Eastern Market Merchant Squabbles With City

DETROIT (WWJ) - Longtime Detroit restaurateur Bert Dearing has been entertaining and serving food in front of Bert's Market Place Jazz for years at Eastern Market.

Police have ticketed Dearing and he's now been ordered to stop grilling on Russell Street, and is being told he's creating a potential hazard.

Dearing said other business are allowed to use the street -- and he's been singled out.

"If I can't be out there, I don't think anybody else should be ... I think it should go across the board," he told WWJ Newsradio 950's Florence Walton on Thursday.

"Eastern Market itself is a unique location and I think everybody should be able to put their stuff out," Dearing said. "I mean, ya know, the only difference is I sell food and entertainment. Other people sell pottery, flowers or whatever ... the pizza place sells pizzas -- they have stuff out in front of their place."

Dearing has the support of the Eastern Market Corporation as he tries to work out a compromise with the city.  He hope to obtain the proper permits.