Cheesecake Factory Media Roundup

Ignoring the fact that Eater Detroit was not invited to the special media preview and grand-opening for Michigan's first ever Cheesecake Factory at Novi's Twelve Oaks Mall, it can't be said that the area's other media outlets haven't given the cavernous calorie center ample press.

In his preview piece in Crain's Detroit, Nate Skid makes the fairly decent point that "there are two types of cities: those with a Cheesecake Factory and those without." (Also worth saying the city of Detroit itself still doesn't have a Cheesecake Factory, but no matter.)

Skid also scored a few choice quotes from Cheesecake Factory CEO — and Detroit native — David Overton, who noted that the moderately priced chain didn't necessarily need to open up in a pricey Oakland County suburb to do well in the region.

"We could do just as well in Troy as in Novi," Overton said.

Other media coverage today includes a glossy photo spread and video feature from Channel 4's ClickOnDetroit.com.

"Having grown up in Detroit and watched my parents start their cheesecake business here in the 1950s, opening a Cheesecake Factory at Twelve Oaks feels like a true homecoming," Overton said in the Channel 4 report.

Perhaps the best local take on the Cheesecake Factory comes from Deadline Detroit's Allan Lengel, who uses a column today to quote Wayne County Circuit Judge Wade McCree. Lengel admits that he loves the food, drinks and desserts at the Cheesecake Factory, and quotes McCree's infamous, "There's no shame in my game" line as he explains why, to humorous effect.

Will you be one of the likely hundreds to swarm the Cheesecake Factory next week? Will we finally feel like the metro Detroit area is a region that deserves high-concept and high-calorie chain restaurants? Will a Cheesecake Factory opening downtown mean Dan Gilbert has finally won the development game? Stay tuned. The MLive press-release style report doesn't suggest as much in the promise of "eight to 10 new store[s] this year," but that doesn't mean future development isn't out of the question.
· A Look Inside Michigan's First Cheesecake Factory [Crain'sDetroit]
· A Sneak Peek Inside Michigan's First Cheesecake Factory [ClickOnDetroit]
· As For the Cheesecake Factory, There's No Shame in My Game [DeadlineDetroit]
· Cheesecake Factory to Open First Michigan Location Tuesday [MLive]