From sports fans to pizza lovers, metro Detroiters are feeling the loss of Mike Ilitch.
Saturday, the Tiger’s honored Ilitch, with his face on the scoreboard.
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Tigers fans out purchasing season tickets tell 7 Action News Ilitch made a major impact on their lives and the sports they love.
"It saddens a lot of people here in Detroit, because he did a lot for Detroit, building the city,” said Tigers fan, Brandon Kiefer.
Tyler Dietz actually heard the news of Ilitch’s passing while inside the Joe.
"It was kind of surreal actually, we were actually at Joe Lewis Arena they had a moment of silence before the game, it was pretty impressive, people were pretty sad about it, but there was a big applause right after,” said Dietz.
Ilitch opened the first Little Caesars in Garden City, where it still stands.
One of the store’s first customers, Valerie Davis, said she was so excited when it opened.
"We were probably one of the first ones going in to get pizza,” said Davis.
She said she remembered when Mike Ilitch was making pizza. She said she and her family would pick up a pizza every week.
"He would stand behind the counter, he'd take his pizza dough and start and twirl it in the air,” said Davis.
Davis, like so many others, are sad to hear of Ilitch’s passing, but are glad he had such a positive impact on the metro area.
"We were friends, I'd come in and yell, Mike I need a pizza!” said Davis.
