Detroit’s sandwich scene is packing up the deli slicer and heading north to Lake Huron this summer. Two of the city’s better-known sandwich pros, Carlos Parisi and Ferndale chef Mike Finsilver, are teaming up on a new chef-driven counter inside Foley’s Market in downtown Lexington. The idea is simple but strategic: mix Detroit sandwich know-how with Lake Huron ingredients just as summer traffic swells along the waterfront.
The plan was first reported by the Detroit Free Press, which notes that Parisi and Finsilver will operate a counter built around sandwiches sourced from local purveyors. According to the Free Press, Foley’s will also stock beer, wine and spirits, plus fresh salads, dips and specialty grocery items, while Detroit City Distillery will run a new bar inside the market. A soft opening is expected over Memorial Day weekend, with a full grand opening targeted for around Fourth of July weekend.
From Ferndale To Lexington
Finsilver is the chef behind Tall Trees Cafe in Ferndale, a compact sandwich shop known for its spicy mortadella and rotating, ingredient-forward sandwiches, as detailed by Eater Detroit. His Tall Trees pop-ups and small storefront drew lines during Detroit Sandwich Week, giving him neighborhood credibility that the team is betting will resonate with Lexington’s seasonal crowd.
Parisi, meanwhile, is best known for Aunt Nee’s and for organizing Detroit Sandwich Week and the Sandwich Party, which bring collaborative sandwich pop-ups to venues across the region, according to Daily Detroit. Those events lean on tight crews, short menus and heavy local sourcing, a playbook Parisi has said lined up neatly with what Lexington and Foley’s Market were looking for.
Foley’s Market, The Main Street Store
Foley’s Market sits on Huron Avenue in downtown Lexington. The Village of Lexington lists the market at 7252 Huron Ave. and notes that it offers craft beer, wine and liquor along with groceries. State records list Foley’s Market as an active licensed food retailer at that same Huron Avenue address, confirming the store’s retail operations.
Developer Investment And A New Bar
The building that houses Foley’s was restored by the Roxbury Group and now includes a bar and cigar lounge, according to reporting in the Detroit Free Press. The Roxbury Group’s recent Michigan projects and hotel conversions are documented by industry outlets such as REBusinessOnline and Hotel Online, signaling broader hospitality investment reaching into smaller Michigan towns.
For Lexington, the new sandwich counter is set up as both a summer-season magnet and a reminder that regional food scenes are increasingly connected, with Detroit talent following the warm-weather crowds to a classic lakeside main street. Partners say the focus will be straightforward, high-quality sandwiches and grab-and-go items aimed at both visitors and locals. Expect early queues when the counter opens over the holiday weekends this summer.
