The Detroit area restaurants that have closed in 2022

It seems the local dining industry is finally bouncing back after the harsh take down it suffered during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We saw the loss of a lot of restaurants in 2020 and 2021, but for some, scraping by became more challenging as certain costs continued to rise.

Some restaurant owners saw fit to retire, others decided to sell their businesses.

Here's the restaurants that have closed in 2022.
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Karl’s
1509 Broadway St., Detroit
Popular brunch spot Karl’s announced its closure on social media in November. The restaurant had been operating inside the Siren Hotel for three years and was known for its retro vibes, including a vintage Wurlitzer jukebox.
Christian Harder

Karl’s

1509 Broadway St., Detroit

Popular brunch spot Karl’s announced its closure on social media in November. The restaurant had been operating inside the Siren Hotel for three years and was known for its retro vibes, including a vintage Wurlitzer jukebox.
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Traffic Jam & Snug 
511 W. Canfield St., Detroit
Traffic Jam & Snug had serviced the Midtown neighborhood for over 50 years until a fire permanently damaged the restaurant in the spring.
Bridget Ekis

Traffic Jam & Snug

511 W. Canfield St., Detroit

Traffic Jam & Snug had serviced the Midtown neighborhood for over 50 years until a fire permanently damaged the restaurant in the spring.
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Sauce
4120 Second Ave., Detroit
Technically Sauce never opened to ever have closed, but it’s on the list because it simply didn’t happen. Fortunately the restaurant group behind Sauce decided to open a new restaurant in the space with a similar concept.
Steve Neavling

Sauce

4120 Second Ave., Detroit

Technically Sauce never opened to ever have closed, but it’s on the list because it simply didn’t happen. Fortunately the restaurant group behind Sauce decided to open a new restaurant in the space with a similar concept.
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Sala Thai
3400 Russell St., Detroit
After 20 years serving the Eastern Market, Sala Thai quietly closed its doors in April. The space went up for lease back in August.
Steve Neavling

Sala Thai

3400 Russell St., Detroit

After 20 years serving the Eastern Market, Sala Thai quietly closed its doors in April. The space went up for lease back in August.
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Astro Coffee and Ochre Bakery
2124 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 4884 Grand River, Detroit
This one is a twofer as both places share owners. Astro Coffee initially opened in Corktown in 2011, while Ochre opened in Core City in 2019. In 2020, Astro Coffee moved its roastery next door to Ochre and in May, the owners announced the closing of both.
Michelle and Chris Gerard

Astro Coffee

and

Ochre Bakery

2124 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 4884 Grand River, Detroit

This one is a twofer as both places share owners. Astro Coffee initially opened in Corktown in 2011, while Ochre opened in Core City in 2019. In 2020, Astro Coffee moved its roastery next door to Ochre and in May, the owners announced the closing of both.
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Bunny Bunny
1454 Gratiot Ave., Detroit
After two years in Eastern Market, fusion restaurant Bunny Bunny was forced to close due to financial issues, according to the owners, who took to social media to make the announcement in September.
Tom Perkins

Bunny Bunny

1454 Gratiot Ave., Detroit

After two years in Eastern Market, fusion restaurant Bunny Bunny was forced to close due to financial issues, according to the owners, who took to social media to make the announcement in September.
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Chili Mustard Onions
3411 Brush St., Detroit
Detroit’s first vegan coney island announced its closure in October. Chili Mustard Onions’ owner does have plans to manufacture the restaurant’s products for retail sale.
Tom Perkins

Chili Mustard Onions

3411 Brush St., Detroit

Detroit’s first vegan coney island announced its closure in October. Chili Mustard Onions’ owner does have plans to manufacture the restaurant’s products for retail sale.
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Ready Player One 
407 E. Fort St., Detroit
The bar and arcade that served us nothing but nostalgia closed its downtown location earlier this year. The restaurant is now home to “weird” pizzeria chain, Pizza Cat.
Tom Perkins

Ready Player One

407 E. Fort St., Detroit

The bar and arcade that served us nothing but nostalgia closed its downtown location earlier this year. The restaurant is now home to “weird” pizzeria chain, Pizza Cat.
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The Peterboro
420 Peterboro St., Detroit
The Peterboro closed for new ownership and renovations back in July, but has yet to re-open. The restaurant continues to tease its grand re-opening on social media, but hasn’t announced an official date.
Steve Neavling

The Peterboro

420 Peterboro St., Detroit

The Peterboro closed for new ownership and renovations back in July, but has yet to re-open. The restaurant continues to tease its grand re-opening on social media, but hasn’t announced an official date.
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Woodward Bar & Grill
6426 Woodward Ave., Detroit
The Woodward was Detroit's oldest LGBTQ bar and venue. The cocktail bar  suffered a devastating fire in June.
Google Maps

Woodward Bar & Grill

6426 Woodward Ave., Detroit

The Woodward was Detroit's oldest LGBTQ bar and venue. The cocktail bar suffered a devastating fire in June.
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Roast
1128 Washington Blvd., Detroit
Michael Symon's Roast abruptly closed one cold January night. So abrupt, that even its employees were blindsided by the closing.
Roast/Facebook

Roast

1128 Washington Blvd., Detroit

Michael Symon's Roast abruptly closed one cold January night. So abrupt, that even its employees were blindsided by the closing.
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Great Lakes Coffee
3965 Woodward Ave., Detroit
In January, after a COVID-19 outbreak hit Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Co., and nine out of fifteen of the workers tested positive, the Midtown shop was closed indefinitely. One month later, Great Lakes Coffee workers from other locations went on strike with claims of poor COVID-19 protocols and unfair wages and labor practices.
Lee DeVito

Great Lakes Coffee

3965 Woodward Ave., Detroit

In January, after a COVID-19 outbreak hit Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Co., and nine out of fifteen of the workers tested positive, the Midtown shop was closed indefinitely. One month later, Great Lakes Coffee workers from other locations went on strike with claims of poor COVID-19 protocols and unfair wages and labor practices.
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Pizza Papalis (Greektown)
553 Monroe St., Detroit
Pizza Papalis has been a fixture on Monroe St. since 1986, but the loss of traffic throughout the pandemic made keeping the establishment open difficult. This resulted in the closing of the once popular Greektown location, but several others remain open.
Google Maps

Pizza Papalis (Greektown)

553 Monroe St., Detroit

Pizza Papalis has been a fixture on Monroe St. since 1986, but the loss of traffic throughout the pandemic made keeping the establishment open difficult. This resulted in the closing of the once popular Greektown location, but several others remain open.
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Harmony Garden Cafe
4704 Anthony Wayne Dr., Detroit
After 30 years in business, Harmony Garden closed its doors in July.
Steve Neavling

Harmony Garden Cafe

4704 Anthony Wayne Dr., Detroit

After 30 years in business, Harmony Garden closed its doors in July.
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Cass Cafe
4620 Cass Ave., Detroit
Cass Cafe has been a hub for local artists since the early 1990s. The beloved local restaurant was also a hotspot for vegans and vegetarians due to several meatless options on the menu. The Midtown favorite closed in July.
Liza Lagman Sperl/ Flickr Creative Commons

Cass Cafe

4620 Cass Ave., Detroit

Cass Cafe has been a hub for local artists since the early 1990s. The beloved local restaurant was also a hotspot for vegans and vegetarians due to several meatless options on the menu. The Midtown favorite closed in July.
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Street Beet
4626 Third St., Detroit
Street Beet, a playful vegan pop-up that had been operating out of Midtown's 3rd Street Bar, closed for good in February.
Jerilyn Jordan

Street Beet

4626 Third St., Detroit

Street Beet, a playful vegan pop-up that had been operating out of Midtown's 3rd Street Bar, closed for good in February.
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Taqueria El Rey
4730 W. Vernor Hwy, Detroit
A fire destroyed one of Detroit's favorite taco spots, Taqueria El Rey. The restaurant launched a crowdsourcing campaign in January to help support employees through the devastsation.
Randiah Camille Green

Taqueria El Rey

4730 W. Vernor Hwy, Detroit

A fire destroyed one of Detroit's favorite taco spots, Taqueria El Rey. The restaurant launched a crowdsourcing campaign in January to help support employees through the devastsation.
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Le Culture Cafe
1452 Brush St., Detroit
Le Culture Cafe announced in January it would temporarily be closing its doors on Brush Street. It wasn't long before "temporary" became permanent. However, the restaurant's owners opened a sister restaurant, Culture Soul at 24737 W. Eight Mile Rd., soon after its closing.
Google Maps

Le Culture Cafe

1452 Brush St., Detroit

Le Culture Cafe announced in January it would temporarily be closing its doors on Brush Street. It wasn't long before "temporary" became permanent. However, the restaurant's owners opened a sister restaurant, Culture Soul at 24737 W. Eight Mile Rd., soon after its closing.
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New Martha Bakery
10335 Joseph Campau St, Hamtramck
After 50 years serving delicious packzi in the metro Detroit area, New Martha Bakery closed due to the health of its owners. The space was bought by its neighbor, Dos Locos Tacos.
New Martha Bakery/Facebook

New Martha Bakery

10335 Joseph Campau St, Hamtramck

After 50 years serving delicious packzi in the metro Detroit area, New Martha Bakery closed due to the health of its owners. The space was bought by its neighbor, Dos Locos Tacos.
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Exferimentation Brewing Co.
7 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac
After five years in business, Exerimentation Brewing Co. closed its doors citing the pandemic as the reason for the closure.
Exferimentation Brewing Co./ Instagram

Exferimentation Brewing Co.

7 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac

After five years in business, Exerimentation Brewing Co. closed its doors citing the pandemic as the reason for the closure.
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