Writer’s Red Wings Tradition Includes Detroit Coney Dog

(Editor’s Note: Red Wings fans often frequent the many inviting eateries near Little Caesars Arena before the opening faceoff.  Everyone has their own favorite since the arena opened in 2017. Max Smith, 23, started working for us recently and told us his pregame Red Wings tradition involves a place that is a Detroit historical landmark as much as it is a restaurant. We asked him to write about it. He’s covering Friday’s game against the New Jersey Devils. He hasn’t said whether he is stopping there before the contest.)

Everyone has their game day traditions, whether it’s at home, or out and about in the city. Ever since I’ve been going to Detroit sports games, be it Lions, Red Wings, Tigers, or Pistons, there’s always one place that I have to go first, or the day won’t be right.

For my dad and I, we have to get a coney before the game at a particular spot. Not including a decade-long break in the middle to live in Denver, he’s been going there for nearly 40 years. 

And despite the fact that it took until I was 12 or 13 to actually go there, Lafayette Coney Island is one of my favorite places, ever. It’s now been a decade since my Dad (Steven Smith) brought me there for my first game in Detroit. It’s still my first stop off the freeway even now.

Founded 100 Years Ago

The little hole-in-the-wall restaurant has been operating since the original owner of American Coney Island, George Keros, brought his brother William over from Greece to help run the business in 1924. The space next door opened up for sale so William bought it and started operating his own Coney Island, right next to his brother’s. 

That decision to buy the place next door may very well have divided the city of Detroit for the next century, as to this day you can find people who fight about whether American or Lafayette is better. American and Lafayette have shared a wall for almost a century now, and even though Lafayette was sold from the Keros family to its employees in 1991, that brotherly rivalry has played host to a lot of icons, both local and from afar.

The first thing you’ll notice when you step into the Lafayette, aside from the smell of hot dogs on the griddle and the chatter of employees and customers clamoring to be heard over one another, is the pictures.

Celebrity Patrons

Wall to wall, all around the ceiling, are pictures. There’s one of Drew Barrymore sitting at the counter on the wall nearest the pie display. There’s one of Kid Rock with some of the servers throwing up peace signs. More importantly, for me at least, are the pictures of Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings. Or the employees standing around the counter with the Stanley Cup. It’s kind of like visiting your grandmother’s and seeing all the pictures of your ancestors hanging around the house.

For me, history resides at the Lafayette.

You won’t find many of the opposing teams’ colors at the Lafayette. But crowded together on game day, you’ll find someone from just about all walks of life sitting, squeezing in shoulder to shoulder, and rubbing knees at the counter. Someone in their business suit on lunch break is just as at home as the person wearing a faded Fedorov jersey. Even though Little Caesars Arena is still a 20-minute walk away, looking out the windows, you’d think it was next door with all the people in red sweaters passing by. 

But that’s because Lafayette is home for some Detroiters. It’s a place to feed hungry mouths a damn good Coney at pretty much any time of the day. And when you walk in, it’s hard not to find a friendly face smiling from somewhere.

Red Wings Flavor

It’s a sea of infectious red and white energy, everyone excited to see their team today. Even the servers are in on it, walking around with plates stacked from the tips of their fingers all the way up to their shoulders, grinning from ear to ear in the chaotic atmosphere.

Everyone’s been there, and if you haven’t then you should go the first chance you get. Even if you’re just visiting. Not just because you have to settle the age old question of Lafayette vs American, but because it’s where people with a bit of Detroit spirit go.