The Beaubien and Monroe intersection in Detroit's Greektown reopened to traffic temporarily this week, marking the first major milestone in the district's $20 million transformation project that has disrupted the area since April.

"This is the first day we have Beaubien open for through traffic," said Tasso Teftsis, vice president of Greektown Neighborhood Partnership. "It's great. I love seeing cars driving through and people getting to where they want to be."

Watch Evan Sery's video report below: Greektown's Beaubien intersection reopens as Detroit's $20M renovation reaches milestone

The state-funded renovation project has created significant challenges for local businesses and visitors throughout 2024, forcing pedestrians to navigate construction barriers and detours while shops dealt with reduced foot traffic.

"Some do better than others, some might be down 50%, others maybe 10%," Teftsis said, referring to business losses during construction.

Along with the intersection reopening, new concrete sidewalks have been installed and pedestrian paths have been widened throughout the construction zone.

"This whole portion right here was the only space to walk in up to where the cutoff is. Now this is much wider, gonna be way better for people to come down," said Dillan Butras, manager of Athens Liquor, a business located on the Greektown corner.

Butras said the extended timeline tested patience, but the results are promising.

"I mean, it's nice seeing it so open. Before, it was so condensed. It definitely took a little longer than expected, but seeing it done is showing us the vision of what it's gonna be like when fully open," Butras said.

The construction has surprised some visitors returning to Detroit. Sharyl Chatman Jr., who was visiting family for the holidays, hadn't been back to the area in some time.

"It was a surprise, but also looks like progress in the making," Chatman said.

When shown renderings of the completed project, Chatman expressed enthusiasm about the planned improvements.

"It looks like open air markets, festivals, looks like there's gonna be a lot to do down here," Chatman said.

Teftsis, who also owns Astoria Pastry Shop in Greektown, believes the disruption will ultimately benefit the district.

"We always wanted to be the most beautiful street in Detroit and there's no other way than to just refocus and put money into the street," Teftsis said. "Ultimately, well worth it. Whole street's gonna be beautiful."

The construction project is expected to be complete by summer 2026.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Demolition began Friday at the site of Detroit City FC's future home, marking a major milestone for the $200 million AlumniFi Field project in southwest Detroit.

Watch Evan Sery's video report: Demolition begins on Detroit City FC's future $200 million stadium site

The long-vacant Southwest Detroit Hospital started coming down as city leaders and DCFC officials celebrated the first day of demolition. The 15,000-seat stadium is set to open in time for the club's 2027 season as a year-round sports and entertainment destination.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Detroit City FC stadium moves closer to reality with $2 million community benefits deal Detroit City FC stadium moves closer to reality with $2M community benefits deal

"I think seeing the structure coming down is a sign this is real, and it's happening," said Sean Mann, DCFC owner.

The demolition is expected to be completed by mid-February, according to Mann.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan joined DCFC leadership to mark the occasion of the groundbreaking for what he called a "200-million dollar stadium project, 15-thousand seats."

Mann emphasized the stadium's visibility and impact on the region.

"For all the cars that drive by 75 every day, this will ultimately be the biggest billboard for soccer this region will ever have," Mann said.

Local businesses are already anticipating the economic boost. Jordan Mifsud, owner of Six Spoke Brewing Company, which opened in August near the stadium site, expressed excitement about the development.

"Over the next few years, it's gonna be quite a special place for people to come," Mifsud said. "The growth is just exponential. The train station, again, is a big catalyst to that, other projects like the soccer stadiumdefinitely hoping to have the supporters come in here and enjoy a nice beverage before the game."

The Northern Guard Supporters, DCFC's most passionate fan group, have supported the team since its inception. Member Jam Johnston described the group's match day energy.

"On match day, we're loud, we dress in black, throw middle fingers, and swear," Johnston said.

While Johnston admires the renderings for the team's new home, calling them "incredible," he questions the ambitious timeline.

PREVIOUS STORY: Detroit City Football Club reveals timeline & renderings for new Corktown soccer stadium Detroit City Football Club reveals timeline & renderings for new Corktown soccer stadium

"I think it's a very optimistic and aggressive timeline. I have my doubts we'll be kicking off our first game there in 2027, but with this club we're already doing things we never thought possible," Johnston said.

Mann acknowledged the challenges ahead but remained committed to the 2027 opening date.

"Tackling one hurdle after another, we'll have another milestone this spring of a groundbreaking, all working towards an opening of '27," Mann said. "We are working tirelessly to move this as aggressively as possible to bring this into fruition."

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A water main replacement project in a Warren subdivision has stretched far beyond its original Dec. 1 completion date, leaving residents frustrated with ongoing construction delays and property damage concerns.

Watch Evan Sery's video report: Warren subdivision construction project causes months of disruption for residents

Jess Thompson, who has lived in the subdivision on Arsenal Avenue between 12 Mile Road and Linda Road since 2009, said the project that began in August has become "an absolute nightmare."

"I had to park behind the oil change place, so I had to bring it all the way down here, load it up, unload it," Thompson said.

For two months this fall, Thompson used a wagon to haul groceries and supplies to her home because construction blocked normal access to her driveway.

Thompson said she recently discovered her driveway appears to be sloping inward from the road, and water has begun seeping into her house.

"Normally, your driveway slopes toward the street, so that water from your house comes down. As you can see, this driveway is going to be poured this way," Thompson said. "They said the sidewalk is going to be ripped out and they're going to change 3 feet into my driveway to level it out somehow and unfortunately, not happening until next spring."

City Engineer Tina Gapshes said in a statement that delays were caused by unforeseen circumstances common in older neighborhoods.

"The Arsenal/Stanley project experienced delays due to unforeseen underground conditions common in older neighborhoods, including aging underground infrastructure. Once unearthed, a portion of the storm sewer system was found to be deteriorated," Gapshes said.

Watch our November 2025 coverage about the project delays below: Warren residents frustrated as water main replacement project drags on past deadline

She added that Warren was dependent on a local utility provider to relocate gas main infrastructure, which was outside the city's control. The contractor is concluding work in the winter season and will return in the spring.

However, Gapshes said any flooding inside Thompson's home is due to poor gutter infrastructure and has nothing to do with city construction. She added that Thompson was notified her driveway will eventually be level with the rest of the sidewalk and street.

Thompson remains frustrated with the city's response to residents' concerns.

"I'm a resident of the city of Warren. I pay taxes. The fact I have to deal with this and get no support," Thompson said.

Thompson also pointed to construction debris left on her property, including signs and tarps that were not properly removed.

"They ripped this sign out and left it, and all the tarps they put over the concrete were left on my property," Thompson said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Sterling Heights has become ground zero for cryptocurrency fraud in metro Detroit, with police reporting nearly two dozen cases totaling more than $500,000 in losses since January.

Watch Evan Sery's and Brittany Toolis' video reports: Sterling Heights tackles crypto fraud after major losses Sterling Heights cracks down on cryptocurrency machine fraud after $500K in losses this year

The city leads Macomb and Oakland counties with 27 cryptocurrency machines the most of any community in the region. But Sterling Heights Police say fraud connected to those machines has increased significantly this year.

"I believe we had a lady in her 70s who was scammed in a romance type scam, she met someone online the person started asking for money they were in need of money," said Chief Andy Satterfield of Sterling Heights Police.

The woman lost more than $70,000 to the scammer.

"She would just send him money, I believe, over 70 thousand dollars worth," Satterfield said.

The chief described the loss as "horrible and not uncommon" in what Sterling Heights Police call predatory virtual currency scams.

From the Federal Trade Commission: What To Know About Cryptocurrency and Scams

Sterling Heights Police Captain Colleen Hopper is part of the department's crypto task force, formed in September to combat the 23 fraud cases. She says the scams begin with an unsolicited message or call designed to create pressure.

The victim typically an elderly person is told to deposit cash into a cryptocurrency ATM.

"Once that money is submitted, it is gone," Hopper said.

Last week, Hopper helped introduce an ordinance in front of city council that would add new licensing and operational regulations for cryptocurrency machines.

"To see the level of scams and theft tied to them in our community, these are long overdue, and I'm happy to support this," said Sterling Heights Councilman Michael Radtke.

The ordinance, which will be voted on next week, would require a photo ID for transactions, display fraud warnings, maintain a customer service hotline, and create a first-time user transaction limit of $1,000.

Satterfield advises residents to be cautious before sending money to unknown individuals.

"If you feel like you may be a victim, call local police before you send a lot of money to someone you may not know, consult with someone, make sure this is legitimate business," Satterfield said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

With holiday shopping in full swing, everyone is looking for a way to save. Sometimes, it means thinking outside the box, or perhaps, across the border?

Watch Evan's report in the video player below How doing your holiday shopping in Canada could save you a few bucks

Everything inside Whiskeyjack boutique is made in Canada, including their beautiful artwork, but perhaps their best gift to Detroiters this holiday season: some really good bangs for your American buck.

Katie Stokes, the owner of the Windsor boutique, said her American shoppers are often in for a nice surprise at checkout.

We get a lot of Americans that shop with us on a regular basis," Stokes said. "Sometimes it's fun to give them that piece of information where they realize everything is basically 30 percent off for them."

It's not a bad deal for Illinois resident Brittney Ocampo.

Came out to Canada to celebrate a friend's birthday and enjoy this small town outside of Detroit," Ocampo said.

Before stopping at this boutique, Ocampo purchased a few books at another store.

Brought a lot more books than I anticipated, at the register she showed me the difference in currency, U.S. dollars or Canadian dollars, (it was a) 30 to 40 dollar difference there, I was really surprised," Ocampo said.

University of Detroit Mercy College of Business Administration Dean Dr. Joseph Eisenhauer said you might not be saving as much as you think shopping in Canada.

You have to take a number of things into account," Dr. Eisenhauer said. How much are you gonna pay in tolls crossing the border, how much are you gonna pay in the exchange rate conversion fee."

How much it costs to cross depends on the bridge or tunnel, and if tolls are paid in U.S. or Canadian dollars. Then there's the exchange rate.

Right now the American dollar is worth $1.40 in Canadian, but that changes every day, every hour," he said.

At Windsor's Devonshire Mall, marketing manager Tina Asprakis said American shoppers are taking advantage of the current rate, especially at stores like Lululemon.

You know why, basically because it's the same price in Canadian and the US, so when you come to Canada," Asprakis said. "Let's just say tights that are $100 US, they are a hundred dollars Canadian, so you saved 40 dollars, I think this morning was at 39 percent.

Dr. Eisenhauer reminds shoppers to keep this in mind when using a credit card.

"The credit card companies will charge a roughly 2 percent exchange rate fee if you're converting from US dollars to some other currency," Eisenhauer said.

Post 9/11, things changed because passports were required, made it difficult to cross the border. I saw a huge change in that week right after 9/11, so to see American shoppers, it's nice," Asprakis said.

A family in Ann Arbor is mourning the loss of their dog, who was shot and killed in a break-in attempt early Sunday morning.

Watch Evan's report in the video player below Dog shot & killed, home struck by bullets in break-in attempt in Ann Arbor as police search for suspect

Police tell us the confrontation happened just after 4 a.m. this morning, at a home in the 1800 block of Weldon Boulevard.

The suspect, described as wearing all black, tried breaking into a vehicle in the driveway of the home before turning violent.

We were asleep, it was around 4 in the morning, we heard a noise," said homeowner Glenn Kime.

Kime said that he and his wife didn't think much of it, when a bullet hit their home early Sunday morning.

It didn't sound to my sleeping self like a gunshot," Kime said. "It was like a bunch of lumber being dropped, we went back to sleep, didn't hear anything else until 6 a.m."

That's when Kime, who lives on the 1700 block of Waverly right near the home of the shooting, said police knocked on his door and gave him the news.

"One bullet passed 6 foot from where my wife was sleeping through my bedroom," Kime said.

Web Extra: Watch our full interview with Kime below Homeowner speaks after dog killed, house shot at in Ann Arbor break-in attempt

Ann Arbor Police told Kime at least two people were breaking into cars in nearby homes.

Police say that a family dog was shot during an attempted break-in on Weldon, after the homeowner confronted one of the suspects.

According to police, the suspect who fired at the dog ran away, firing additional shots and hitting Kime's home.

"Balancing my fear with gratitude that were still here," Kime said.

Ann Arbor Police used drones and K-9s in search of the suspect, but have yet to locate him. We'll keep you posted as more details emerge.

A student brought a firearm to Parks Alternative Education Center, part of Ecorse Public Schools, on Tuesday morning with no security present, according to school officials who called the incident an "unacceptable failure."

Watch Evan Sery's video report: Security failure at Ecorse school prompts concern after student brings gun

Superintendent Josha Talison informed families in a letter Tuesday that an anonymous tip led to responding officers finding a firearm inside a student's backpack. The weapon was never removed from the bag and no one was injured, according to the district.

"It's unsettling, because what about the children. Someone should always be there," said Michelle Thomas, who lives near Ecorse High School.

The school district confirmed a security guard was not present and the security company did not notify them of the absence. The district said a guaranteed, consistent daily security presence will be in place moving forward.

Thomas emphasized the importance of student safety regardless of staffing challenges.

"Whether it's a volunteer or anybody, the kids need safety no matter what," Thomas said.

One parent contacted me expressing frustration about the security situation, writing: "Security at the high school has been lacking. I certainly wish EPS would take this more seriously. Most parents found out about this via Facebook."

Damarion Alford, who graduated from Ecorse High School last year, called the incident concerning.

"It's sad and reckless," Alford said. "I don't understand the point of bringing a gun to school trying to show people leave that at home."

Despite this incident, Alford noted that security is typically present at the school.

"Normally, they have security. Normally, the school is right on their security. They don't try to let anybody do anything like that," Alford said.

An Ecorse police car was positioned in front of the school Wednesday morning. The student who brought the gun was expelled and police are handling the ongoing investigation, according to the superintendent.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Thousands of visitors flocked to The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn on Monday to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Rosa Parks' historic act of defiance that sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

The museum offered free admission to honor the civil rights icon, drawing nearly 2,000 people who came to see the actual bus where Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on Dec. 1, 1955.

Watch Evan Sery's video report below: Commemorating 70 years since Rose Parks' defiant act, Henry Ford Museum offers free admission

"It made me want to cry a little bit, cause this is Black history," said Alijah Cheatham, a first-time visitor to the museum.

Cheatham was most excited to touch and be inside the Rosa Parks bus during his visit.

"Most people don't get to see this is the actual bus where she sat and got arrested in 1955, most people don't know... we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her," Cheatham said.

The free admission day was unusual for the museum, which typically charges visitors and sees about 2,500 people on average weekend days during this time of year.

"It is very rare for us to actually have a free admission day," said Cynthia Jones, director of museum experiences, engagements and exhibitions at The Henry Ford.

Jones said the decision to waive admission fees for this milestone anniversary was obvious.

"We know the people who lived this history, that lived the Civil Rights Movement and we don't want that history to be lost, their stories to be lost," Jones said.

Dr. Brenda McGadney, a frequent visitor to The Henry Ford, praised the museum's decision to prioritize education over revenue.

"So proud of this museum that's made a decision that on this day, rather than bringing in money to the museum, they're bringing in people to the museum," McGadney said.

McGadney said seeing the bus never gets old and revealed she once saw Parks in person but chose to respect her privacy rather than approach her.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," McGadney said when asked what she would've said to Parks.

On this special day, visitors were not allowed to sit in Parks' seat. Instead, the seat was occupied by a portrait of the late civil rights icon and a bouquet of roses.

For Cheatham, the visit held special significance as a new father to a 2-month-old son.

"I want to teach him history, who sat here before us, the presidents, more specifically Rosa Parks, the lady that did not get off the bus," Cheatham said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

High school students across two Utica Community Schools competed Thursday in a Shark Tank-style pitch competition designed to inspire the next great invention.

Watch Evan Sery's video report: High school students compete for $7,500 in Shark Tank-style invention contest

The final showdown of the eight-week contest took place at Stevenson High School, with students vying for a grand prize of $7,500 in cash.

The energy was electric inside Stevenson High School's auditorium as teams presented their innovative ideas to a panel of three judges, including Bedrock Senior Vice President Brandon Kaznowski.

"I was most surprised by the entrepreneurial spirit of these kids, it's amazing to see, I think the future is really bright," Kaznowski said.

The competition was organized by SparkLab, a new nonprofit founded by local Metro Detroit entrepreneurs. For co-founder Saif Siddiqui, the event marked a full-circle moment as he was once a student at Stevenson High School.

"I was not so great of a kid, probably considered a troubled child, nothing really related to me, myself, and my founders came to find out this is something our educational system really needed," Siddiqui said.

SparkLab is an immersive eight-week program designed to give high school students the opportunity to pitch their business ideas. The three finalists split a total cash prize of $15,000.

The winning team consisted of four high school girls from Henry Ford II High School who pitched an app called FitPick.

"Our pitch was an app that creates outfits around your aesthetic and what you like to wear; it brings inspo from other apps and influencers," said Roula Victor, a junior at Henry Ford II High School.

Kaznowski praised the winning concept for its practical application.

"A lot of the products were ancillary add-ons to something, and this seemed to solve a specific problem people had," Kaznowski said.

This was SparkLab's first contest, which began with 300 students. Next year, the nonprofit hopes to reach 5,000 high schoolers across Oakland County schools.

"We're hoping to take this nationwide and impact as many students as possible," Siddiqui said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

After more than a decade of waiting, Detroit's crowdfunded RoboCop statue has finally secured a permanent location and is expected to be unveiled by the end of 2025.

Watch Evan Sery's video report: RoboCop statue finally finds permanent home in Detroit's Eastern Market

The 11-foot bronze statue will be installed at Eastern Market, on the patio of Free Age, a film production company. The statue was originally funded through a 2011 Kickstarter campaign organized by Detroit resident Brandon Walley, which raised thousands of dollars with the slogan "Part man, part machine, all crowd funded."

"Brandon reached out, said congrats on the building on the move, I'm glad you're staying in the market," said Jim Toscano, co-owner of Free Age. "Why don't we put RoboCop on your patio? We laughed it off. I said alright, thanks for the congrats, good talking to you. Called me back the next day and said we're serious."

Toscano and Walley agreed the location made perfect sense an iconic film character displayed at a film production studio.

The statue's journey to installation faced several delays over the years. Walley cited COVID-19 and the 2024 Eastern Market tailgate shooting as factors that complicated finding an appropriate home for the bronze figure.

"Everyone involved liked this spot. It's on the far end of the market, a little quieter. It could use some excitement," Toscano said.

The RoboCop statue has found support among local business owners, including Bethany Shorb, who operates Well Done Goods in Eastern Market and sells RoboCop merchandise.

"I like 80s nerd stuff. Is it the most positive depiction of Detroit? No, of course not, but it's poking fun, poking fun at a lot of not good things that can happen, and now we do have actual robocops," Shorb said.

The 1987 RoboCop film depicted a futuristic, apocalyptic version of Detroit, making the statue's placement in the city both symbolic and fitting for fans of the cult classic.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A Clinton Township high school teacher has transformed her classroom storage room into a food pantry to help students struggling with food insecurity during the ongoing SNAP benefit crisis.

Watch Evan's story in the video player below Clinton Twp. teacher's food pantry helps students during SNAP benefit crisis

Kim Johnston, who has taught social studies at Chippewa Valley High School for 18 years, launched the initiative on social media two weeks ago after recognizing the urgent need in her school community. With SNAP benefits on pause, Johnston decided to take action where her school lacked resources.

"I decided we had to do something here in our building, we do not have a food pantry," Johnston said.

The classroom pantry, stocked with pasta sauce, bags of pasta, mac and cheese, and canned foods, has already distributed 100 full meal kits since opening this week. Johnston posted signs throughout the school encouraging students to "grab a bag and take more if you want."

"I'm here to make life easier for them not harder, here to show I care about them," Johnston said.

The pantry's location was strategically chosen for student privacy. Students can exit directly to the parking lot after collecting food, allowing those who might feel embarrassed about needing assistance to leave discreetly.

Johnston's students have noticed the impact on their peers. Kayla Miglioraty, an 11th grader, said many of her closest friends are affected by the SNAP benefit situation.

"Yes a lot of my closest friends, are affected, they already struggle with the snap benefits," Miglioraty said.

Fellow student Natalie Ranieri praised Johnston's efforts.

"It's awful what they have to go through, but I'm really happy that she's taking a stand and helping out," Ranieri said.

The community response has been overwhelming, with donations pouring in after Johnston's social media call for help. The pantry will remain open for as long as needed, and the school has created an Amazon wish list to help maintain supplies.

"We can focus on the fact that people aren't in great situations or we can try to help and do something and I feel like with the donations and with the intensity, we've received them, shows people are desperate to help," Johnston said.

The food pantry represents more than just emergency assistance it reflects Johnston's 18-year commitment to her students, evident in the bobbleheads, handmade gifts, and flowers that fill her classroom shelves, tokens of appreciation from grateful students over the years.

If you'd like to help keep up with pantry demands, the school has come up with an Amazon wish list.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Frances Mauro Masters has lived through the Great Depression, World War II, and more than a century of American history. Now, at 103 years old, her contributions as an original Rosie the Riveter will be immortalized in bronze at Memorial Park in Royal Oak.

Watch Evan Sery's video report: 103-year-old Rosie the Riveter to be honored with bronze statue at Royal Oak memorial

The statue will be unveiled this Veterans Day, honoring Masters' work during World War II at a bomber plant in Ypsilanti, where she helped build B-24 bombers for the war effort.

"We just came out of the depression, and we all had to work," Masters said. "Since my brothers were in the army, the next person to help my family was me."

Masters worked at the plant not just for the paycheck, but out of patriotic duty.

"I worked at the plant to make money, plus it was an honor to help with the war effort," Masters said.

Despite her advanced age, Masters still remembers those wartime days vividly. She recalls her daily commute to the factory, taking the streetcar and bus in the early morning hours to get to work.

"I sorta do, few things I forget, but yeah, most of all I do remember going early in the morning, taking the streetcar plus the bus," Masters said.

The bronze statue will depict Masters working on the factory line, riveting panels for B-24 bombers. She used various tools during her time at the plant, including presses, small riveters, and power guns that hung from the ceiling for larger aircraft components.

"I used a press, I used a small riveter, plus on the bigger part of the plane, I used a power gun, it came from the ceiling," Masters said.

John Maten, president of the WWII Legacy Memorial, said Masters was chosen because she perfectly represents Michigan's contributions to the war effort.

"We wanted to make sure it represents Michigan's contributions to World War 2, not only the warfront but also the homefront," Maten said. "She told us about the plant, seeing the President go through with Henry Ford."

Before her factory work, Masters was a performer who took the stage at Detroit's historic Fox Theatre when she was just 9 years old as an acrobat.

When asked about her secret to longevity, Masters offered some lighthearted advice.

"I eat a lot of vegetables, I kid, and I say I use a lot of olive oil," Masters said.

For Masters, being honored with the statue represents recognition not just for herself, but for all the women who stepped up during the war.

"Oh, it's a privilege not only for me, but all the other Rosies," Masters said. "We were in the front, helping out besides the soldiers, so I'm really honored to be one."

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Youmacon is officially underway in downtown Detroit, marking a milestone 20th anniversary for the anime and pop culture convention that draws enthusiasts from around the world.

At least 10,000 anime and pop culture fans are expected to pack Huntington Place through Sunday for the celebration that has grown significantly since its humble beginnings.

Watch Evan Sery's video report below: Youmacon celebrates 20th anniversary with thousands of anime fans in downtown Detroit

"There's a lot of people who are growing into this genre and learning about it," said Mark Cooper, Youmacon event coordinator.

The convention features new attractions this year including a kids corner, expanded tabletop gaming options and entertainment events. Cooper highlighted the variety of experiences available to attendees.

"We have a new kids corner, new games at tabletop gaming, great raves and things like that," Cooper said.

Artist Alley showcases numerous vendors including Daniel Kim, a digital artist from Sterling Heights attending Youmacon for the first time.

"It might start as a paper sketch," Kim said, describing his artistic process.

Kim, originally from California, expressed excitement about Michigan's convention scene.

"I'm originally from California, so when I found out Michigan has quite a bit of a convention atmosphere, that was pretty exciting to hear," Kim said.

The arcade room proved particularly popular, featuring classic gaming systems including Sega Dreamcasts on old-school televisions. The nostalgic gaming experience resonated with many attendees.

"I love gaming rooms like this because I have a lot of memories playing DDR in arcades and stuff, and you don't get that experience anymore," said Luna Noelle, a Twitch streamer.

Noelle noted the challenge of introducing modern gamers to retro systems.

"Convincing people to play an N64 is hard nowadays," Noelle said.

The gaming area features arcade cabinets and tournaments that keep some attendees occupied throughout the entire event.

"Arcade cabinets, there's gonna be game tournaments, so if you're a gamer and that's something you wanna do, some people just stay there all day," Cooper said.

Cooper reflected on the convention's growth from its origins in a Troy hotel with about 1,000 attendees to the large-scale event it has become.

"They enjoy the comics, they enjoy the video games, all the particular lores of the particular fandoms, and they bring them all together whether old-school fans of "Ghost in the Shell," to new fans of "Chainsaw Man" or "Dragon Ball Z" still, it's just an overall melting pot over time," Cooper said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.