9/13/23 C & G Special Edition - Oakland

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NEWSPAPERS n o i t i d E l a i c e p S

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

candgnews.com

Oakland County papers

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

After sitting idle since 2006, the former Kmart property on Big Beaver Road in Troy will finally be demolished to make room for future development at the site.

Photo by Erin Sanchez

The “Strike Out Parkinson’s” event hosted by the Kirk Gibson Foundation brought together, from left, former San Diego Padres reliever Rich “Goose” Gossage and former Detroit Tigers Dave Rozema, Alan Trammell and Kirk Gibson on Aug. 20 at Bowlero Lanes in Royal Oak for a panel discussion of the 1984 World Series.

‘WE’RE TEAMMATES BACK THEN AND WE’RE TEAMMATES TODAY’ BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK

ROYAL OAK — “How can you not be romantic about baseball?” The quote was once popularized in the film and book “Moneyball,” but it was in living color on Aug. 20 at Bowlero Lanes in Royal Oak. The Kirk Gibson Foundation hosted its first “Strike Out Parkinson’s” event to commemorate the 1984 Detroit Tigers and their journey to a World Series victory over the San Diego Padres. As legendary Tigers shortstop Alan Trammell and right-hander Dave Rozema answered questions alongside

BY BRENDAN LOSINSKI blosinski@candgnews.com

Gibson, a familiar foe was in attendance to make sure that the Padres were represented. “I don’t even know what I’m doing here,” Rich “Goose” Gossage said. “I don’t like the guy, but there it is. I don’t know what else to say.” The Hall of Famer and flame-throwing right hander usually got the better of Gibson, as Gibson went 1-for-13 with eight strikeouts throughout his career against Gossage in the regular season, but it was Gibson’s home run off Gossage in Game 5 of the 1984 World Series that was the topic of conversation throughout the night. That’s the romanticism and camaraderie of baseball — how one pitch, one swing and one home run could

TROY — On Aug. 31, the city of Troy received a demolition permit for the former Kmart headquarters property that has long sat unused near Big Beaver Road and Coolidge Highway. The city is currently working with the contractor, Adamo Demolition, on what is needed to receive approval for the demolition permit to begin work on the 40-acre site. No plans have been announced on what will happen to the property following the demolition. “Having an obsolete building that has been empty for nearly 20 years wasn’t in line with the branding we are trying to put forward, so we are pleased with this new development,” remarked Troy Mayor Ethan Baker. Kmart, which had its beginnings as the Kresge Co., moved from its former headquarters in Detroit to the Troy campus in 1972. The company merged with Sears and moved its headquarters to Chicago in 2006, and the Troy site has been vacant ever since. The Kmart company is currently preparing to close its final store, having shuttered its last store in Michigan in 2021.

See GIBSON on page 10A

See KMART on page 11A

1984 TIGERS REUNITE WITH FAMILIAR FOE FOR KIRK GIBSON FOUNDATION EVENTS jszczepaniak@candgnews.com

Demolition plans for former Kmart headquarters move forward


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