The Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority is partnering with City Institute to offer a series of guided walking tours designed to help residents and visitors experience Downtown Royal Oak in a new way.

By blending local history, community storytelling and visits to small businesses, the tours provide participants with a deeper understanding of the people, places and experiences that shape the city's unique character.

"We are excited to partner with the Royal Oak DDA to showcase the amazing variety of small businesses in Royal Oak!” said City Institute President Jeanette Pierce. “Our tour attendees love meeting the owners, tasting delicious samples and learning about both new and old businesses. Whether you've been in Metro Detroit a day or a lifetime, there's always something new to discover in Royal Oak!"

The first tour, held on May 30, invitedattendees to explore downtown through a curated walking experience featuring several local businesses, including Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters, Kacha Thai Market, Give Thanks Bakery, Atelier Art Studio, Studio Sandra, and others. Along the way, participants learned about the stories behind the businesses, the entrepreneurs who built them, and the evolution of the district itself.

The tours are led by a Royal Oak native tour guide from City Institute, an organization dedicated to helping people better understand the communities they live in through contextual storytelling and immersive learning experiences. Based in Detroit, City Institute has built a reputation for creating engaging tours, learning journeys, speaking engagements, and educational programs that connect people to the history, culture and development of cities.

For the DDA, the partnership is about more than showcasing downtown businesses. It is an opportunity to strengthen community connections, support local entrepreneurs and encourage residents to engage more deeply with the place they call home.

“By highlighting the stories behind storefronts, public spaces and community landmarks, the tours help participants see Downtown Royal Oak through a broader lens while introducing them to businesses they may not have previously discovered,” said DDA Deputy Director Julia Kalugar.

Additional tours will continue throughout the summer and fall on July 25, August 22, September 26, and October 24. Each experience offers a fresh perspective on Royal Oak's history, business community and ongoing growth, ensuring that no two tours are exactly alike.

As communities continue to evolve, experiences like these remind us that understanding a city begins with understanding its stories. Through the partnership between the Royal Oak DDA and City Institute, residents and visitors alike are discovering that some of the most meaningful connections can be found just a few blocks from home.