I don’t like to brag – OK, that’s a lie; I love to brag – but as you all know, I’m the one who is personally responsible for bringing a Taco Bell to Howell in the early 1990s.
I even wrote a book about it – which you can order RIGHT NOW by clicking here – called “A Taco Bell for Howell, and Other Livingston County Crusades.” It tells you in great detail how I was able to single-handedly bring the World’s Greatest Restaurant to our community more than 30 years ago. It also has a chapter in there about a guy who farted at a Hamburg Township Board meeting, so it’s truly a literary masterpiece.
Again, you can order a copy RIGHT HERE.
In any case, as you all well know, Howell recently celebrated another culinary milestone when the Panda Express opened on Latson Road, in front of Walmart and Lowe’s. It was greeted by the locals with the same kind of hoopla that’s usually reserved for a World Series championship or securing two tickets to see a Taylor Swift concert.
Now, to be totally transparent, unlike the Taco Bell accomplishment, I had nothing to do with bringing Panda Express to Howell. They didn’t even consult me or ask my opinion about it, if you can believe that.
And to be honest, I think I’ve only eaten at a Panda Express once or twice in my life whilst shopping at a mall, so it wasn’t high on my radar. But they’re here and plenty of other people are happy about it, so life is good.
So, now that we’ve got a Panda Express and not one but TWO Taco Bells, you’re probably thinking to yourself, “What MORE could Howell possibly need?”
Well, I have a few ideas – five of them, in fact. I’m about to give you my list of Five Things That Howell Needs Now That We’ve Finally Got a Panda Express, but I wanted to start with a disclaimer. I don’t have any other chain restaurants on my list, and that’s by design. I could say that we need an Olive Garden or a Chic-Fil-A or a couple more Taco Bells, but I’m not going to do that. We probably have enough chain restaurants now, so I’m going to plow some new ground here.
Without further ado, here’s the list:
Five Things That Howell Needs Now That We’ve Finally Got a Panda Express
1. A restaurant that stays open all night.
God bless our Howell restaurants, and I love them all, but almost all of them close their kitchens at 8 or 9 o’clock. We need a restaurant that stays open ALL NIGHT, and not just for the bar crowd, either. If I want an omelette at 2 in the morning, I should be able to get one!
I don’t believe we’ve had an all-night restaurant in Howell since Silverman’s closed down a few years back. We need another one – and if someone wants to reopen the Nugget, I’m all in!
2. A winter festival.
Howell has two great summer festivals – for balloons and melons – and a terrific Fantasy of Lights Parade over Thanksgiving weekend. We need something in the winter. An ice festival or a snow-fort-building contest or something like that. This is a pretty bleak place in February. We need something to look forward to.
3. A sports memorabilia store.
This is my list so I can put any damn thing on here that I want, and there’s nothing I love more than spending a couple hours browsing in a sports memorabilia and card store. There are some great ones in Lansing and Oakland County, but I want one in Howell. We’ve had a few great ones in the past, but nothing in the last 30 years or so. We need another one.
The flea market near the outlet mall always has some good stuff, but I want an entire store that just sells sports memorabilia and cards.
(EDIT: Cross this one off the list! The day after I wrote this, an announcement was made that a sports-card store was coming to downtown Howell. I’m taking full credit for wishing this into existence!)
4. Trader Joe’s.
There are no chain restaurants on my list, but I will put one chain store on here. A Whole Foods would also be great, but my wife informs me that a Trader Joe’s would be better, so I defer to her. Howell needs a Trader Joe’s.
5. Outdoor batting cages and a go-cart track.
I’m thinking one of those all-purpose outdoor recreation places like you see Up North at all the touristy spots. There also used to be one at the Okemos exit along I-96. We need one of these in Howell.
So, what’s YOUR opinion? Now that we’ve got a Panda Express, what do YOU think Howell needs next?
TJ for sure….
In no particular order: Arcade, Boston Market, Cigar Lounge
My Howell needs:
1) a sustaniable beautification plan for grand river ave from the airport to downtown howell to Brighton, with an emphasis on the area from Latson west into town. The business owners need to step it up or the 100 year old dilapidated houses and crappy buildings should go.
When people enter Howell feom east, west, north, south, it should make a statement!
2) less fast food and a few more higher end sit-down restaurants would be nice!
3) improve Thompson lake boat launch area.
4) cap the WWTP plant off D19. It stinks.
5) improve the d19 interchange.
6) like the concert venue idea.
7) an idea I have that will be shared later!
8) encourage more businesses to be here. Can’t turn away revenue generators and be held back by NIMBYs.
Lets not over think this – Howell is great as-is! Melon fest, Balloon fest, all of the school functions, our location, great parks, golf courses in the area, cider mills, Thompson Lake, business owners are great and doing well….. ot much else to do but enjoy what we have here!
Concert venue Freedom Hill, Meadowbrook, and Pine knob are all on the eastside.
We have a Costco maybe a Sam’sclub
Hobby Lobby would be great
I say we need about 2 grocery stores, less restaurants. I have to shop outside of Livingston county because there is never produce in stock, the shelves are bare and we don’t eat out often because there are no healthy vegan options in this area. I am a life long resident of Howell for 40 years and the amount of housing being built is causing more of a food drought and long lines for everyone. The infrastructure is not set up for the amount of people moving to this area. The roads are packed traffic is dangerous because everyone in such a hurry. I get run off the road just trying to get home.
A Nino Salvaggio’s or other nice fruit market, bakery, deli. We don’t have farmer’s markets all year
Olive Garden, Hobby Lobby. I live at the far end of Howell Township. I could walk to Tomato Brother’s. We need something at this end.
Brighton already has a Home Goods, T.J. Maxx, and Costco. We don’t need duplicates of those in the county. A Denny’s Restaurant would be on my wish list – family fare, huge menu, and open 24 hours like Buddy wants.
I have been pushing for a Red Lobster at the outlet end of the community for over 20 years – It seems like everything that has come to Howell has been to the east of the city.
Hobby lobby, home goods, tj maxx, restaurants no more BAR FOOD. A Costco would be the Best.
Papa John’s Pizza,
Definitely more Entertainment,
Ponderosa Buffet loved making my own ice cream cone as a kid and plate.
Waterpark
Arcade
Thank you for qualifying what you meant by “adult entertainment” with “dancing” 😉
Can it just be how it was in the late 90s mid 2000s. Everyone was neighborly. It was kinda quiet..now it’s so congested and they just keep building and building..like come on!
Have to leave Livingston County to dance would like to see more live music and adult night clubs
A kitchen store like the Scorn in Milford that offers classes, gadgets and some high end stuff.
Trader Joe’s for sure! But don’t disrespect the resale shops just because you don’t prefer them. They fill a need for many locals and visitors to any small town.
Like all of the ideas, Just moving back to the area I lived near a Trader Joe’s a great store, we had a sprouts which is similar but way more produce and much better prices. Whole Foods is way over priced on everything. Loved my hobby lobby that was also near, much better pricing also than JoAnns or Michaels.
I so agree with the 24 hour restaurant!!! I miss that!
Hobby lobby and a Menards
Definately Trader Joe’s . Also a upscale lunch place.
Starbucks. Chick Fil A. Cigar bar. A higher end gun club for sporting clays, trap, skeet (Oak point for shotguns). Uber/Lyft.
We need a good buffet restaurant, with all types of food, not just Chinese. An adult entertainment venue with live music and dancing (line dancing, salsa, etc) maybe axe throwing like the Hub in Novi.
Trader Joe’s and Hobby Lobby
Most definitely
Hobby Lobby
I agree with all. A chilies would begood too.
Definitely a Trader Joe’s and a Whole Foods. Organic only restaurant. New grocery stores
Trader Joe’s for sure
I like all of your ideas.