The Detroit area restaurants that have closed in 2021

By Metro Times editorial staff on Fri, Nov 19, 2021 at 5:58 pm

We all know the pandemic wasn’t kind to the restaurant and hospitality industry. Restaurateurs faced many challenges including staff shortages, delivery delays, and changing COVID-19 policies.

While some restaurants made it through, some have formally closed their doors (maybe even for good).

Here’s the restaurants that Detroit lost in 2021.

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Pepino’s Restaurant

?? 2440 Orchard Lake Rd., Sylvan Lake

After nearly 40 years in business, Pepino’s Restaurant closed, citing to staffing shortages. The restaurant first opened in Walled Lake but after a fire, it relocated to Sylvan Lake in 2015.

Photo via Facebook.com/Pepinos

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Onassis Coney Island

1501 Michigan Ave., Detroit

The Corktown neighborhood took a lot of losses on its dining scene. For the last decade, Onassis Coney Island had been nestled on Michigan and Trumbull, but surprisingly closed in February.

Photo via Google Maps

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Brooklyn Street Local

1266 Michigan Ave., Detroit

This Corktown brunch spot didn’t completely close its doors, it just changed direction. The poutine professionals will instead host pop-up events that you can keep track of on their social media pages.

Photo via Facebook.com/BrooklynStreetLocal

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Bucharest Grill, Corktown

1623 Michigan Ave., Detroit

One of Detroit’s most beloved shawarma restaurants felt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bucharest Grill closed the Corktown location back in June. No worries, Bucharest still has locations all over Detroit, including in Milwaukee Junction and on Livernois’ Avenue of Fashion.

Photo via Google Maps

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Red Hots Coney Island

12 Victor St., Highland Park

After 100 years in Highland Park, Red Hots Coney Island closed for good back in June. The restaurant’s owners Rich and Carol Harlan decided to celebrate the restaurant’s centennial by retiring.

Photo via Google Maps

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Asian Corned Beef Multiple locations

Asian Corned Beef popularized corned beef eggrolls in the Detroit area. But the corned beef fusion chain, which had expanded rapidly in recent years, didn’t quite recover from the effects of the pandemic, closing most of its restaurants, leaving only three locations open.

Photo via Google Maps

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Rosie O’Grady’s

279 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale

Everybody has been a little bit Irish at Rosie O’Grady’s. The beloved Irish Pub has been a staple in Ferndale for over 40 years and closed at the end of June.

Photo via Google Maps

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Dilla’s Delights

242 John R St., Detroit

Named for Detroit musical legend, J. Dilla, Dilla’s Donutsshut down early in the year, closing in January and stating it was looking for a new location. The doughnut shop would share pop-up locations for its doughnuts at the beginning of the year, but hasn’t shared on its social media pages lately.

Photo via Google Maps

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Public House

241 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale

Claims of a toxic work environment temporarily shuttered the Ferndale establishment Public House. Earlier this year, the restaurant was sold, along with Antihero, to a new ownership group. The re-opening of the restaurant under its new management has yet to be determined.

Photo via Google Maps

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Lady of the House

1426 Bagley St., Detroit

Lady of the House was pretty new to the Corktown area. The acclaimed restaurant was only open for four years before closing in February.

Photo via Google Maps

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Hamtramck Coney Island

?? 9741 Joseph Campau St., Hamtramck

Rumors began to swirl when word spread that Hamtramck Coney Island was closing. It wasn't due to the pandemic or problems with the landlord, the Hamtramck staple decided to close its doors because the owner was ready to retire. After nearly 50 years in business, we understand.

Photo via Facebook.com/Hamtramck-Coney-Island

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Republic Tavern

1942 W. Grand River Ave., Detroit

Located on the ground floor of the Grand Army of the Republic building, the Republic restaurant initially told its patrons via a now-defunct website that it would see them again soon. However, a source told Eater there were no plans to reopen.

Photo via Google Maps

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Library Sports Pub and Grill

42705 Grand River Ave., Novi

Since 1995, Library Sports Pub and Grill was a mainstay in Novi. After 25 years, the pub closed in March, but its location in West Bloomfield remains open.

Photo via Google Maps

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Drought

Multiple locations

Drought, one of Detroit’s most Instagrammed cold-pressed juice companies, decided to close all of its storefronts and shift to a wholesale model operating out of its Berkley headquarters.

Photo via Google Maps

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Parks & Rec Diner

1942 W. Grand River Ave., Detroit

When Parks & Rec first closed, its website told customers that brunch was “on hold.” But a source told Eater that the diner would not be reopen any time soon. The Grand Army of the Republic building that housed the restaurant was put up for sale over the summer.

Photo via Google Maps

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Dutch Girl Donuts

19000 Woodward Ave., Detroit

Dutch Girl Donuts is a Detroit staple for all things glazed. The doughnut shop temporarily shuttered in September, but the death of the shop’s longtime owner later that months put the future of the business in jeapordy. .

Photo via Google Maps

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Antihero

231 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale

Earlier this year it was announced that Antihero gained new ownership in the same group that owns nearby One-Eyed Betty’s and the now-closed Rosie O-Grady’s. The Ferndale restaurant was rumored to reopen soon, but still remains closed as of now.

Photo via Google Maps

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Big Rock Chophouse

245 S Eton St., Birmingham

This popular steakhouse isn’t closed just yet. Big Rock Chophouse will be closing officially at the end of December after 40 years in the renovated Birmingham Train Station.

Photo via Google Maps

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The Fly Trap

22950 Woodward Ave., Ferndale

According to Google, and angry posts from Detroit area brunch fans everywhere, this Ferndale favorite is temporarily closed. The last post The Fly Trap posted on its Instagram page was back in September, and brunch hasn't been the same since.

Photo via Google Maps

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Neo Papalis

500 E. William St., Ann Arbor

This Ann Arbor pizzeria caught fire over the summer, and was forced to temporarily close. The last update on the pizza joint's Facebook page was back in July and there have been no additional plans for reopening as of yet.

Photo via Facebook.com/NeoPapalis

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