Another restaurant is opening in downtown Royal Oak, and Royal Oakers will not starve

Despite all the hand-wringing over restaurants in downtown Royal Oak closing, one seems to open for each that leaves.

Earlier this week, the news that a Lebanese restaurant is replacing the recently-sold Beirut Palace Lebanese restaurant got a little lost in the discussion over the alleged eatery exodus.

Also lost was the news that the owners of a Chicago burger restaurant purchased Andiamo's liquor license and are targeting a summer 2019 opening for a new 6,000-square-foot restaurant "with a focus on food and a comfortable, approachable environment," the Daily Tribune reports.  

Bar Louie is coming, and Dessert Oasis Coffee now occupies La Dulce's former space. City Ramen is shooting for a December opening, and Cantina Diablo's and Red Fox will be turned into Diamonds Steak and Seafood and Pinky's, a small plate concept.

Of course the loss of 240 parking spaces is bad for business, and a pretty short-sighted move by city leaders. Beyond that, the city's decision to sell a downtown parking lot to a wealthy developer for $1 and give him $5.5 million in incentives is an absurd giveaway that's grounds for removal from office.

However, Royal Oakers are not going hungry, and even with the turnover there's little change to downtown's complexion.

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