Thoughts on St. Clair Shores (Detroit, Royal Oak: apartment, houses, to live)

[Ayrton]

I'm moving from the east coast to the area for a new job and was wondering what locals have to say about St. Clair Shores. What is the community like? Restaurants/bars, housing, things to do, the feel of the town? Is it pretty much a family oriented boating community?

I'm a 25 year old guy so I'm looking at Royal Oak, too, as most people seem to say it's a nice area for the younger crowd. The thing is, St. Clair is closer to my new job, and with gas prices as they are, less time on the road would be money in my pocket. Wouldn't be worth it, though, if I have to drive somewhere else to see people my own age. Thanks!

[rolo99]

You'll find more people your age and more to do in Royal Oak. St Clair Shores has a much older crowd that's been there for 50 yrs +

[GinaJ]

I think and have not been to St Claire that often though we used to have our boat there and would commute from West Bloomfield. I did just go to Beaches Grill which is nice. Anyhow it seems older both in age and housing etc. I would not want to live there and I am a home body but still its not as close to things to do or even like a mall. I forgot where are you from? If your job is in GP why not there? I lived in MI most of my life but have never been there so am not sure if there is a reason.

[mitraveler]

HI - I grew up in SCS and now live in Oakland County. I would say that Royal Oak would be better for a younger person, since a lot of SCS are people who have lived there for 50 years. (My parents have lived there for 44 years as has most of their neighbors within sight of their porch). But, you can always drive to RO when you want the night life. Having the option to live close to work sometimes outweighs it.

[shihtzumom]

I am 22 and both my 54 year old parents grew up in SCS. I visit my grandparents every year and they still live in the same houses of 10 mile road/harper that they moved into 52 years ago! So it is an older crowd but I do think it is a nice area. If it were me I would go to Royal Oak.

Good luck!

[cardwellave]

Just to clear up, St. Clair, and St. Clair Shores are very different places.

[Frankawitz]

The thing about St Clair Shores is the area around 10 mile and jefferson they have been remove PBC's from the canals which inturn people are showing signs of cancer. also on a hot day the lake smells like a sh*t hole or a bunch of dead fish after a rain storm and then there's the fact that I wouldn't go swimming in the lake cause of Ecoli leveles are high at the beaches in St Clair Shores, But hey that's why I call it the septic tank.

[Briolat21]

Grew up in SCS, parents have lived there for 50 years.

SCS when I was a kid (70's and 80's) was DEAD. Then again, Royal Oak was NOTHING until the mid-late 80's when Noir Leather started drawing a crowd.

SCS has done a lot to add stuff to do, the mack avenue corridor has really cleaned itself up and added restaurants/bars, and the nautical mile (area between 9&10 on Jefferson) has a lot of yuppy restaurants on the Lake that didn't really exist 30 years ago.

Besides - if you're truly "HIP" - you're going to go party in Grosse Point or in Detroit.

Royal Oak is okay, as is "Fashionable Ferndale" and "Beautiful Birmingham" - but compared to the night life of the East Coast, or of Chicago - anything in the suburbs is going to be kind of lame..

If SCS is closest to where you're working, you'll be able to find plenty to do (in SCS, in Grosse Pointe, in Detroit) to have a decent social life. And if you stick with an apartment, then you can move in 6 months to a year if you find a different area that is better suited to you.

Good luck on your move!