Metro Detroit eateries, grocery stores celebrating Lions with deals, themed items
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Our hometown Detroit Lions are giving businesses something to roar about. The Lions' remarkable playoff run is bringing lots of business to downtown Detroit establishments (a more than $20 million impact), as well as the greater metro Detroit area and beyond.
Several businesses have created new offerings and discounts to cheer on the Lions.
More: Detroit Lions watch party at Ford Field will have plenty of food, drink options
Pump up with coffee specials
East Lansing-based Biggby Coffee is paying homage to a longtime Lions fan as well as to Lions head coach Dan Campbell.
Benjamin Capp, a Lions season ticket holder for 66 years, has caught the attention of plenty of media in recent weeks. The 89-year-old from Grosse Pointe even got a shout-out from NBC's Mike Tirico, on national television when the Lions beat the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 14.
More: Detroit Lions-themed baked goods bring big business to Garden City's Villa Bakery
More recently Capp caught the attention of Biggby Coffee because of his "amazing and inspiring story," according to Rita Bettino, Biggby Coffee's chief marketing officer. Bettino said they are also inspired by Campbell and his "great story" and celebrate that spirit.
"It's all about the story," she said. "It's an all-around amazing story with the team, with the coach. We want to give something back to our fans and Lions fans."
Biggby is paying homage to Campbell and how he's ordered coffee. Called the "Black Eye" it's a 20-ounce brewed coffee with 2 shots of espresso. This Saturday and Sunday fans who visit Biggby Coffee locations wearing Lions gear can get the coffee for 50% off. There's a limit of one per customer. A word of caution, according to Biggby's Instagram post about the offer: A 20-ounce Black Eye has approximately 350 milligrams of caffeine.
On Monday, whether the Lions win or lose on Sunday, Biggby is back with a special on their specialty drinks. Biggby's 20- or 24-ounce specialty drinks will be 50% off.
A cool blue shake
Chicken Guy!, the Guy Fieri fast-casual chicken spot known for its chicken tenders with a variety of sauces. is celebrating Detroit football.
For a limited time only at the Livonia Chicken Guy! location, they’ve added a special Flavortown shake with a football theme. At the Livonia location (the only one in metro Detroit thus far) you can get the “Roaring Blue Raspberry Lemonade Shake.” The hand-spun shake is $6.99 and is available now during the playoffs and honors Detroit football, according to a news release.
Chicken Guy! in Livonia is part of the Tomey Group. It’s the first of more Chicken Guy! locations planned for Michigan. The Livonia Chicken Guy is at 30130 Plymouth Road. Nationwide, there are more than a half-dozen Chicken Guy locations.
Roaring Blue Raspberry Lemonade shake joins the lineup of Chicken Guy! Flavortown Shakes including, Triple Double Mint, Apple Cinnamon Cereal, Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Oreo and Oreo Strawberry Cheesecake.
Farmington Hills-based family-owned Tomey Group operates more than 50 Jimmy John's locations in metro Detroit. The group also owns the 8 Mile Vodka brand and apparel line “Born in Detroit.”
Grocery stores and bakeries join in
Grocery stores and bakeries are offering specialty items like cakes, cupcakes, doughnuts and cookies decorated in Honolulu Blue and garnished with Lions or football themes. Villa Bakery in Garden City has a Bumpity Cake (its version of the beloved Sanders Bumpy Cake) all decorated like a football field and with Lions themes. Cake Designs by K in Macomb Township showed an array of beautifully decorated Lions-themed cookies.
At Holiday Market in Royal Oak, Hannah Frank, the store's marketing manager said their bakery Lions-themed products are "selling like hotcakes."
A Meijer spokeswoman said Meijer bakeries are keeping Lions-themed pastries freshly stocked throughout the weekend. Its stores also have "increased inventory on ready-to-eat items like snack trays, dips and appetizers."
At Kroger, stores are staying stocked in game-day staples like chicken wings, chips, dips and pre-packaged party platters due to customer demand.
Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Metro Detroit eateries, grocery stores celebrate Detroit Lions
