Bar Louie set to open in Royal Oak amid city's parking kerfuffle

Bar Louie, a Chicago-based chain, is set to open a new location in downtown Royal Oak in the former Blackfinn Ameripub space. The latter shut its doors last fall after 10 years in business, according to the Detroit Free Press.

City documents show that Bar Louie franchise owner Anthony Marougi plans to pump $450,000 into building renovations. There are currently nine Bar Louie locations throughout southeast Michigan, including in Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills and Dearborn. No timeline is in place for the new location's build out and opening.

Bar Louie offers an array of classic bar food like burgers, flatbreads, salads, and desserts, and its bar menu is known for its blood Mary — The Ultimate Bloody Louie — as well as the Louie’s Cosmo. 

The announcement comes as a debate continues over the lack of parking spots in downtown Royal Oak that's partially due to a new development being built on a former city lot. Andiamo’s downtown location will be closing this year after 19 years in business. Joe Vicari, the owner of Andiamo, blamed the closure on the city’s mismanagement of the downtown parking situation, which he says is impacting his business. The Royal Oak City Commission also recently voted to raise meter fees by a quarter per hour, although some areas have not yet been affected by that.

Eleanore Catolico is a summer intern for Metro Times.

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