Meet Michelle and John Liss of Kensington

Michelle and John Liss of Kensington

Tell us a little bit about yourselves.

We own a hair salon in Roseville, with Michelle actually getting her start at a cosmetology school that used to be at East Warren and Yorkshire back in the 70s. John works at the Ford House as well. We love life here in EEV, and being able to come back to our Detroit roots now in these later years. We enjoy garage sales and thrift stores, and have a mobile home up in Caseville that we spend as much time at as we can.

What brought you to East English Village?
We moved (back) to EEV in 2017.  Michelle grew up right here on Cadieux as a kid, and already had fondness and familiarity for the area. John grew up off Trumbull near the old Tiger Stadium. Marriage and raising our children took us out to the suburbs for many years. Eventually, our condo in Harrison Township began to feel too “sterile” and we longed for the character of the city again. Around the same time, two of our good friends who live here in the neighborhood invited us to their home for dinner, and we fell in love with EEV all over again. So at the ages of 58 and 62, we moved back, this time for good!

What are some of your favorite EEV moments and memories?

The neighborhood has evolved in many wonderful ways over the years, but our favorite to reminisce on remain Michelle's memories from growing up here. She lived here from 1959 until 1983, and you could walk everywhere. As a kid, she spent most of her Saturdays at Outer Drive and East Warren, enjoying lunch at Kresge’s, treats from Sanders, visits to the library, and shows at the Alger Theater. There was a Cunningham Drug Store where the Wine Basket is now, and a grocer on East Warren between Harvard and Grayton.  In her teens, she worked bussing tables at the Cadieux Cafe.  Eighteen was the legal drinking age, there were many places to go dancing. This neighborhood was always jumping on the weekends!

What is your biggest hope for EEV?

Our hope is that it continues to thrive - we love how the neighborhood has organized over the years, how the older homes have been kept up and preserved, and the big old trees and natural landscaping still add historic beauty to the area after all this time. And of course, that the area continues to be home to such wonderful people as all of our neighbors who remain committed to keeping EEV a great place to live.