Draw a bath, cue up the Sarah McLachlan, and grab a pint of ice cream because we are seriously bumming about not being able to dine at some of these metro Detroit restaurants that made the difficult decision to close this year. While many of these shuttered establishments were unable to weather the financial crisis of the coronavirus pandemic, others had issues with landlords and leases, and some just needed to move on. Regardless, we tip our hat to these eateries that kept us caffeinated, fed, and boozed-up throughout the years. I will remember you…

 

 

Kruse & Muer Roadhouse 801 S Lapeer Rd., Lake Orion Both COVID-19 and construction surrounding the Lake Orion outpost of Kruse & Muer are among the reasons for the Roadhouse’s closure, according to an email sent by the restaurant group in October. While other locations will remain open, the Lake Orion location was sold to a former Kruse & Muer team member and his wife with plans to relocate their restaurant in Port Huron to the befallen Roadhouse space. Photo via Google Maps
Briggs Detroit 519 E. Jefferson, Detroit This Detroit sports bar staple closed quietly this year. Known for their inclusive programming (they hosted screenings of RuPaul’s Drag Race, as well as live sporting events) and, well, beer, Briggs’ former digs will reopen as a seafood restaurant, Sloppy Crab, in 2021. Photo via Briggs Detroit/Facebook
Carrie Lee’s Lake Garden 7890 Highland Rd., Waterford Twp. Chinese food spot Carrie Lee’s Lake Garden decided to shut the doors on its Waterford Township. Fear not, as the Lake Orion Location will remain open. Photo via Google Maps
J.B.’s Smokehouse 225 S. Canton Center Rd., Canton, MI After closing temporarily in April, this popular barbeque spot in Canton closed its doors permanently due to pandemic related financial strain. Photo via Google Maps
Tijuana’s Mexican Kitchen 18950 Ford Rd., Detroit After 10 years at its Detroit location, Tijuana’s Mexican Kitchen closed its doors citing financial strain and a vulnerable industry, according to an October Facebook post. However, owners committed to focusing resources to keep their Lincoln Park location up and running, as well as their taco truck. Photo via Google Maps
Sugarbeet Bakery 5151 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor Due to the ongoing pandemic and financial struggle Sugarbeet Bakery shuttered in October. Photo via Sugarbeet Bakery/Facebook
Wolfgang Puck Steak 1777 Third Ave., Detroit After eight years within the MGM Grand Detroit casino and hotel, the steakhouse helmed by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck exited the downtown casino due to COVID-19-related closures in October. It was reported that a new steakhouse D.Prime has taken over the space. This is one of several steakhouses Puck has closed in the last year across the country. Photo via Google Maps
PoCai 1232 Packard St., Ann Arbor Goodbye poke and acai bowls, hellow chicken wings. The former health food spot specailzing in poke and acai bowls, PoCai closed in November to make way for Sidebiscuit, a casual chicken spot. Photo via Pocai/Facebook
Brujo Tacos and Tapas 474 Peterboro St., Detroit The closure of the Brujo Tacos and Tapas Detroit Shipping Co. food stall in October made way for Halal Street food, which opened in November. Photo via Brujo Tacos and Tapas/Facebook
Magnet 4842 Grand River Ave., Detroit In August, less than a year after it opened its doors in Detroit’s Core City neighborhood, one of the city’s most anticipated restaurants known for its wood-fired Mediterranean-inspired fare and “tipless” pay structure closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Top Young Hospitality, the group that operates Magnet, as well as Corktown’s Thai-inspired hot spot Takoi, is also dissolving. The dissolution will leave sole ownership of Takoi to chef Brad Greenhill, while investor and developer Philip Kafka plans to step away from the restaurant industry temporarily, though he said he would like to open a “less chef-driven” Tel Aviv-inspired street food-style concept in the former Magnet space sometime in the future. Photo by Chris Miele
Browndog Barlor 33314 Grand River Ave., Farmington Touted as Michigan’s first “barlor” — that’s combination bar-ice cream parlor — Browndog Barlor closed its Farmington citing financial concerns as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. “Although this was a difficult decision, we feel that this is a necessary step to allow us to consolidate resources and keep the Browndog brand financially viable during these trying times,” owners said on Facebook in October. Browndog’s Northville location remains open. Photo via GoogleMaps
Major Magic’s All-Star Pizza Revue 34770 Groesbeck Hwy., Clinton Twp Major Magic and the Rock n’ Roll Rebellion are no more. Of course, we’re referring to the choppy animatronic band and namesake of Major Magic’s, the beloved family-focused midwest pizza and entertainment chain. In February, after the years-long restoration of the animatronic band members and original games, Major Magic’s re-opened its doors, marking the kitschy pizza arcade’s return to southeast Michigan, not too far from its last Michigan location on Gratiot Avenue, which opened in 1982 and shuttered in the early 2000s. The permanent closure came in November after new statewide restrictions were enforced. Owners took to Facebook to announce not only the pizza arcade’s closure but that they would be selling off the games and robotics during an open house. Photo via Spark’s Pinball Museum and Arcade/Facebook
Town Hall Caffé 19201 Grand River Ave., Detroit Owner Lindsey Marr made the decision to close her Grandmont-Rosedale-located Town Hall Caffé in October. Though the pandemic played a part in her decision, as did a landlord dispute, in which the landlord would not allow Marr to temporarily close through the holidays, in an emotional post made on Instagram revealed her mother’s late-stage cancer diagnosis which was also a factor. Photo via GoogleMaps
Detroit Institute of Bagels 1236 Michigan Ave., Detroit In September, Detroit Institute of Bagels announced its closure and the sale of everything, including the restaurant’s Corktown building, down to the equipment upon which delicious boil-and-bake bagels were made. After seven years at its Corktown spot, DIB owner Ben Newman put the entire 3,400-square-foot corner building at 1236 Michigan Ave. on the market for close to $1.6 million due to COVID-19 and so that he can focus his time on family. The property, which is still listed, poses an option to potential buyers to purchase the business and its equipment for an additional $600,000. Ideally, Newman would like for the entire package to go to another bagel business. Photo via O’Connor Real Estate
Craft Work 8047 Agnes St., Detroit After six years in Detroit’s West Village, American restaurant and cocktail bar Craft Work cited financial woes when it announced its closing in February, which means no more Le Big Mac burger. Le Sigh. Photo via Craft Work/Facebook
Fort Street Galley 160 W. Fort St., Detroit Just a little more than a year after opening, Detroit’s Fort Street Galley food hall closed abruptly in February. When it opened in 2018, Fort Street Galley described itself as a “restaurant accelerator” with a non-traditional model. Instead of just charging its vendors rent, it took 30 percent of each restaurant’s revenue in exchange for covering business expenses beyond food and labor. But the writing appeared to be on the wall, with some vendors shuttering before their year-long lease was up for not hitting their sales goals, like sandwich shop Allenby and sushi shop Pursue. The Pittsburgh-based company also closed its Cleveland outpost, and its Chicago location closed last fall. Courtesy photo by Katie Laskowska
Gold Cash Gold 2100 Michigan Ave., Detroit Gold Cash Gold closed in February after five years of occupying a former pawn shop in Corktown. According to its owners, the restaurant struggled with maintaining steady business and cited a lack of foot traffic as one of the reasons businesses began to take a dive. Photo via Gold Cash Gold/Facebook
Andiamo (Sterling Heights) 14425 Lakeside Circle, Sterling Heights Opened in 2004 along Hall Road in front of Lakeside Mall, the Sterling Heights Andiamo location announced that it would close its doors after Father’s Day. The restaurant group sold the location with plans to demolish the building to erect Portillo’s, a Chicago-based hot dog and hamburger chain. Photo via Google Maps/Street View
Greenspace Cafe 215 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale Though this plant-based eatery has kept its casual Royal Oak take-out outpost open, owners cited issues with “landlord, leases, and finances” as the reason for closing its Ferndale dine-in spot. Photo via Greenspace Cafe/Facebook
Bistro 82 401 S. Lafayette Ave., Royal Oak One of the first restaurant deaths of 2020 was Hour Detroit’s 2017’s Restaurant of the Year, Bistro 82. The French-inspired fine-dining restaurant closed its doors just shy of its sixth anniversary in January. Owner Aaron F. Belen also has a hand in The Morrie, a roadhouse-style restaurant concept; there are Morrie locations operating in Royal Oak and Birmingham, with plans for further expansion. Photo courtesy of Bistro 82
HopCat (Royal Oak) 208 W. Fifth St., Royal Oak Craft beer bar HopCat permanently closed its Royal Oak location due to a dispute with the building’s landlord. The Grand Rapids-based chain started in 2008 and has 17 locations across the country. HopCat plans on relocating somewhere else in Royal Oak. Photo via HopCat/Facebook
Logan Restaurant 115 W. Washington St., Ann Arbor After 16 years in Downtown Ann Arbor, New American restaurant and wine bar Logan Restaurant announced it was to close in June. Though it is unclear as to why it closed, Logan was planning on reopening after Gov. Whitmer lifted the dine-in restaurant restrictions. Photo via Logan Restaurant/Facebook
Aut Bar 315 Braun Ct., Ann Arbor A historic LGBTQ+ haven and hangout, Ann Arbor’s Aut Bar made the decision to not reopen after 25 years of operation. COVID-19 closures caused a decline in revenue, which had already been a concern for several years. Photo via Aut Bar/Facebook
Sanders Candy (various locations) Homegrown candy company — and Bumpy Cake revolutionaries — Sanders Candy announced in June that it would permanently close four of its retail locations, including those in Grosse Pointe, Livonia, Novi, and St. Clair Shores. Sanders saw a boom in online sales as in-store revenue declined as a result of the coronavirus. Photo via Sanders Candy/Facebook
A Good Day Cafe 399 S. Lafayette St., South Lyon A sad day for South Lyon’s A Good Day Cafe, which permanently closed in May after announcing that the pandemic — both at work and the home front — had made it difficult to maintain business as usual. The restaurant opened in 2017. Photo via A Good Day Cafe/Facebook
Mike’s Coney Island 2719 Russell St., Detroit Eastern Market tenant Mike’s Coney Island closed in January after a battle with FIRM Real Estate, which has marked the coney island building for demolition. However, the owner had said he would relocate nearby and offer groceries and other home goods. Photo via Google Maps/Street View
Wilma’s 403 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor What started as a market offshoot of popular vegan/vegetarian restaurant Seva eventually transitioned into Fred’s before becoming Wilma’s, an airy and light breakfast and brunch spot. Owners are in the process of opening Dixboro House, an American restaurant, however construction on the old farmhouse was halted due to coronavirus but anticipates opening this summer. Photo via Wilma’s/Facebook
Town Tavern 116 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak Royal Oak’s American eatery, Town Tavern, closed in May after suffering financial losses due to coronavirus. The restaurant had been at its Fourth Street location for 13 years before abruptly closing. Photo via Town Tavern/Facebook
Blue Grill 426 N. Main St., Milford Popular family-owned Mediterranean restaurant Blue Grill could not weather the coronavirus and announced that it would close in May. The fast-casual eatery used family recipes and will continue to sell bottled products, like sauces and marinades. Photo via Blue Grill/Facebook
New Order Coffee 3100 Woodward Ave., Detroit Small batch coffee roaster New Order Coffee pulled the plug on its Midtown location in June after suffering financial setbacks due to coronavirus closures. New Order Coffee’s Royal Oak cafe remains open. Photo via New Order Coffee/Facebook
Marovski’s Family Restaurant 25032 W. Warren St.., Dearborn Heights Since temporarily closing on March 16, family-owned and operated Marovski’s Family Restaurant in Dearborn Heights called it quits after 50 years of business. Owners posted on Facebook, “A worldwide pandemic was the only thing that could separate our tightly knit family; if you were here, you were definitely family.” Photo via Marovski’s Family Restaurant/Facebook
Eastern Market Seafood Co. 2456 Market St., Detroit After 45 years, the family-owned and -operated Eastern Market Seafood Co. closed in February so owner John Janevski could retire. Janevski, who worked at his father’s business since he was 12 years old, told Eater Detroit that three generations of his family have worked there. Known for frozen seafood and old-world sandwiches inherited from the building’s previous sausage company tenants, the Eastern Market Seafood Co. space was purchased by Sanford Nelson’s FIRM real estate in 2019. Photo via Eastern Market Seafood Co./Facebook
Arbor Brewing Co. 114 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor Opened in 1995, popular brewpub Arbor Brewing Co., decided to close its longstanding downtown Ann Arbor location with plans to relocate within the city. However, Arbor Brewing Co.’s Ypsilanti and Plymouth locations will remain open. Photo via Google Maps/Street View
Poke Burri 70 W. Alexandrine St., Detroit We guess Detroit wasn’t ready for sushi doughnuts, seeing that Poke Burri lasted but two months at its Midtown location. The Atlanta-based chain closed its Detroit location in January citing “unforeseen circumstances” and a parting of ways between the company and the Detroit franchise owner. Photo via Shutterstock.com
Golden Basket 32286 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak Another Royal Oak diner called it quits due to pandemic-related concerns. Golden Basket is listed as permanently closed and the phone number has been disconnected. Photo via GoogleMaps
Detroit Taco Company 304 N. Main St., Royal Oak After six years in Royal Oak, Detroit Taco Company closed its original location in June. According to a Facebook post, there were issues negotiating the terms of its lease. However, the restaurant has reopened its Troy location, with plans to open spots in Shelby Township and Detroit. Photo via Detroit Taco Company/Facebook
Satchel’s BBQ 221 W. Liberty, Ann Arbor Casual barbecue eatery Satchel’s BBQ made the decision to close its downtown Ann Arbor location in wake of COVID-19 and rising food costs. The restaurant’s original spot, at 3035 Washtenaw Ave., remains open. Photo via Satchel’s BBQ/Facebook
Avalon Cafe & Biscuit Bar 2990 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit Avalon International Breads closed its New Center outpost of beloved in August. The Detroit brand took over the former Cafe Con Leche space three years ago to offer a selection of Avalon’s signature coffee drinks and sandwiches made with flakey biscuits. The closure means owners can focus more energy and resources into the bakery’s flagship Cass Corridor location, and Avalon’s downtown spot, which offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and booze, both of which have recently reopened. Photo via Avalon International Breads/Facebook
Holy Cannoli’s 2752 Coolidge Hwy., Berkley In July, the Berkley outpost of this Rochester Italian bakery announced it would not reopen. The company was forced to turn its resources to its Rochester shop due to pandemic-related closures, staffing, and costs. Photo via GoogleMaps
Nello’s 25994 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak Casual family-dining mainstay Nello’s permanently closed according to Yelp and Google users after years at its Royal Oak location. Photo via GoogleMaps
Alley Taco 418 W. Willis St., Detroit Without any fanfare, it appears as though Alley Taco in Midtown has closed. The casual dine-in and takeout restaurant on Willis Street is currently listed as under contract, though, pre-COVID, the full business had been listed for sale. Alley Taco’s social media accounts haven’t been updated since Cinco de Mayo and Yelp has marked the business as closed. The under contract distinction could mean Alley Taco reopens in the future, though, under new management. Photo via Alley Taco/Facebook
Sonic 305 W. 11 Mile Rd., Royal Oak After more than a decade, a Sonic drive-in restaurant near 11 Mile Rd. in Royal Oak shuttered at the height of the coronavirus. The space is slated to undergo some renovations to make way for fast-casual Tex-Mex chain Chipotle. Shutterstock.com
Dolores 6 S. Washington St., Ypsilanti Dolores, a popular Mexican restaurant in Ypsilanti, announced in June that it would not reopen.“This sucks. We love our crew. We love our regulars. We love our neighborhood. We love our tacos and cocktails,” the owners posted on Instagram. Owners alluded that the restaurant could possibly reinvent itself in coming months. Photo via Dolores/Instagram
Townsend Bakery 175 W. Merrill St., Birmingham After 27 years, The Townsend Bakery within Birmingham’s Townsend Hotel closed in March citing financial strain due to the pandemic. Photo via Townsend Bakery/Facebook
Mikette Bistro 1759 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor French-Mediterranean eatery Mikette, known for oysters, fondu, and steak frites, announced its closure after five years in Ann Arbor. Mikette’s sister restaurants, Isalita and Mani, will absorb some favorite dishes from Mikette, including oysters and the Le Mec burger. Photo via Mikette Bistro/Facebook
Ollie Food & Spirits 42 E. Cross St., Ypsilanti Just before what would have marked Ollie Food & Spirits’ 10 year anniversary, the Ypsilanti bar and restaurant specializing in seasonal and local ingredients announced it would not be reopening as of July. However, the owners’ sister spot, Cream & Crumb, located next door, has also shuttered only to have been revamped into a record shop and cocktail bar, Wax Bar, which is currently open. Photo via Ollie Food & Spirits/Facebook
Snap Custom Pizza 620 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor Ann Arbor’s Snap Custom Pizza location shuttered as a result of the pandemic. The casual restaurant known for artizen pizza baked in under two minutes, allowed guests to choose a selection of in-season toppings. Snap’s East Lansing location remains open. Photo via Johnson Sign Co./Facebook
Table No. 2 18295 Livernois Ave., Detroit A Black-owned white-tablecloth restaurant with a focus on table-side service is looking for a new home — just over a year after opening its doors in the historic Avenue of Fashion. Recently, Table N0. 2 was forced out of the space at 18925 Livernois Ave. after the building owner made the decision to sell the building. In wake of its closure, Mitchell launched a GoFundMe in hopes of being able to relocate and reopen elsewhere. Prior to COVID-19, the restaurant suffered a blow when the City of Detroit started a nine-month, $17 million streetscape construction project, crippling the neighborhood’s many businesses. Recently, Table No. 2 has been hosting pop-up events at The Whitney. Photo via GoogleMaps
Destination 1905 8130 Kercheval St., Detroit Just over a year after opening in Detroit’s Indian Village, cocktail bar Destination 1905 announced that it would not reopen due to not being able to operate at full capacity, per state orders. Billed as “a neighborhood bar with international flavor,” Destination 1905 also offered a small snack menu, consisting of charcuterie and popcorn and operated out of a rehabbed housing development. Photo via GoogleMaps
Revolver 9737 Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck Revolver debuted in 2013 with a novel concept of selling advance tickets to special dinners with weekly rotating chefs, many of whom used the space to preview their new restaurants. While it drew a cult following, it could not survive the coronavirus pandemic, which forced many restaurants to resort to carryout. Revolver’s closure was made official in the fall. Photo via MT archives

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