The Liquor Basket Gratiot, a combination liquor store and art gallery on Detroit’s east side, has expanded its offerings with a new grab-and-go restaurant.
Named Bombfire, the endeavor is led by chef Chucky Payton and his wife Felisa. In 2022, the couple moved from Los Angeles to Detroit, where Felisa’s family is from.
Felisa says “Chef Chucky,” as he is known, comes to Detroit with more than 15 years of experience, including operating pop-ups and working in catering. In addition to Bombfire, he also runs catering businesses in Detroit, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.
“We consider it comfort gourmet food,” Felisa says of Bombfire, adding, “What my husband brings to the table is really different from a lot of the other chefs.”
The Bombfire menu includes items like tacos, quesadillas, pita wraps, and salads, in addition to dishes like plantain nachos and pesto fries. The dishes are served with comfort food sides like mac and cheese and candied yams, along with made-from-scratch hummus and a signature house-made barbecue jerk sauce.
A $5 breakfast menu includes French toast, pancakes with house-made Chicken fennel sausage, a breakfast burrito, and a sandwich.
The kitchen is open Thursdays through Saturdays and is also available to order from via the DoorDash app. (On Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, Chef Kevin serves up Louisiana Creole fare.)
Felisa says Bombfire plans to partner with the Liquor Basket Gratiot to provide food for its art shows and other events.
The Liquor Basket is located at 3643 Gratiot Ave. next to the old Faygo factory, and drew attention in recent years after Detroit artist Dominick Lemonious, whose family owns the store, decided to start hosting art exhibitions inside the space. The gallery formally rebranded as the Push Gallery earlier this year.
Aside from art, the liquor store aims to promote Black-owned brands like Uncle Nearest whiskey and Anteel tequila.
“We got healthy food, Black-owned products, and art that’s expressing people that look just like us,” Lemonious previously told Metro Times, adding, “It’s a space where people are comfortable.”
Related Story
This Detroit liquor store doubles as an art gallery
Detroiters are innovative, and art is blooming on the walls of many unique spots in the city. This one, however, is among the most intriguing.…