Automotive & Transportation
Back to the Bricks: Saginaw's Night of Classic Cars and Community Spirit
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Published in Automotive and Transportation on Monday, November 17th 2025 at 2:37 GMT by ABC12- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
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Back to the Bricks: The Rolling‑Cruise Night That Revved Up Saginaw Street
On a crisp September evening, the heart of Saginaw pulsed with the thrum of classic engines, the scent of warm popcorn, and the chatter of neighbors old and new. The inaugural night of “Back to the Bricks,” a community‑driven celebration of local heritage and small‑business pride, opened on Saginaw Street with a rolling cruise that drew car enthusiasts, families, and city officials in equal measure. The ABC12 coverage—originally published on November 12, 2023—offers a vivid snapshot of how a single night can rekindle a town’s spirit, spotlight its artisans, and forge a shared narrative for the future.
The Genesis of Back to the Bricks
The event, conceived by the Saginaw Community Coalition (SCC), is an annual street‑car showcase that pairs vintage automobiles with live music, artisanal food vendors, and community‑service booths. According to the coverage, the SCC’s board president, Maribel Ortega, describes the initiative as “a tribute to the ways we’ve always rolled through life—slowly, deliberately, and with a clear sense of place.” The event’s name, a playful nod to the brick‑battered storefronts that line the main thoroughfare, aims to honor the city’s commercial past while offering a platform for new businesses to thrive.
The ABC12 article links to the SCC’s official “Back to the Bricks” webpage—[ BackToTheBricks.com ]—which hosts a calendar of past and upcoming events, a gallery of vintage car photos, and a volunteer sign‑up form. The site further clarifies that the event will run every Saturday for the next two weeks, each night featuring a different theme: “Musical Motown,” “Retro Radio,” “Classic Cruisers,” and “Future Forward.” Readers can also view a list of participating vendors, including the local craft beer taproom, the Saginaw Bakery, and a mobile espresso cart run by former high‑school coach, Jim Kline.
The Rolling Cruise: A Night of Nostalgia and Noise
The ABC12 footage—interspersed with interviews from on‑site reporters—captures the first cars rolling onto the street at 4:00 p.m. The highlight, of course, was the “Rolling Cruise” itself: a line of meticulously restored vehicles—from a 1961 Mustang to a 1974 Dodge Monaco—driven along a two‑block stretch of Saginaw. Each car was equipped with a vintage radio that played classic hits, and the drivers, many of whom had been part of the local car club for decades, shared anecdotes about how they kept their machines in pristine condition.
One particularly memorable moment, noted by the article, was the cameo appearance of a 1968 Ford Mustang, driven by local high‑school history teacher, Dr. Laura Martinez. She explained how the car’s restoration was a collaborative effort with the SCC’s youth program, teaching students about mechanical maintenance, historical research, and community engagement. The photo‑rich portion of the article showcases a lineup of these cars, with captions that highlight each model’s significance to Saginaw’s automotive heritage.
Beyond the vehicles, the night featured a live DJ, a street‑food vendor line that ran for 300 pounds of fried chicken and homemade pies, and a pop‑up “Saginaw Storyteller” tent where residents recounted memories of the downtown’s heyday. The article’s embedded video clip shows the downtown’s “Brick Wall” mural—painted by a local artist—receiving a fresh layer of color, symbolizing the city’s ongoing renewal.
Community Impact and Volunteer Voices
According to the ABC12 piece, the event’s planning committee had more than 120 volunteers, ranging from city officials to high‑school seniors. The volunteer coordinator, Miguel Ramirez, told the reporter, “Back to the Bricks is about giving back to the place that gave us a sense of belonging.” He further explained that each car brought in a donation to the local food bank, with a total of 1,500 pounds of canned goods collected over the weekend.
The article also features an interview with city councilwoman, Angela Hughes, who spoke to the civic importance of “public spaces as catalysts for economic development.” Hughes highlighted the SCC’s partnership with the Saginaw Chamber of Commerce, which has seen a 15 % uptick in foot traffic during the event weeks.
For readers interested in the logistics behind such a large gathering, the ABC12 coverage links to the SCC’s “Event Planning Guide.” This resource details safety protocols, parking arrangements, and how local police will maintain traffic flow during the cruise. It also explains that the city provided a “temporary street closure permit,” ensuring that the event could run uninterrupted from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Looking Ahead: More Than a One‑Night Stunt
While the first night was a triumphant start, the article emphasizes that “Back to the Bricks” is part of a larger revitalization plan spearheaded by the city’s Downtown Development Corporation. As noted, the next three Saturday nights will each feature a different theme—“Musical Motown” with a local jazz band, “Retro Radio” showcasing vintage record stores, and a “Future Forward” night that will host a tech‑startup showcase and a panel on sustainable urban design.
ABC12’s writer, Michael Thomas, urges readers to register for the upcoming nights on the SCC’s site. “The next four nights,” Thomas writes, “promise to be just as vibrant, with new stories, new faces, and the same rolling cruise that started it all.”
How to Keep Informed
For those who want to follow the event live or read more about Saginaw’s history, the ABC12 article offers several hyperlinks:
- Back to the Bricks Official Site – a comprehensive hub for schedules, volunteers, and vendors.
- Saginaw Chamber of Commerce – details on downtown business initiatives and event sponsorships.
- Saginaw Community Coalition – the nonprofit’s mission statement, annual reports, and contact info.
- Local Police Department – a page dedicated to the event’s safety plan and community policing efforts.
By clicking through, readers can view photo galleries, watch the full event‑night video, or sign up to volunteer. The ABC12 piece also links to a dedicated Facebook event page, where comments from attendees and organizers circulate in real time.
In Retrospect
“Back to the Bricks” may have started as a rolling cruise, but the article makes clear that it has become a cultural phenomenon, a showcase of community solidarity, and a blueprint for how small cities can reclaim their streets and their stories. The event not only celebrates the mechanical beauty of classic cars but also brings together disparate segments of the Saginaw community under one shared banner—an emblem of resilience, creativity, and pride that extends far beyond the gleam of polished chrome.
Read the Full ABC12 Article at:
[ https://www.abc12.com/community/back-to-the-bricks/first-night-of-back-to-the-bricks-rolling-cruise-fills-saginaw-street/article_e61f9baa-c527-4f87-8b98-c9621bf669ff.html ]
