A New Look at Detroit’s Old Cass Corridor

“The Corridor”
Cass Corridor: From the 1970s to the Present
Galerie Camille
4130 Cass Ave.
Detroit
October 19, 2026

“The Corridor” is a photo exhibition at Galerie Camille that showcases Detroit’s Cass Corridor from back in the day to today. It closes this Saturday, so don’t waste time getting over there. I’ve loaded this review with photos, but it’s a mere fraction of what they’ve got on display.

“Dime a Dance and Harlem TV Repair, Woodward Avenue, 1970s.” PHOTO CREDIT: Roger Martin

Let’s be clear. The title is a bit misleading as there’s a small selection of recent photos of the Cass Corridor in this exhibit. It’s the thrill, however, of seeing this old-school slice of Detroit that should bring you in.

Through the work of Bruce Harkness (who is working on a book of similar photos to be released in 2027), Roger Martin, and Karl Wellman, “The Corridor” is a powerhouse of nostalgia in black-and-white photography that brings this neighborhood back to life.

“East along Selden Street from Third Avenue 1970s.” PHOTO CREDIT: Roger Martin

Some of the landmarks are still around today, but the spirit of what they’ve captured is long gone.

“Lisette and Art on stage at the Gold Dollar Show Bar, Cass Avenue, 1970s.” PHOTO CREDIT: Roger Martin

One section of the show brings patrons back into the Gold Dollar bar and its notorious burlesque and drag shows. From the customers bellied up to the bar to the handsome ladies working the stage, it’s arranged so you feel like you just walked into the long gone dive.

“Lyman Woodard Cobb’s Corner Bar 1977.” PHOTO CREDIT: Karl Wellman

In fact, the whole exhibit feels like a walk through the old neighborhood. The music. The art. The signage. The culture, including a heavy focus on the old Chinatown located at Peterboro and Cass. Even the crime, including one brutal image of a man who was beaten and robbed.

“Chinese Festival, Peterboro Street, 1970s.” PHOTO CREDIT: Roger Martin

There’s a heavy dose of architecture and exteriors, like the hand-painted signs, the fading neon, the grime on the windows of old shops that aren’t around anymore. After walking through the show, I found myself trying to match up the old photos with what’s left.

“East side of Cass Avenue near Alexandrine Street 1970s.” PHOTO CREDIT: Roger Martin

The greatest images captured are the residents. Cass Corridor has always been a home to outsiders. They look like the main feature in “The Corridor.”

There’s intimate photos of the folks who used to populate the corridor flirting with the camera. This was long before everyone had a camera in their phones. That means it was still a thrill to have someone want to take your photo with a camera. There’s surprise on the faces of the Corridor kids goofing off for the lens. There’s energy in the drunk smug smile of a customer at the old Majestic Grill on Cass Avenue.

“Majestic Grill, Cass Avenue at Henry Street, mid 1970s.” PHOTO CREDIT: Roger Martin

For the old heads who were there, it’s a gorgeous way to reminisce about what was. For nerds like me who got here too late but can still feel the energy of the old neighborhood in today’s rebranded “Midtown,” it’s a fresh look into what made the old neighborhood so compelling.