Abe’s Coney Island, Ypsilanti, MI

The Northwest corner of Michigan Avenue and Hamilton Street in the “other” city of Ypsilanti (“othered”, of course, by the stalwart sister of Ann Arbor to her west), Abe’s is a twenty four hour destination. College kids, locals, and nearly anyone toddling around the extended, rusted grid of Greater Detroit would be a likely patron of Abe’s at 3:37 am.

The corner is sconced with a vinyl green awning – beckoning, perhaps as a green light to come on in. Have some chili fries. One of Abe’s famous gyros, or maybe one of many stylized omelettes, and some hashbrowns. A steak, and two eggs might do it. Of course, coffee and pie. Padded booths of staunch wood grain Formica contain clusters of twos or fives, as they sway, and clamor loudly into the depths of night, dwindling by the faint light of dawn.