Home Care In Sterling Heights, MI

Melody Baetens

The latest fast-food frenzy in town is the new Jollibee restaurant on Hall Road in Sterling Heights.

Opening Friday, management is expecting long lines of fried chicken fans — it's called "chickenjoy" on the menu — for walk-up orders and the two-lane drive-thru. There are tents and heaters to help with the weather, and customers can also expect a visit from the Jollibee mascot, a smiling red bee with a chef's hat.

Based on family recipes, the brand was founded by now-billionaire Tony Tan Caktiong as a small ice cream shop in Manila and has grown to 1,500 locations worldwide, with most restaurants in Asia and more than 70 in the United States.

Often called the "McDonald's of the Philippines" — although it's much more comparable to Kentucky Fried Chicken — Jollibee has made a big push for expansion in recent years. This Sterling Heights location is the first in Michigan, and while no information about additional locations have been announced, it's assumed that the brand plans to grow around here.

"We were really looking in the Detroit area first and foremost and I think this will be a great testing ground to decide how else we can expand in the area," said Jollibee marketing director Nick Bedell. "I think this area in particular is interesting because it has a good amount of traffic, there's a lot of restaurants and a good amount of activity, so all those kinds of things make this a really ideal spot for us."

The first 100 people in line on Friday's opening day will get free "chickenjoy" each month for a year. The first 100 customers on Saturday and Sunday will get a free Jollibee beanie and Jollibee tote bag, respectively. Customers must spend $20 or more to be eligible for the giveaways.

Here's everything you need to know about the new Jollibee, the first in Michigan.

Where is the new Jolliebee?

It's at 44945 Woodridge in Sterling Heights, off of Hall Road, within eyeshot of the city's "Golden Ring" and other popular fast food chains like Portillo's, Chick-fil-A and Shake Shack. It'll be open daily for dine-in and drive-thru, and online ordering will be coming shortly.

What's on the menu?

The menu at the Sterling Heights Jollibee is similar to the others in the United States. Customers can choose chickenjoy meals with one or two sides and two or three pieces, with or without a soft drink for $8.49-$14.99. Get a six-piece bucket for $15.99, or $19.99 with two sides. Feed a small group for $34.99 that includes a six-piece bucket, family pack of spaghetti and three pies.

Chicken sandwiches are $5.49 and sides run $2.69-$3.99. The spaghetti is offered as a combo with a piece of chicken and a drink for $9.99 or as a family pack for $16.99. There's also burger steaks, peach mango pies and soft drinks.

There's precious little here for vegans and those who are on gluten-free diets. Try the steamed rice, $2.69 per side order.

Why are people so excited?

Similar to when Chick-Fil-A, Shake Shack and Chicken Guy opened their first stores in the area, people like to line up to be the first to try something. The closest Jollibee's to Metro Detroit are in the greater Chicago and Toronto areas, which is a bit far for a bucket of crispy chicken.

There's also excitement because of branding and the food. Jollibee focuses on a "joyful" and cheerful energy, and it's unique in the sense that, while the flavors are geared toward the average American palate, it offers things that we typically don't see at fast food restaurants in the United States like adobo rice, spaghetti with a sweet sauce and mango-peach pies.

"Tomorrow is going to be a little bit of a party, a little bit of chaos ... it's going to be a lot of fun. We do expect a line all day long," said Bedell at a media preview Thursday, adding that early birds may get some swag like a tote bag or T-shirt.

How does it taste?

Both the pieces of fried chicken and the fried chicken sandwiches have light breading, crispy skin and juicy white and dark meat. The chicken pieces come with a pourable brown gravy, a buttery and savory favorite that has sparked many copycat recipes online. You'll find the same gravy on the mashed potatoes, which are smooth and fluffy.

The traditional chicken sandwich is a thick and tender breast fillet with a creamy, umami-rich mayonnaise on a brioche bun, and that's it. The spicy version isn't knock-your-socks off hot, and uses sriracha mayo and bright green, sliced jalapeno peppers. These are great-tasting sandwiches for the price ($5.49) and can likely hold their own against any other fast-food fried chicken sandwich.

Of the sides we tried, the macaroni and cheese is the most interesting. The baked dish has a crust on top and tastes like noodles with cheddar cheese, not mystery fast-food style "cheese sauce." The biscuits are flaky and a bit crispy, not super-soft or greasy.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to sample the spaghetti at Thursday's media preview, but we understand it is a sweeter sauce than your average marinara. Other sweet treats on the menu are the signature "pineapple quencher," a non-carbonated pineapple-flavored soft drink, and the mango peach pie with a hot, chunky and fruity filling encased in a flaky crust, similar to a McDonald's apple pie.

Overall, it's still fast food, of course, but it does stand up to its tagline of "next-level crispy, next-level juicy" and there is something joyful about the comforting flavors and friendly atmosphere.

Melody Baetens is The Detroit News restaurant critic

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A Sterling Heights woman is looking forward to helping her family after winning a $100,000 Powerball prize from the Michigan Lottery.

Vy Uong, 26, matched four white balls and the Powerball – 34-50-51-61-67, PB: 20 – in the Nov. 18 drawing to win a $50,000 prize. Thanks to the Power Play, the prize was multiplied to $100,000. She bought her winning ticket at the 7-Eleven, located at 4191 15 Mile Road in Sterling Heights.

“My dad and I like to play the Lottery together, so every once in a while, one of us will stop and buy some tickets,” said Uong. “I bought a few Powerball tickets and gave them to my dad to check the day after the drawing. When he told me I won $100,000, I thought he was joking. When he showed me the ticket and the winning numbers, I was so happy! I still can’t believe that this is real.”

Uong recently visited Lottery headquarters to claim her prize. With her winnings, she plans to help her family.

Powerball plays may be purchased for $2 each at Lottery retailers across the state and online at MichiganLottery.com. A “Power Play” option that multiplies non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times to a maximum of $2 million may be added to any Powerball play for only $1. For an additional $1 per play, Double Play may be added to a Powerball ticket, giving players a second chance to win up to $10 million in the nightly Double Play drawing.

The Powerball drawing takes place at 10:59 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday and may be watched live online at: http://www.powerball.com. Powerball tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington D.C., U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

A Kent County educator known for creating engaging lessons for her students has been honored with an Excellence In Education award from the Michigan Lottery.

The award winner, Ashleigh Sutton, teaches Social Studies and Exploratory Geography at Kent City Middle School. The school is part of Kent City Community Schools.

The Michigan Lottery established the Excellence In Education awards in 2014 to recognize outstanding public-school educators across the state during the school year.

Winners of the weekly award receive a $2,000 cash prize. At the end of the school year, one of the weekly award winners will be selected to receive the Lottery’s Educator of the Year award and will receive a $10,000 cash prize.

Each winner also is featured in a news segment on the Lottery’s media partner stations: WXYZ-TV in Detroit, FOX 17 in Grand Rapids, FOX 47 in Lansing, WNEM-TV in Saginaw, and WWTV-TV in Traverse City. The news segment featuring Sutton will air this evening.

Sutton says her desire for a career that would allow her to make a difference led her to a career in education.

“I started a career in finance right out of high school but was unhappy and unfulfilled. I spent the next four years trying to figure out what I wanted to do the rest of my life. I knew I wanted to do something to help others and make a difference. After many years and many classes, I decided to pursue a career in education and left my career in finance to be a Social Studies teacher.”

Sutton says her favorite activities to do with students are historical simulations, geographic information system (GIS) labs, and Dungeons and Dragons club.

“My favorite activities in seventh grade are our historical simulations. We have been wealthy landowners along the Silk Road, solved the cold case mystery of Julius Ceasar’s death, and we have fought in phalanxes as Persians and Athenians.

“My favorite activities in sixth grade are our GIS labs. Students use the ArcGIS platform to map data layers. We use this information to find spatial patterns and connections to help us solve geographical problems. At the end of the year students create their own map stories about problems they would like to solve. I love seeing my students empower themselves to make a difference in the world.

“I host a middle school Dungeons and Dragons club after school which allows students to come into my classroom and be themselves. We pretend and make up characters and let our imaginations go crazy. When students feel safe to be themselves, they grow in the most amazing of ways.”

Sutton was nominated for the award by a colleague.

“Ashleigh has been going above and beyond this school year in more ways than one. She works hard to create engaging lessons for students that push their thinking and keep them hooked on the content. Ashleigh is the high school varsity cheer coach in the fall, and she also runs Dungeons and Dragons club for middle school students after school. Throughout the months of February and March, she has made it a point to create bulletin boards in her classroom and the hallway for students to learn and celebrate Black History Month and Women’s History Month. Additionally, Ashleigh set up a Women’s History Month poster scavenger hunt throughout the school for students to learn and earn prizes.

“Ashleigh is an amazing educator who has been putting in the work and effort to build long lasting relationships with her students and fellow staff members. Kent City Schools is lucky to have such an amazing teacher.”

Sutton earned a bachelor’s degree from Ferris State University and is currently attending Eastern Michigan University to earn her master’s degree in Reading and Teacher Education. She has been an educator for two years, both in her current position.

Excellence in Education award nominees are evaluated on the following criteria:

Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the Michigan Lottery contributed more than $1.3 billion to the fund in 2023, marking the fifth consecutive year the agency’s contribution has topped $1 billion.

“The Michigan Lottery’s fifth-straight contribution of more than $1 billion to our state’s School Aid Fund will improve education outcomes and support students,” said Governor Whitmer. “In addition to investing in our schools, each Lottery ticket purchase also supports local businesses, building on our economic momentum. With about 97 cents of each dollar spent on the Lottery returned to Michiganders in the form of contributions to the School Aid Fund, prizes, and commissions to local vendors and retailers, the Lottery makes a real difference for communities across Michigan. Congratulations to the Lottery team on another successful year.”

Since 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than $28 billion to the School Aid Fund, which supports public education programs throughout Michigan. In each of the last five fiscal years, the Lottery has contributed more than $1 billion to the School Aid Fund, totaling more than $6.2 billion in contributions over that five-year span.

Lottery retailers in Michigan were paid more than $350 million in commissions in FY23. Since FY19, when the Lottery’s streak of billion-dollar contributions to the School Aid Fund began, retailers have earned nearly $1.7 billion in commissions. Lottery products are sold at more than 10,000 locations across Michigan, including both independently owned businesses and large chains. In 2023, nearly 600 retailers sold $1 million or more in Lottery games.

For the third consecutive year, Lottery players in Michigan collected more than $3 billion in prizes. Since the Lottery began in 1972, players have collected more than $50 billion in prizes.

“The Lottery’s contribution of $1.3 billion to the School Aid Fund provides a critical source of financial support for public schools throughout Michigan,” said acting Lottery Commissioner, Jessica Weare. “Continuing the incredible streak of billion-dollar contributions to the School Aid Fund is a testament to the hard work and ingenuity of the entire Lottery team, the dedication of our retailers and vendors, and the support of Lottery players.”

The Lottery is also committed to promoting responsible gaming. Michigan was the first state lottery to receive certification of its online program through the National Council on Problem Gambling and has also attained Responsible Gaming Verification through the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries. Responsible gaming information and resources are available on the Lottery’s website at: www.michiganlottery.com/responsible-gaming.

For each dollar spent on a Michigan Lottery ticket in FY23, approximately: • 61 cents went to players as prizes • 27 cents went to the School Aid Fund to support public education • 9 cents went to commissions for retailers and vendors • 3 cents funded the Lottery’s operations and administrative costs

Under state law, all profits from the Lottery go to the School Aid Fund. Audited financial results and the Lottery’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report are expected to be available early next year.

As October became November this past fall, an audible sigh could be heard throughout metro Detroit as the hoped-for grand opening of Jollibee in Sterling Heights came and went. Word on the street was that the first Michigan location of the increasingly popular fast food chain would open sometime in October, but time proved otherwise. The shiny and brand new Jollibee built in front of Lakeside Mall would remain closed for another two months, but that didn’t stop fans of the brand, and those curious to try it for the first time, from driving around the empty parking lot and recording videos of the drive-thru menu to post on social media. People – as social media and everytime we write about Jollibee demonstrates – are very excited for the first Michigan location of Jollibee to open.

Well, wait no more. Jollibee, the Phillippines-based fast food company considered one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world, is officially opening its first Michigan location in Sterling Heights on Friday, Jan. 12. Jollibee is the type of chain restaurant that garners big crowds lining up in anticipation of its opening, with lines of cars stretching far beyond its own parking lot. The restaurant is both a destination for “fast foodies” who want to see what all the buzz is about, and for Filipino Americans with familiar and favorite dishes of their own.

"We are so thrilled to be opening our doors in this magnificent state for the very first time, as Michigan is a key market in our accelerated U.S. growth strategy," says Maribeth Dela Cruz, Business Group Head, Honeybee Foods Corporation dba Jollibee. "We look forward to seeing both familiar faces and first-time customers at our first location in the close-knit Sterling Heights community, where we can't wait to create many new joyful moments for those who call the Detroit area home."

Some of Jollibee’s most popular items include the Chickenjoy, their signature crispy and juicy bone-in fried chicken; chicken sandwiches both standard and spicy; and peach mango pie, which includes real Philippine mangoes. And to add to the excitement, Jollibee plans three days of giveaways as they open for business, available to the first 100 customers each day who spend $20 or more.

So just how excited is everybody? Let’s check it out.

Though we were a long way from the Jollibee rumor mill to start turning, Michiganders like the Detroit Foodies team were already turned on to the restaurant as far back as 2018.

Even the Jollibee mascot, a red bee named Jollibee, has its own dedicated fanbase. And that includes those kind enough to introduce the mascot to another local favorite for international cuisine.

The rumored grand opening in October 2023 didn't happen, but is instead scheduled for Friday, Jan. 12. And people are ready for it.

And three days of giveaways will no doubt prove an easy sell for the Jollibee faithful.

Even Detroit Lions fans, with the team's first playoff appearance in years on the very near horizon, have excitement to spare for the Jollibee opening.

Not to be lost in all this excitement but jollibee opening first Michigan location this Friday in sterling heights

— onepride90 (@thelionsfan90) January 9, 2024

Jollibee is located at 44945 Woodridge Dr. in Sterling Heights.

Many Michigan educators, teachers, students and parents are pleased by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s plan to make the first two years of community college tuition-free for high school students.

The question Friday was how are Michiganders going to pay for it?

“We’ve balanced the budget and we are in a strong fiscal position to do this,” Whitmer said during a tour of Stevenson Manufacturing, Automation and Design Engineering (MADE) Academy in Sterling Heights Friday morning, insisting the plan will not fall on the shoulders of Michigan taxpayers.

It will mean saving students an average of $4,000 as they earn an associate’s degree or skills certificate at a community college, helping them land a better-paying, high-skill job in a career field they love.

“Getting this done will also help Michigan achieve our Sixty by 30 goal, to have 60% of working-age adults earn a postsecondary education by 2030,” she said, to a jovial crowd that included Utica Community Schools (UCS) Superintendent Robert Monroe.

“We promote many pathways for Utica Community Schools students, which are tailored to a student’s goals and aspirations,” Monroe said. “The greater number of opportunities available to promote postsecondary options the better.”

A teacher at Friday’s event concurred.

“A lot of kids will follow different paths,” said Mark Lacomb, who is one of the instructors for Stevenson MADE and received what was nearly a standing ovation when introduced during the event.

Some students will use the skills they learned in Stevenson’s academy to enter the workforce immediately after graduation or advance their skills through an apprenticeship program or trade school.

Another student might take advantage of the free tuition for community college in order to earn their associate’s degree, certification or to complete their general education courses and then transfer to a university, while others choose to experience being a freshman in university.

That’s the plan for George Ibrahim.

The Stevenson High School senior – who led a demonstration for the governor’s tour along with two other students, Evan Stocker and Yousis Habsh — plans on pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering at the University of Michigan after he graduates. Stocker on the other hand will take advantage of the free tuition for MCC and then head to Ann Arbor, where he too, will pursue a career in computer science and engineering as a University of Michigan Wolverine.

“I think it’s a good opportunity to get my prerequisites,” Stocker said of the governor’s plan, adding it will also be less of a financial burden for him and his family. “We’ve never been in the brackets where we could get any sort of financial help.”

It also builds on the opportunities already in place for college bound students.

These include the Michigan Reconnect Program and the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which seek to make earning a post-secondary certificate or degree accessible and affordable for more Michigan residents. The Michigan Reconnect program provides free tuition at Michigan community colleges to residents 25 and over and has been temporarily expanded to include students who are 21 and older. The Michigan Achievement Scholarship provides significant financial aid to eligible high school graduates. Advocates say the governor’s plan would make college dreams a reality for Michigan’s young residents.

Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor — who could not say enough about the academy and what it’s doing to not only train students but open their eyes to careers they might never imagine — said the plan just makes sense.

“It’s good for everyone,” he said.

Families get a break. Community colleges get more students and Michigan gets the vital and talented workforce that it needs, immediately and in the future and all of that is good for the state’s economy.

“It pays off dividends in many ways,” Whitmer added.

Featuring its iconic Chickenjoy Fried Chicken, Chicken Sandwiches and Peach Mango Pies, the new Sterling Heights restaurant marks the global brand's first in The Wolverine State.

WEST COVINA, Calif., Jan. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jollibee, the global restaurant brand dubbed "the best chain fried chicken in America" by food authority Eater.com, celebrated the grand opening of its first Michigan location on Friday, January 12, 2024. The buzzworthy opening day attracted thousands of excited customers who wanted to be among the state's first to get their hands on Jollibee's mouth-watering Chickenjoy fried chicken, Chicken Sandwiches and Peach Mango Pie dessert. This restaurant marks Jollibee's debut in the Wolverine State, conveniently serving the Detroit metropolitan area via their Sterling Heights location at 44945 Woodridge Drive, in front of the Lakeside Mall.

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"Bringing our unique, signature flavors and the ever-iconic Chickenjoy to Sterling Heights is a momentous milestone for us," said Maribeth Dela Cruz, President, Jollibee Group North America. "We've been eagerly planning our debut in Michigan for years, and we are beyond thrilled to see the turn out on opening day. It's been wonderful to share the joy of the Jollibee brand and food with this vibrant community, and further expand our footprint in North America."

Dedicated Jollibee fans began lining up for Friday's anticipated opening as soon as 9PM the night before. Among them was Sterling Heights native, Faiz Marro, who braved a winter storm and waited a whopping 12 hours to get his hands on a coveted piece of Chickenjoy. "I am so excited to be here—my Filipino friends have spoken so much about the brand, and as soon as I found out they were coming to Michigan, I had to go out and try it," said Marro. "I am probably most excited to try the Chickenjoy because I have heard it's amazing, but I also want to get my hands on all of the other favorites, like the Adobo Rice and Peach Mango Pie."

Many devoted customers braved the bitter cold and snowy temperatures that hit the area throughout the weekend in order to get their hands iconic Jollibee dishes. In addition to the long lines with eagerly awaiting fans, Jollibee's drive-thru was also buzzing from morning until the late evening with carloads of hungry customers from near and far wrapped around the store. However, Michigan residents persevered through the storm accompanied by festive tunes, merch giveaways and an appearance by the dancing Jolly Bee himself. Overall, the energy was aplomb with optimism as Jollibee's cheerful staff welcomed a host of curious newcomers to the brand, including college students from the University of Michigan, families and locals from the area's many surrounding neighborhoods.

For those planning to visit Jollibee's first location in Michigan, here's everything you need to know:

Jollibee's first Michigan location is the 71^st store in the United States. To further the brand's mission on becoming one of the world's top-five restaurant chains, Jollibee is rapidly growing its fan-base among North American audiences by offering great-tasting food at a great value that is always served with joy.

Follow Jollibee at @jollibeeus on Facebook, @jollibeeus on Instagram, and @jollibeeusa on TikTok to get updates on Jollibee's upcoming store openings and other exciting announcements and events, including new product launches and special promotions.

About Jollibee Group

Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC, also known as Jollibee Group) is one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world. Its mission is to serve great-tasting food and bring the joy of eating to everyone through its 18 brands with over 6,800 stores across 34 countries including the Philippines, United States, Canada, the People's Republic of China, United Kingdom, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, and Australia.

The Jollibee Group has eight wholly owned brands (Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger); four franchised brands (Burger King, Panda Express, and Yoshinoya in the Philippines, and Tim Ho Wan in certain territories in China); 80% ownership of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf; 60% ownership in the SuperFoods Group that owns Highlands Coffee; and 51% ownership of Milksha, a popular Taiwanese bubble tea brand. JFC also has a business venture with award-winning Chef Rick Bayless for Tortazo, a Mexican fast-casual restaurant business in the United States.

The Jollibee Group, through its subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. (JWPL) owns 90% participating interest in Titan Dining LP, a private equity fund that owns the Tim Ho Wan brand. The Jollibee Group has a joint venture with the THW Group to open and operate THW restaurants in Mainland China. Recently, the Jollibee Group has signed an agreement to establish a joint venture company that will own and operate Tiong Bahru Bakery and Common Man Coffee Roasters in the Philippines.

The Jollibee Group has launched its global sustainability agenda dubbed Joy for Tomorrow, which aims to strengthen the company's commitment to sustainable business practices. The agenda centers on the key pillars of Food, People, and Planet, and consists of 10 focus areas namely: food safety, food quality, nutrition & transparency, employee welfare, farmers livelihood, community support, good governance, packaging & recycling, waste reduction, and energy & water efficiency. Each focus area sets goals and initiatives that contribute and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

The Jollibee Group was named the Philippines' most admired company by the Asian Wall Street Journal for ten years. It was also honored as one of Asia's Fab 50 Companies and among the World's Best Employers and World's Top Female-Friendly Companies by Forbes. The company is also a two-time recipient of Gallup's Exceptional Workplace Award, making it the only Philippine-based company to receive the distinction.

To learn more about Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com

SOURCE Jollibee Foods Corporation