Paperbacks, Pringles, and phone cables in one tight corner
RELAY is the classic European-style newsstand you see across CDG and FRA, dropped into DTW with the same compact footprint. You get books, magazines, snacks, and last‑minute chargers instead of big-box clutter. Expect airport pricing, so a standard paperback that runs around $18 in town will be a couple dollars higher here. Good spot to grab something readable before a 3‑hour hop to the coasts.
You’ll find RELAY inside the secure area of both McNamara and Evans terminals at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, typically near main concourses rather than remote piers. Hours roughly track flight banks, often opening by 5:00–5:30 a.m. and staying open until around 9:00–10:00 p.m., but late-night gaps happen on thinner schedules. If your flight leaves after 9:30 p.m., don’t count on it for snacks.
Stock leans heavily on paperbacks, mass‑market magazines, bottled drinks, and single‑serve snacks like chips and candy bars at the usual $3–$6 range. You’ll also see basic travel gear: USB cables, over‑ear headphones, neck pillows, and small power banks, usually $15–$40. Skip buying big-brand headphones here if you care about value; prices in town or online are significantly lower.
Since RELAY locations tend to be small, lines form fast when a bank of flights boards from 3–4 adjacent gates. Figure 5 minutes in line for a drink and magazine during mid‑day peaks, longer during a 6:00–7:00 a.m. rush. Practical move: decide on your book or snack while walking past, then duck in once you see only 2–3 people at the register.