Detroit Proud

David Najor brings the flavors of Michigan to Scottsdale

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski W hen David Najor moved to Arizona, he brought the feelings, the work ethic and the love he has for Michigan. His new Detroit Coney Grill restaurant in Scottsdale is peppered with Great Lakes State freeway signs and photos of famous Michiganders, but more importantly there’s the food.

The Detroit native lines his shelves with Sanders hot fudge, Better Made chips, Sanders trail mix and Vernors and Faygo pop—not soda here—everything Michiganders have

David Najor says his faith in God assures he’ll be successful— and he has with Detroit Coney Grill, which recently opened in Scottsdale. (Photo by Pablo Robles)

come to love. Coneys are the top dog here, with chili, mustard and onions piled high.

“I noticed the Coneys out here were garbage and a lot of the restaurants out here were not mom-and-pop establishments,” Najor says in between guests’ hugs.

“It was all chain after chain after chain. Everyone thought I was going to fail because it’s a new business, new state, new industry, but I just kept it simple.”

Najor and his family are in the grocery store business, but by keeping it simple, he has found success with food.

“I just treat people the way I would want to be treated,” Najor says. “I offer good food at a fair price. I have God on my side, so I can’t lose—ever.”

The extensive menu includes a Detroit Coney ($4.85); the Detroit loose burger ($5.45), seasoned ground beef with chili, mustard and onions; and a “plain” Coney dog

Detroit Coney Grill has Michigan products like Better Made Chips. (Photo by Pablo Robles)

Detroit Coney Grill boasts an outdoor patio. (Photo by Pablo Robles)

($4.45) with mustard, ketchup, relish, onions and kraut.

There are other odes to Michigan, such as the Big Mack “Inaw”—named after the Najor says. He recently added a village—that includes four hamburger patties, cheese, lettuce, pickles, onions, Thousand Island dressing on a tri-level bun ($7.95). Boneless covered patio, which will be perfect for the Spring Training crowds. More than 60,000 cars a day pass Michigan is represented throughout Detroit Coney Grill. (Photo by Pablo Robles) Red Wings ($5.95) are boneless tenderloins by the free-standing building, with Frank’s Red Hot Sauce. Occasionally he according to Najor. carries Sanders “bumpy cake,” and Superman “I fell in love with the corner,” he ice cream, two standards in Michigan. says. “I fell in love with the traffic

The menu wraps with pitas, salads, and the fact that I had a freeappetizers like pretzel bites and buffalo standing building. The fact that I cauliflower, burger sliders and pub sliders. was able to build a patio in Arizona In Scottsdale, he serves breakfast of skillets/ is a plus because everyone eats omelets, breakfast burritos and sides like outside.” The Scottsdale restaurant is the prototype pancakes and turkey sausage. Most of his memorabilia is donated, but he’s for Najor’s restaurants moving forward. He’ll

The chili is proprietary, but, Najor says, he careful about what he accepts. Michiganders have beer, wine and liquor like his new store. starts with National Coney Island chili, and love his restaurant, he says. “Customers really appreciate a great burger adds his own beef and spices. He’s won awards “I love a lot of Detroiters coming here,” with a good beer,” says Najor, who attended from the Food Network and Travel Channel. Najor says. “There are more at this location Wayne State University.

“Travel Channel thinks our burgers are the than the other two locations combined. It used He’s been asked to introduce Detroit-style ninth best in the country,” Najor says. “I beg to be maybe 5% to 7% of my customer base was pizza, but he’s friends with Jet’s Pizza’s owner. to differ. We grind our own beef. The hot dogs in Michigan. Here, it’s double at least. He knows, however, he still has the recipe for are all made by hand. We use the same dogs as “Most of them live out this way or they’re success. Tiger Stadium and Lafayette Coney Island.” willing to come to this location. I love it when “I say this and I mean this: I’ll never lose

The new location at Hayden and Indian Detroit customers come in here. They’re the because I have God on my side,” Najor says. Bend roads is ideal, ones who are going to post about it on social “What that means is I’m not scared. The fear is media, ‘Hey, you got to go try gone because when you know he’s behind you, Superman ice cream.’” you do the right thing. You bust your tail, you

He has a deal with Faygo work hard, you treat your people with respect to have the pop shipped to no matter who it is. You follow God’s ways and his store. you’ll be successful.”

“I get mine direct because Detroit Coney Grill owner David Najor, left, has a laugh with customer Tim Schraser. (Photo by Pablo Robles) I’m in the supermarket business,” Najor says. “I also know the CEO of Faygo very well. I call him all the time. I was trying to get Rock and Rye (a flavor of Faygo) pop slushies out here, but I had to buy a certain machine. I just wasn’t really willing to invest in it yet.”

Detroit Coney Grill 6953 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale 480-597-4300 930 W. Broadway Road, Tempe 80-219-7430 16 W. Adams Street, Phoenix 602-253-0292 detroitconeygrill.com

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