Romeo

Teetering on the edge of suburban and rural Michigan is the historic Village of Romeo. The village started as an agriculture and lumbering community, and slowly grew into a leading manufacturing center by the 1850s. While its industrial landscape has shifted over the years, Romeo maintains the charming and romantic atmosphere that its name suggests. Long-standing brick storefronts and eateries line Main Street, where locals can be found sipping on coffee and catching up with friends outside of cafés or shopping at one of the local boutiques.

“It’s a small, rural town with a local mindset,” says Mary Rayman, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Lakeside who has lived in Romeo for over 30 years. “We don’t have the big chain restaurants and stores that you can find in nearby communities. Locals consistently support one another, both personally and in business. For example, I have gone to the same hairdresser for 25 years, and she has sent many of her clients my way when they are looking for homes.”

The residential streets surrounding downtown are lined with homes built between the 1880s and the 1930s, with American foursquares, colorful Victorians and farmhouses making up the architectural scene. The average listing price in Romeo is $270,000, with 5,000 square feet, 19th century homes on one-acre lots hitting the market for $600,000 and higher. Stepping away from the downtown area will take you past single-story ranch-style homes and bungalows priced between $200,000 and $300,000. Most houses in the village sit on quarter-acre and half-acre lots, and well-maintained sidewalks make it easy for locals to walk to the town’s center.

Start off your morning with a visit to Main’s Treat Coffeehouse, where you can order an energizing cup of coffee, a smoothie or a fresh baked good. For lunch or dinner out, grab a table at Younger’s Irish Tavern to enjoy pub fare like the corned beef Reuben, the classic pub burger served on a brioche bun and the Guinness beef stew. For something sweet, head south on Main Street to Frontier Town Ice Cream Parlor.

All of Romeo’s designated public schools are within a 10-minute drive from town, starting with Amanda Moore Elementary, which is within walking distance from many homes on the community’s east side. The elementary school earns a B-minus overall grade from Niche and serves 450 of the area’s young learners. After the fifth grade, students can head to Romeo Middle School. With a B-plus rating, Romeo Middle is in the top 30 percent of public middle schools in Michigan, according to Niche. Also with a B-plus grade, Romeo High School has launched the Academies at Romeo program, which allows students to explore career pathways and take courses aligned with their interests. Students get hands-on workplace experience in the field of their choosing, with options including hospitality and culinary arts, media production and health services.

Outside of the classroom, village residents can continue their learning and connect with community members at the Kezar Branch Library. Here, you can reserve study rooms, get homework help or attend organized events and club meetings, including story times, book clubs and educational presentations. For groceries and other day-to-day necessities, folks can head north to Sheena’s Marketplace.

When the weather is nice, folks can be found picnicking under the shade of a mature tree at Romeo Village Park. Community Center Park is home to five baseball diamonds, a basketball court, a playground and a skate park. On the east side of town, you can access the Macomb Orchard Trail, a 24-mile hiking and biking path that spans from Shelby Township to Richmond. “We’re about 40 minutes from Detroit, so it’s a good place for commuters looking for a slower pace,” Rayman says. Route 53 serves as Romeo’s eastern border and can be taken all the way to downtown Detroit and the surrounding suburbs.

Written By

Jillian Pillow

Photography Contributed By

Kyle Arn

Video By

Jonathan Bradley