Southeast Michigan: Mortgages and Pizza

Southeastern Michigan now hosts massive mortgage originators (United Wholesale Mortgage $164B and Rocket Mortgages $113B in 2025) and birthed major pizza chains (Domino’s, Little Caesar’s, Jet’s). Together they show a region that exports both financial infrastructure and mass‑market food culture at scale. — This reframes regional economic identity: places can project influence through both financial services and consumer brands, with implications for local jobs, regulation, and cultural influence abroad.