Luna Belle Returns to Woodward Ave: A Repeat Performance at the Dream Cruise

Community Choice Credit Union Brings The Derby Bar Back to 248 Garage in Royal Oak

By Luna Belle

There are a lot of things I love about summer in Metro Detroit. Warm evenings, big celebrations, beautiful outdoor weddings, exciting graduation parties, but there is something especially exciting about the Woodward Dream Cruise.

The car watching. The people watching too. The loud engines reving. and, of course, the endless parade of incredible automobiles cruising up and down Woodward Avenue. So when Community Choice Credit Union invited me back for their annual client appreciation event during the Woodward Dream Cruise in Royal Oak, Michigan, I was more than ready to fire up the lights and roll back onto Woodward Ave.

This wasn't just another event. This was my first repeat event. That's right. Community Choice Credit Union hired The Derby Bar for this same event last year, loved the experience, and asked us to come back. Now that is the kind of invitation that makes a mobile bar trailer feel pretty special.

Just like last year, the party was hosted at 248 Garage, an incredible automotive venue located right on Woodward Avenue in Royal Oak. And honestly, I couldn't think of a better location. I'm a vintage horse trailer with a serious appreciation for classic style. 248 Garage is an automotive playground filled with beautiful cars, industrial character, and an atmosphere that feels tailor-made for the Dream Cruise.

Even better? I was placed in the exact same spot as last year. Apparently, I have a favorite parking spot now. There was just one tiny problem. And by tiny, I mean please don't scratch the walls tiny.

Last year, getting me through the large garage door was already a little nerve-racking. This year, we discovered that I fit... just slightly better. If Brad had been pulling me with his usual truck, there would have been absolutely no way I was getting underneath that roll-up garage door. Fortunately, Anna and Ray were running the event this year, and those two know how to maneuver me. With some careful positioning and a little bit of Luna magic, I made it inside and settled into my spot without incident. No walls were harmed. No trailer paint was sacrificed. Everyone breathed normally again.

Brad and Audrey were still enjoying their family summer vacation, so Anna and Ray stepped in to handle this one. They absolutely crushed it. Anna is, after all, the designer and creative force behind me. She knows every little detail, every piece of décor.

And Ray?

Ray knows how to get me where I need to go and keep the drinks moving once I arrive. Together, they make quite the team. They handled setup, service, guests, cleanup, and everything in between. And judging by the smiles coming from the crowd, they weren't exactly struggling.

Outside the garage, Royal Oak was absolutely buzzing. The entire city seemed to be packed with people. Cars everywhere. People everywhere. Music everywhere. Some of the most incredible vehicles in the country were rolling down Woodward Avenue. There were beautifully preserved Ford Model Ts, classic muscle cars, hot rods, exotic cars, modern supercars, and everything in between.

And then you'd turn your head and see a Ferrari cruising past the garage. Then a classic Cadillac. Then another hot rod. I got to watch it all from the best seat in the house. Right there at 248 Garage.

Let's talk about the event itself. Did Community Choice Credit Union have food?

Absolutely.

And it was fantastic.

Did they have music?

Yep. Live music.

Did they have drinks?

Well... Duh.They had The Derby Bar. Naturally, we took care of that part.

And did they have gorgeous décor?

Of course they did.

The entire garage was transformed into a fantastic client appreciation space. Cars provided the backdrop. Woodward Avenue provided the entertainment. The live music kept the energy moving. The food kept everyone happy, and I handled the cocktails and beverages. It was the perfect combination.

That's one of the things I love about corporate event bar service. When a company really puts effort into creating an experience for its clients, the result feels completely different from a typical business gathering.

This wasn't simply a networking event. It was a celebration. Community Choice was saying thank you to its clients, and they did it in a way people could actually enjoy.

The party was supposed to have a scheduled end time, But then something happened that I always consider a very good sign.

The guests weren't ready for the party to end. So Community Choice asked us to extend our service hours.Of course we said yes. Because when the crowd is still having fun, the music is still playing, and people are still enjoying themselves, the last thing you want is to suddenly shut down the bar. This is one of the reasons we love what we do.

By the time the final guests left, Anna and Ray had put in a very long day, and unfortunately for them, their work wasn't quite finished. I had another event the very next afternoon. That meant a quick turnaround.

Clean me up. Restock me. Check the equipment. Replenish the beverages. Make sure the bar was ready. And somehow get everyone enough sleep to do it all again.

That's the part of the business guests don't see, they only see the polished trailer. The cocktails. The smiles. The décor. The experience. They don't see the hours of preparation that happen before and after the event.

But that's okay.Because when you see a crowd gathered around me, laughing and enjoying themselves, it makes all those late nights worth it.

Community Choice Credit Union trusted us last year. They enjoyed the experience enough to bring us back this year. And now I have a feeling this might become a tradition. I'm perfectly happy with that.

There are worse places for a vintage mobile bar to spend a summer evening than Royal Oak during the Woodward Dream Cruise.

Classic cars rolling past. Live music playing. Great food. Happy clients. Happy guests. And cocktails flowing from my bar. Not a bad day at the office.

So thank you, Community Choice Credit Union, for inviting me back. Thank you for trusting The Derby Bar with another client appreciation event.

And thank you, 248 Garage, for giving me another front-row seat to one of Metro Detroit's greatest summer traditions.

I'll see you next year, Woodward.

Just leave the garage door open a little wider for me, okay?

Until the next cruise,

Luna Belle 🐴🍹🏎️✨

The Derby Bar provides luxury mobile bar service, corporate event bartending, client appreciation event bar service, signature cocktails, and full-service beverage catering throughout Royal Oak, Metro Detroit, Southeast Michigan, and beyond.

Venue: 248 Garage

Host: Community Choice Credit Union

Photographer: Chelsea Mazur Photography

Bar Services: The Derby Bar