Detroit’s Detroit Water Ice Factory

Last Monday, June 9th, was the 5th Annual (well almost annual since 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to Covid) Eat Detroit event in Downtown Detroit. The event, which features food and beverage from over 25 restaurants, has become one of the most anticipated events. It was started in 2019, by Mitch Albom, as a fundraiser for his Say Detroit Charity.

We have been to all 6 and each year they keep getting better. We believe this years was the best one yet! It was more centrally located, with all the restaurants clumped into 3 groups, from Downtown to Corktown, making it really easy to get around.

Here is a little history on Say Detroit:

It was founded by Mitch Albom in 2006, after he wrote about how Detroit was providing homeless people 3 day shelter parties to keep them off the street when Detroit hosted the Super Bowl. He said

“A city that is only super for a weekend isn’t very special come Monday.”

So, he set out to raise money to make the city “Super All Year” and raised more than $300,000 from readers of the column . . . and S A Y Detroit was born. Eat Detroit is one of the biggest fundraisers for the charity, bringing in more than $200,000 this year alone.

Say Detroit helps out Detroiters in need, to create a pathway to success through its direct efforts with help from civic and community partners. They do this through programs such as after school motivational learning centers for youths ages 8-18, free medical clinics, housing programs for working families, as well as other learning healthcare and housing initiative for Detroit’s most vulnerable populations.

Back to Eat Detroit…

One of the establishments that has always been on the Eat Detroit scene is the Detroit Water Ice Factory. In years past, we never got there because we were way too full to want to eat anything else, even flavored frozen water. This year we finally made them our last stop and are we glad we did. As it turns out, they are a key player in the SAY Detroit organization. They are located a 1014 Woodward Ave, not far from Campus Martius, and were opened in 2015 by Jon & Adriana Adams who are from Westmont NJ home of the award winning Primo Water Ice.

The venture is a partnership between SAY Detroit’s family of charities, as well as other Detroit charities like Meridian Health and the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries. 100% of all profits at the store goes directly to help fellow Detroiters. The store follows the “Newman’s Own’’ model of philanthropy, offering delicious frozen dessert, gourmet popcorn, and other products with the sole goal of raising funds to help others. Many servers are members of partner youth programs.

So what is Water Ice? Well growing up we always had snow cones. You remember shaved ice with flavored syrups. And it was cool to get one with all the flavors. Well, It’s not that. Water Ice is basically Italian Ice, though the purists will say Italian Ice is smoother. Water Ice is a term traced back to Philadelphia where it is actually called Wooder Ice . . . which sound more like Boston than Phili to me. Water ice is simple. Its finely shaved ice, sugar and flavorings. It is dairy free and has a more intense flavor than traditional ice cream.

We had the water ice for the first time last week and I was pleasantly surprised. It was rich and creamy like a really smooth thick smoothy. I had the Stafford Strawberry Lemonade and Teresa had the Riverfront Root Beer. They were both fantastic. They offer 16-20 flavors and they are made fresh daily. Most of the flavors have Detroit themed names, made up by Mitch himself, like Goff Grape, Boblo Banana and the Honolulu Blue Raspberry.

If water ice doesn’t appeal to you, they have loads of other sweet treats you can feast on, like soft serve ice cream, Philly pretzels and their ever so delicious Brown Bag Popcorn which comes in 10 different flavors.

There will not be a time going forward where we will not want to go and grab something from here when in the area . . . and we are in the area a lot! Next time you are in Detroit, make a point to check it out and know that you are helping someone less fortunate than you!