Hoodlum
Alley
See It From the Sky. Feel It in the Streets.
Flint to Mt. Airy. 700 miles of airspace. We fly drones over cities, neighborhoods, parks, and commercial spots—no scripts, no fluff, just the shot.
Born in the City.
Flown Above It.
Chad Chilton started flying drones the same way he does everything—showed up, figured it out, got the shot. Born and raised in the Flint area. Spent years in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. Came back and settled in metro Detroit. He drives the I-77 between Michigan and the Carolinas and knows every coney island, dive bar, and Waffle House along the way.
Hoodlum Alley isn’t a production company. There’s no sales team, no 10-page proposal. Chad pulls up, flies, and delivers footage that makes places look the way they actually feel.
You’re not hiring a drone operator. You’re hiring the hoodlum.
Aerial Footage
With Attitude
Commercial Spots
Offices, storefronts, job sites. The kind of overhead view that closes deals.
Neighborhoods
Blocks, subdivisions, whole neighborhoods. Makes realtors look like geniuses.
Parks & Outdoors
Parks, trails, open land. The stuff that looks unreal from 400 feet.
Promo Stuff
Content for your site, your socials, your pitch deck. Ready to post, not ready to bore.
// We don’t just point a camera down. We think about the shot.
Because Average Looks
Weak From Above.
Shows Up, Gets the Shot
No sales calls. No production meetings. Chad pulls up and flies.
Smooth Moves
Cinematic, controlled, sharp. Not some shaky GoPro strapped to a toy.
Flint to Mt. Airy
700 miles of I-77. Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Carolinas. On the route? You’re covered.
The Hoodlum Touch
There’s a reason people remember the name.
See What We See
// I-77: Flint → Detroit → Mt. Airy, NC — diners, drive-ins & dive bars along the way.
Where We Eat
You don’t drive the I-77 without knowing where to stop. These are the spots we hit between shoots. If you know, you know.
Lafayette Coney Island
Detroit, MI
The other half of the Detroit coney war. Cash only. No nonsense. Just coneys.
Buddy’s Pizza
Detroit, MI
The original Detroit-style pizza. Thick, square, crispy cheese edges. Accept no imitations.
Leo’s Coney Island
All over MI
Michigan’s coney chain. Every suburb has one. Always open when you need it.
National Coney Island
Various, MI
24-hour coneys with a full diner menu. The 3 AM breakfast special hits hard.
Tania’s Pizza
Royal Oak, MI
Family joint on Crooks Rd since ’87. Stuffed pizza with a top crust and a little garlic salt. Made from scratch, no shortcuts.
Rock & Brews
Royal Oak, MI
Classic rock on the speakers, cold beer on tap, burgers on the patio. Loud and unbothered, just how it should be.
El Toro
Pontiac, MI
Family-run Mexican joint on Telegraph. Big plates, real margaritas, none of that frozen slushy nonsense. Chips and salsa hit before you even sit down.
Waffle House
Everywhere south of Ohio
Scattered, smothered, covered. 3 AM on I-77. You know the deal.
Buc-ee’s
If you’re lucky
Not just a gas station. Brisket sandwiches, beaver nuggets, and the cleanest bathrooms in America.
Culver’s
Midwest love
ButterBurgers and frozen custard. If you pass one and don’t stop, we can’t be friends.
Cracker Barrel
Off every exit
Breakfast all day, rocking chairs out front. Road trip checkpoint.
Del Taco
When you find one
Tacos and fries at midnight. The combo meal hits different after a long drive.
Steak ’n Shake
Off the highway
Steakburgers and milkshakes. Classic road food. Been the same since forever.
White Castle
Midwest staple
Sliders by the sack. Don’t judge. Just eat.
Rally’s / Checkers
Off the exit
The seasoned fries. That’s it. That’s the reason.
Taco Bell
1 AM anywhere
Don’t act like you haven’t been through that drive-thru at 1 AM. We all have.
The Snappy Lunch
Mt. Airy, NC
The pork chop sandwich. Andy Griffith used to eat here. That’s all you need to know.
Lexington Barbecue
Lexington, NC
Vinegar-based pork BBQ. The whole town smells like smoke. Worth the detour off I-77.
Tlaquepaque
Mt. Airy, NC
Real Mexican food in Mayberry. Margaritas are strong. Don’t sleep on this place.
Cook Out
All over NC
$5 tray with a burger, two sides, and a milkshake. Over 40 shake flavors. Not a typo.
Stamey’s Barbecue
Greensboro, NC
Piedmont-style BBQ since 1930. Vinegar slaw, hush puppies. Old school done right.
Biscuitville
NC / VA
Fresh biscuits made from scratch every 15 minutes. Breakfast chain that doesn’t play around.
Sheetz
Off the highway
Gas station food that has no business being this good. The MTO menu is dangerous.
// Know a spot we need to hit? Tell us about it.
Let’s Put Your Spot
On the Map
Got a place that needs good footage? Hit us up. We drive the I-77 from Flint to Detroit all the way down to Mt. Airy. If there’s a coney island or a Waffle House nearby, even better.
chad.chilton@hoodlumalley.com