https://www.reddit.com/r/kzoo/comments/1j7avuj/not_afraid_of_downtown_kzoo_meetup/
created by Mostly_Carbon_14 on 09/03/2025 at 16:09 UTC
118 upvotes, 39 top-level comments (showing 25)
I'm really tired of the shocked reactions when I tell people I live downtown and walk to/from work alone, often in the dark.
The willfully cloistered are so tedious
It would be great to meet other newcomers with real world perspectives and open-minded folks willing to set aside prior perspectives to give downtown another shot.
Comment by Aromatic_Cod3678 at 09/03/2025 at 18:00 UTC
46 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I walked downtown after dark almost all winter. I’m cautious but I’m not that scared. It’s just a place like any other. I carry my pepper spray and let ppl know where I am but it’s not that bad.
Comment by BrandonCarlson at 09/03/2025 at 20:15 UTC
59 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I lived on Village St right across from Martini's between 2014-2015, and we had a cracked out woman open our front door and try to come in at 2am.
We had a breezeway situation, so inner and outer door - both were locked - but she somehow got in the outer door and tried to open the inner door. Luckily we were awake and hanging out right in the living room - we were like "Hey lady, uh... WTF mate?"
She was coked up out of her mind, asked to use one of our phones, had ZERO sense that she'd just committed a B&E. Worse, she wouldn't leave. Police came and took her off our front porch. That's only one of many situations that happened while my friends and I lived there.
Downtown isn't necessarily *dangerous*, but it's not **100% safe** either. I'm not at all afraid of downtown (in fact I might be moving into the Stewart neighborhood soon) but you DO need to take proper precautions and know what is happening around you.
Calling people "willfully cloistered" and "close-minded" when plenty of "real-world perspectives" are shared in this sub on a daily basis is ignorant and, ironically, CLOSE-MINDED.
Comment by lilkhalessi at 09/03/2025 at 16:41 UTC
153 upvotes, 4 direct replies
Kudos to you but I think you’re being weirdly harsh on the people who are cautious.
I can’t speak for everyone but as a woman who has had my fair share of negative, stalker-y interactions with unhoused men, I think it’s a basic safety precaution for me to not be downtown after dark when I don’t have to be considering that is where a lot of those men are after hours.
I don’t think that makes me “willfully cloistered” and honestly, I think you have to have a certain amount of privilege to not have to consider your own safety in that way.
Comment by SueBeee at 09/03/2025 at 16:58 UTC
63 upvotes, 4 direct replies
Gonna go ahead and guess you are a guy.
Comment by SarcastiSnark at 09/03/2025 at 18:02 UTC
20 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I lived in the Southside for a couple years. I too walked and rode my bike around at night.
I used to get harassed by kids under the age of 16. When I was 30.
They knew they couldn't get in trouble. It was usually 6 of em. Sometimes 3 or 4. But it happened a half dozen times.
The last time they started throwing rocks at me and trying to toss a stick in the spokes of my bike.
That was the last time I went out alone.
When I was 21 I lived on the western side of the north side.
I couldn't even sit on my front porch at night. I was threatened twice. Minding my own damn business. Drunk dudes walking by wanting to pick a fight with anyone they can.
I'm not saying its not safe. Just be careful and carry mace at least. Protect yourself.
❤️❤️
That being said. Downtown is cool, just stay in downtown.
Comment by talltree818 at 09/03/2025 at 20:41 UTC
14 upvotes, 3 direct replies
I can say that as a dude I've never felt unsafe in Kalamazoo. If I was a girl? Not so sure. Curious to hear female perspectives.
Comment by Direct_Royal_7480 at 09/03/2025 at 16:34 UTC
29 upvotes, 0 direct replies
IDK, downtown doesn’t seem so bad to me. I eat and caffeinate there quite a bit myself.
Comment by Apprehensive_Paper_5 at 09/03/2025 at 16:38 UTC
30 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I do not live downtown and have never thought it was unsafe, and I’ve been here for almost 20 years.
FWIW, this narrative and the “this towns going to sh-t” never seem to go away. But, it doesn’t mean either one is true, it just folks opinions.
Comment by emelre at 09/03/2025 at 16:57 UTC
31 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I am from NYC and I lived in downtown kzoo for a few years in grad school. This was five years ago. It was actually traumatic. Homeless people trying to push through my front door uninvited. A drunk dude on my porch yelling at me through my window all night. Once someone was walking by in the daytime and reached into my open window and stole my phone charging on the window ledge (old house with no screens). You SHOULD be a little afraid to keep yourself safe.
Comment by PrateTrain at 09/03/2025 at 16:40 UTC
23 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Downtown isn't bad itself, but there's a ring around it about two miles away in most directions where it can get pretty sketchy.
But that's by design. If you visit the valley museum, you can see an old layout proposal for the city. It's no accident the layout intended to drive a freeway in a circle to segregate downtown away from the rest of the city.
Comment by Justice_aa at 09/03/2025 at 17:58 UTC
29 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Violent crime in Kalamazoo is three times higher than the state average. I'm glad that your experience has been positive but that does not negate the pain and suffering felt by so many residents here .
https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/mi/kalamazoo/crime.amp
Comment by Senchaminty at 09/03/2025 at 16:57 UTC
12 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I’ve been mugged/assaulted multiple times over many years in the Kalamazoo area. Mostly these incidents happened in daylight and never properly in the downtown area. Violence can happen anywhere, anytime, but just being downtown shouldn’t concern anyone.
Comment by youchuckedup at 09/03/2025 at 18:14 UTC
17 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I think the people that say they won't go downtown never went to begin with.
Comment by Missile_Laneos at 09/03/2025 at 23:44 UTC
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I've walked downtown a handful of time with no issues whatsoever, but wife walked downtown one time and was stalked by a man who had been wanted to the kidnapping of a few women and was saved by another woman in a truck with a gun, if not for her god knows what would've happened, whether or not the man was unhoused we don't know so don't ask
Comment by PoohTrailSnailCooch at 09/03/2025 at 22:50 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Not really scared of walking downtown but it sure isn't purty.
Comment by Truyth at 09/03/2025 at 20:05 UTC
8 upvotes, 0 direct replies
What an absolute stupid post
Comment by Mapletusk at 09/03/2025 at 20:39 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
This post isn't going the way you wanted it to, is it?
Comment by Philocalist-jpg at 10/03/2025 at 13:51 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I was a hostess at Central city taphouse (now The Hub) back in 2017, I lived on cedar st so not a terribly far walk home from work. Often I would get out at close to midnight on weekends. My walk was normally safe and I didn’t ever worry about looking over my shoulder or being bothered. One night in the middle of winter, I literally had gotten one block away from my house and felt a sudden tug at my back, I had my headphones in so I didn’t hear anyone or feel anyone behind me. Someone had been following me and tried to pull me into their car. My boss ended up driving me home every single night after for a year until I moved out of town. Sure, Kalamazoo is relatively safe I suppose, but there are fucked people around and shit does happen, so do be mindful 👍
Comment by Gemtree710 at 09/03/2025 at 16:49 UTC
4 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Indubitably
Comment by BetMundane at 09/03/2025 at 19:17 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I grew up in 90's benton harbor and am white for perspective if you knew anything of the old BH this will make alot of sense. Kzoo is not bad at all from my childhood perspective. Am I scared? No. I have a family tho and there is no reason to subject them to unsafe places. ALSO, if you don't carry yourself confidently then shit will flock your way. How I act keeps me safe. This does not apply to everyone else the same. Ymmv.
Comment by Ok-Imagination2131 at 09/03/2025 at 19:29 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Not a chance I’m walking downtown on a date. Sorry mister, hard pass.
Comment by Existing_Name_901 at 09/03/2025 at 17:13 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I've been living Kalamazoo adjacent my whole 39 years of life, and I know, as with anything in this world, nothing is as good or as bad as other people say. Downtown Kzoo is just as safe as another downtown in Michigan. People can be good, and people can be bad. To say that they are 100% in either way is just ignorant. Keep your eyes open and your head up, and you can go anywhere and be as safe as you want to be...IMO.
Comment by Some-guy7744 at 09/03/2025 at 19:12 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Even as a guy downtown KZOO isn't safe. It's foolish to pretend it is.
There are way too many crazy druggies that hang around downtown.
Comment by QuietRiot7222310 at 09/03/2025 at 18:45 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
People are afraid of downtown Kzoo??? 😆
I love downtown
Comment by PassengerNeat9208 at 09/03/2025 at 21:17 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
i’ve lived here my whole life, and tbh? the current state of downtown really isn’t that bad. most crime is isolated to individual beef and it used to be worse 15 years ago when it was a lot of north vs south. we have dramatically gone down in gun violence compared to previous years. i’m not saying bad stuff doesn’t happen, but be prepared for anything and that’s a given no matter where you are !