, the local business community remains hopeful that the changes will bring new opportunities and revitalization to the area. Whether the move leads to winners or losers depends largely on how well businesses adapt to the shifting dynamics of the local economy.