Dining Detroit Proud David Najor brings the flavors of Michigan to Scottsdale BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
“It was all chain after chain after chain. Everyone thought I was going to fail because it’s a new business, new state, new industry, but I just kept it simple.” Najor and his family are in the Detroit Coney Grill recently opened in North Scottsdale with a cadre of Michigan products. (Photos by Pablo Robles) grocery store business, but by I love it when Detroit customers come in keeping it simple, he has found ice cream, two standards in Michigan. success with food. The menu wraps with pitas, salads, here. They’re the ones who are going to “I just treat people the way appetizers like pretzel bites and buffalo post about it on social media, ‘Hey, you I would want to be treated,” cauliflower, burger sliders and pub slid- got to go try Superman ice cream.’” He has a deal with Faygo to have the Najor says. “I offer good food ers. In Scottsdale, he serves breakfast of at a fair price. I have God on skillets/omelets, breakfast burritos and pop shipped to his store. “I get mine direct because I’m in the my side, so I can’t lose— sides like pancakes and turkey sausage. The chili is proprietary, but, Najor says, supermarket business,” Najor says. “I ever.” The extensive menu in- he starts with National Coney Island also know the CEO of Faygo very well. I cludes a Detroit Coney chili, and adds his own beef and spices. call him all the time. I was trying to get ($4.85); the Detroit loose He’s won awards from the Food Network Rock and Rye (a flavor of Faygo) pop slushies out here, but I had to buy a cerburger ($5.45), seasoned and Travel Channel. “Travel Channel thinks our burgers tain machine. I just wasn’t really willing ground beef with chili, musDetroit Coney Grill has Michigan products like Better Made Chips. tard and onions; and a “plain” are the ninth best in the country,” Najor to invest in it yet.” The Scottsdale restaurant is the proThe Detroit native lines his shelves Coney dog ($4.45) with mustard, ketch- says. “I beg to differ. We grind our own beef. The hot dogs are all made by hand. totype for Najor’s restaurants moving with Sanders hot fudge, Better Made up, relish, onions and kraut. There are other odes to Michigan, such We use the same dogs as Tiger Stadium forward. He’ll have beer, wine and liquor chips, Sanders trail mix and Vernors and like his new store. Faygo pop—not soda here—everything as the Big Mack “Inaw”—named after and Lafayette Coney Island.” “Customers really appreciate a great The new location at Hayden and InMichiganders have come to love. Coneys a village—it includes four hamburger are the top dog here, with chili, mustard patties, cheese, lettuce, pickles, onions, dian Bend roads is ideal, Najor says. He burger with a good beer,” Najor says. In terms of adding to the menu, NaThousand Island dressing on a tri-level recently added a covered patio, which and onions piled high. “I noticed Coneys out here were gar- bun ($7.95). Boneless Red Wings ($5.95) will be perfect for the Spring Training jor has been asked to introduce Debage and a lot of the restaurants here are boneless tenderloins with Frank’s crowds. More than 60,000 cars a day troit-style pizza, like Jet’s, but he’s were not mom-and-pop establish- Red Hot Sauce. Occasionally he carries pass by the free-standing building, ac- friends with the owner. He knows he still has the recipe for success. ments,” he says between guests’ hugs. Sanders “Bumpy Cake,” and Superman cording to Najor. “I say this and I mean this: I’ll never “I fell in love with the corner,” he says. “I fell in love with the traffic and the fact lose because I have God on my side,” I had a free-standing building. The fact Najor says. “What it means is I’m not I was able to build a patio in Arizona is scared. The fear is gone because when you know he’s behind you, you do the a plus because everyone eats outside.” Most of his memorabilia is donated, right thing. You bust your tail, you work but he’s careful about what he accepts. hard, you treat your people with respect no matter who it is. You follow God’s Michiganders love his restaurant. “I love that a lot of Detroiters come ways and you’ll be successful.” here,” Najor says. “There are more at this location than the other two locations Detroit Coney Grill combined. It used to be maybe 5% to 7% detroitconeygrill.com of my customer base was in Michigan. 6953 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale Here, it’s double at least. 480-597-4300 “Most of them live out this way or 930 W. Broadway Road, Tempe they’re willing to come to this location. 480-219-7430 When David Najor moved to Arizona, he brought the feelings, the work ethic and the love he has for Michigan. His new Detroit Coney Grill restaurant in Scottsdale is peppered with Great Lakes State freeway signs and photos of famous Michiganders, but more importantly, there’s the food.
David Najor says his faith in God assures he’ll be successful—and he has with Detroit Coney Grill, which recently opened in Scottsdale.
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FEBRUARY 2020
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