Understanding Detroit's geography
Why Detroit's drive times defy radius math.
The Detroit River and Ambassador Bridge create a hard international southern boundary — sites in Detroit proper see their southward isochrones end at the river, while Windsor, Ontario adds customs-crossing time that puts it outside any practical trade area calculation. The I-75/I-696 interchange in Hazel Park and Troy is the metro's most contested franchise real estate, with dense middle-income suburbs competing for limited pad availability.
The M-59 corridor from Pontiac through Troy to Utica serves a vast middle-income suburban market that generates strong QSR and service franchise volume. Developers should pay close attention to Rochester Hills and Shelby Township along M-53, where the combination of high income, low retail saturation, and continued residential growth creates excellent franchise unit economics.