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Tag: downtown Detroit

  • Chick-fil-A opens first downtown Detroit location – Detroit Metro Times

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    Chick-fil-A is continuing its expansion into the Detroit area with its first downtown location.

    The new store is set to open at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15 inside the First National Building at 660 Woodward Ave.

    The chain says the restaurant will employ about 110 workers.

    It celebrated the opening by making charitable donations to Detroit-based organizations, including $50,000 each to Gleaners Community Food Bank, Food Rescue US – Detroit, and the Detroit Public Schools Foundation to support the Breithaupt Career and Technical Center Culinary Program.

    The downtown Detroit location is the latest of about 20 stores that have opened in the region in recent years, with Ann Arbor’s first Chick-fil-A store opening its doors in December.


    Leyland “Lee” DeVito is the editor in chief of Detroit Metro Times since 2016. His writing has also been published in CREEM, VICE, In These Times, and New City.

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  • Tenants plan rally over alleged ‘hostile takeover’ of Detroit’s historic Leland House – Detroit Metro Times

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    Tenants of Detroit’s historic Leland House plan to rally Saturday afternoon, accusing city officials of blocking them from retrieving their belongings after a sudden evacuation earlier this month and raising alarms about what they call a “hostile takeover” of the troubled and storied downtown building.

    The rally is set for 1 p.m. Saturday outside the Leland House after residents were told they could not reenter to collect their possessions following a Dec. 10 power outage that left the 20-story apartment building without heat, lights, or elevators during extreme cold.

    Tenants say they were given little warning and no meaningful opportunity to gather essentials when the Detroit Fire Department ordered the evacuation.

    “They said, ‘Let’s go. You have to leave,’” says Daryl Stewart, a 67-year-old artist and percussionist who has lived in the building since 2012. “We didn’t have enough time to gather our wits.”

    Stewart says he was forced to leave behind artwork, laptops, and his home recording studio. Other residents lost access to clothes, medication, mementos, and other personal items. Some tenants were even separated from their pets.

    “I understand the building is being condemned, but it took them forever to get the animals out,” Stewart says.

    Stewart says multiple city departments arrived a few hours after the building lost electricity and ordered tenants to evacuate immediately. He says residents were initially told they would be allowed to return.

    “They said we could come back,” Stewart says.

    Instead, the building was locked, and notices were posted warning residents they could not reenter.

    “In the back of my mind, this might be it,” Stewart says. “It’s tear-jerking.”

    Attorney Matthew Erard, who lives at the Leland House, says tenants were misled and then shut out of their homes entirely.

    “When ordered to leave our apartments last Wednesday night, we were misled by city officials into believing that the building would remain accessible to residents the next day,” Erard tells Metro Times. “However, after clearing the building of occupants, the fire marshal locked the doors and posted notices barring anyone from reentering the building under threat of arrest.”

    “As a result,” he adds, “we have all been deprived of virtually all our personal belongings, including essentials like clothes and medicine.”

    Erard says confusion and finger-pointing between city departments has left residents with no path forward.

    “From what we’ve been told, the fire marshal has no plans to allow residents to reenter the building to recover their possessions at any time, leaving over 30 households deprived of everything they own,” Erard says. “When calling the fire marshal’s office, we are each time referred to HRD [the Detroit Housing and Revitalization Department]. And when calling HRD, we are referred to the fire marshal. Each claims the other has sole power to address that issue.”

    Erard and other tenants also raise serious allegations involving DTE Energy, which owns a large amount of property surrounding the Leland House, including much of the land bordered by Bagley, Third, Plum, and Grand River. Just before the power went out, Erard says, two residents “personally observed DTE personnel drilling on the area of the street right above the basement electrical equipment.” 

    “Given the reports that the electrical equipment shorted through water leaked from the street, that would seem to strongly suggest that DTE deliberately caused that to occur,” Erard says. 

    Erard points to a map circulated by a non-resident at a public hearing that shows DTE-owned parcels surrounding the Leland House property.

    “I think the image provides a very clear illustration of what’s really behind this entire situation,” he wrote.

    City officials strongly dispute the tenants’ claims, saying the evacuation was necessary to protect lives and that residents are receiving extensive support.

    In a statement, the City of Detroit said the fire department ordered the evacuation after a building-related power outage left residents without heat or light amid “dangerously cold conditions.”

    “Situations like this underscore why the Fire Marshal Division exists,” Fire Marshal Don Thomas said in a statement Friday. “Our role is to identify hazardous conditions and act decisively to protect residents from circumstances that could quickly become life-threatening.”

    City officials say the building remains unsafe to enter and that it is unclear whether residents will ever be allowed to return. The Housing and Revitalization Department says it has placed displaced tenants in hotels, including those with pet-friendly accommodations, and is providing food, transportation, and housing assistance.

    HRD says it is supporting 31 households, with 28 staying in hotels and three staying with friends or family. Eleven households, the city says, have already been approved for permanent housing.

    “Our team has been working relentlessly on behalf of impacted residents,” Chelsea Neblett, Director of Housing Solutions, said. “We have been in contact with households nearly every day, and we were already working with Leland House residents before the power outage occurred. Our focus remains on stability, dignity, and ensuring no one falls through the cracks during this incredibly difficult time.”

    The city also says all pets left in the building have been rescued and reunited with their owners, though residents say the animals weren’t retrieved quickly enough. City officials insist Detroit Animal Care and Control “worked swiftly with local rescue partners to safely retrieve dogs and cats from the building.”

    “All of these animals were clearly loved, and we knew how important it was to get them out safely and back to their families,” Crystal Perkins, director of Detroit Animal Care and Control, said. “Thanks to the quick coordination between our teams and our rescue partners, every dog and cat was rescued, and reunited with their owners. That outcome means everything.”

    DTE Energy paid for hotel accommodations during the first 11 days after the evacuation, according to the city, which has since taken over those costs.

    Tenants say Saturday’s rally is about more than access to belongings. For many, it is about the future of the Leland House itself, a once-grand 1927 hotel that has fallen into disrepair after years of neglect, lawsuits, and mounting debt. 

    The outage came a little more than a week after management notified tenants on Black Friday that they had a few days to move out because DTE Energy planned to cut electricity over unpaid electric bills. But on Dec. 4, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved a last-minute arrangement after the Leland House secured a $1.2 million short-term, high-interest loan. Judge Maria Oxholm barred DTE from cutting off power without her approval. Some of the money, she said, must be used to pay the DTE deposit and maintain casualty insurance.

    Metro Times is awaiting a response from DTE Energy.


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    Steve Neavling

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  • Detroit nightclub sued over alleged racist and homophobic abuse of worker – Detroit Metro Times

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    A downtown Detroit restaurant and nightclub is facing a civil rights lawsuit after an employee says he was subjected to racist and homophobic slurs, physically assaulted by a coworker on the job, and then fired after complaining that management failed to protect him.

    The lawsuit, filed this week in Wayne County Circuit Court by Marko Law, was brought on behalf of Rashard Mason, a Black gay man who worked at The Greek/Level Two, a popular downtown Detroit restaurant and nightclub owned by Plaka Restaurant, L.L.C.

    According to the complaint, Mason was subjected to a severe and unprovoked verbal and physical attack by a coworker during a July 18 shift. The harassment, which Mason alleges was based on his race and sexual orientation, was captured on video and witnessed by a supervisor.

    The lawsuit alleges the coworker, Marissa Santana, repeatedly screamed racial and homophobic slurs at Mason, including the N-word, “black boy,” “faggot,” and “homo,” while also throwing her phone at him in what the lawsuit says was an act of physical aggression.

    Rashard Mason is suing The Greek/Level Two after alleging he was fired after complaining about homophobic and racist slurs. Credit: Courtesy of Marko Law

    Some of the slurs were captured on video by another employee, who appeared visibly horrified while filming the outburst. The lawsuit alleges the voice on the recording is Santana, who can be heard using the N-word, complaining about having a “Black boy working here,” and calling Mason a “little bitch.”

    Mason reported the incident the next day to his supervisor, identified in the lawsuit as “Mike.” In a text message quoted directly in the complaint, Mason wrote: “Last night was a lot for me. I don’t only feel violated but upset because I wasn’t defended nor protected. I was called all types of faggots & niggers.”

    According to the lawsuit, the supervisor acknowledged the slurs, responding, “I threw her out because of what she was saying to you,” but then minimized the incident by telling Mason, “Don’t let it bother you.”

    The complaint alleges that aside from removing Santana for the remainder of that single shift, management took no meaningful disciplinary or corrective action to address the harassment or ensure Mason’s safety at work.

    About a week later, Mason learned that Santana was still employed by the company and working at The Greek, which operates in the same building and under the same ownership as Level Two, according to the lawsuit.

    When Mason confronted his supervisor about Santana’s continued employment, the complaint says the supervisor attempted to dismiss the concern by claiming that The Greek and Level Two were “technically separate companies,” an explanation the lawsuit disputes, noting that Mason’s paychecks were issued by a single legal entity: “PLAKA RESTAURANT, L.L.C. DBA THE GREEK OR LEVEL TWO.”

    Less than 24 hours after Mason again complained about the situation, he was fired, the lawsuit alleges.

    “When terminating Plaintiff, Defendant’s management stated, ‘we are just going to part ways,’ and provided no legitimate reason for the decision,” the complaint states.

    “Upon information and belief, Plaintiff was terminated in retaliation for his complaints regarding the severe racial and homophobic harassment he endured,” the lawsuit alleges.

    The complaint accuses Plaka Restaurant, L.L.C. of violating Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, alleging disparate treatment based on race and sexual orientation, the creation of a hostile work environment, and unlawful retaliation.

    The lawsuit seeks damages for lost wages, emotional distress, humiliation, mental anguish, and other harms, as well as attorney fees and costs.

    “This case is about standing up to hate in all its forms,” Jon Marko, founder of Marko Law, said in a statement. “No one should have to endure being called racial and homophobic slurs at work—let alone be fired for speaking out about it. Michigan law is clear: discrimination and retaliation have no place in the workplace.”

    The lawsuit alleges that both Mason’s race and sexual orientation “were factors that made a difference in Defendant’s treatment of Plaintiff.”

    Plaka Restaurant, L.L.C. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


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    Steve Neavling

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  • Leland House tenants forced out after major electrical failure at storied downtown Detroit building – Detroit Metro Times

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    Tenants at the historic Leland House just can’t catch a break. 

    The electricity that heats the downtown Detroit building malfunctioned early Wednesday afternoon, prompting the city’s fire marshal to order a mandatory evacuation. The outage also knocked out lights and elevators.

    “They put us out,” Daryl Stewart, a 67-year-old artist and percussionist who has lived in the building since 2012, tells Metro Times. “The fire department came and knocked on doors. They said, ‘You gotta get out.’”

    Tenants say melting ice and snow on the sidewalk leaked into the basement, where the building’s electrical system is located, causing a shortage that left the 20-story building in the dark. A representative for the owner, the Leland House Limited Partnership, is now scrambling to find a solution, but that may be difficult because the company filed for bankruptcy in November. 

    City Club, a legendary nightclub inside the building, will also be closed until further notice. 

    Tenants say they received a voucher to stay at a hotel in Southfield. 

    The Leland House is a historic 20-story building in downtown Detroit. Credit: Steve Neavling

    The outage comes a little more than a week after management notified tenants on Black Friday that they had a few days to move out because DTE Energy planned to cut electricity over unpaid electric bills. But on Dec. 4, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved a last-minute arrangement after the Leland House secured a $1.2 million short-term, high-interest loan, and Judge Maria Oxholm barred DTE from cutting off power without her approval. Some of the money, she said, must be used to pay the DTE deposit and maintain casualty insurance.

    In a statement Wednesday, DTE Energy said it empathizes with tenants.  

    “We feel for the residents of the Leland House and know how challenging these past few weeks have been,” the Detroit-based company said. “Unfortunately, this outage was caused by customer-owned equipment that cannot be accessed due to existing structural hazards inside the building. We’re prepared to restore service as soon as the building owner can make the necessary repairs and ensure a safe environment. We are working closely with the city to ensure impacted residents are safe and have access to temporary housing.”

    City officials say the fire department “responded immediately to assist and ensure all residents were safely exited” after citing “safety concerns.” 

    “The City of Detroit’s Housing & Revitalization Department (HRD) has been on-site since the incident, working alongside DTE to support displaced residents,” Alison DeRees, a city spokesperson, tells Metro Times. “DTE is covering the cost of temporary housing, and HRD’s Housing Stability Division is currently supporting 32 residents with temporary housing, while others have chosen to stay with friends or family. HRD continues to offer financial assistance to any residents of the Leland House seeking other permanent housing options, and our team will remain in close contact with impacted residents in the days and weeks ahead to ensure they have the resources and support needed during this transition.”

    Metro Times featured the Leland House on the cover of this week’s paper edition. The Leland opened in 1927 as a glamorous Italian Renaissance hotel with more than 700 rooms, an opulent ballroom, and a grand lobby designed by Rapp & Rapp, the Chicago firm behind Detroit’s Michigan Theatre. 

    The building has been in gradual decline for the past few decades. Michael Higgins, who ran Leland House Limited Partnership, died in September 2023 and never followed through on a promised $120 million renovation that was announced in 2018. In the years since, the building has become mired in lawsuits, code violations, unpaid bills, and mounting debt.

    Metro Times is awaiting a response from Luis Ramirez, who represents the Michael Higgins Trust and the Leland House ownership. 


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    Steve Neavling

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  • Fast-casual chain Sweetgreen readies first Detroit location – Detroit Metro Times

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    A national fast-casual restaurant chain known for serving fresh salads, bowls, and other dishes is getting ready to open in downtown Detroit.

    Sweetgreen is set to open its first Detroit location and sixth in Michigan in the One Campus Martius building downtown.

    “Detroit has an undeniable momentum right now, and we’re honored to be part of it,” said Chris Tarrant, Chief Development Officer at Sweetgreen. “We can’t wait to bring our take on fresh, real food to the heart of downtown and continue building these meaningful connections with regional suppliers like Zingerman’s Creamery and Riverridge Produce.”

    The restaurant plans to celebrate a grand opening from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 9 featuring local partners including sweets from Bon Bon Bon and warm drinks by Earthy Botanical Mobile Bar. Local apparel company One Custom City will also be on hand with live screen printing.

    The company has pledged to donate one meal to Detroit’s Forgotten Harvest charity for every meal purchased during its grand opening.

    The new store is located at 1020 Woodward Ave., Detroit.

    Founded in 2007, Sweetgreen also has Michigan locations in Ann Arbor, Arbor Hills, Birmingham, Rochester Hills, and Troy.


    Leyland “Lee” DeVito is the editor in chief of Detroit Metro Times since 2016. His writing has also been published in CREEM, VICE, In These Times, and New City.

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    Lee DeVito

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  • Detroit’s Menorah in the D to feature released Israeli hostages – Detroit Metro Times

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    One of Michigan’s largest Hanukkah celebrations will feature an Israeli family reunited after two of its members were kidnapped and held hostage by Hamas.

    Ella Ben Ami traveled from Be’eri, Israel to Detroit’s Menorah in the D event in 2023 after her parents were taken hostage in the Oct. 7 attack of that year, in which 251 people were kidnapped by Hamas militants in Gaza. Her mother Raz Ben Ami was freed after 54 days in captivity, but her father Ohad Ben Ami was not released until Feb. 8, 2025 after 491 days in captivity.

    The last remaining Israeli hostages were freed last month after months of combat, resulting in more than 69,000 killed in Gaza.

    Menorah in the D was founded in 2011 and draws thousands to downtown Detroit to celebrate Jewish religious freedom, featuring the lighting of a 26-foot-tall menorah in addition to live music and other cultural activities.

    “Each year, Menorah in the D reminds us that even a small light can dispel great darkness,” Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, executive director of Chabad Lubavitch of Michigan, said in a statement. “This celebration embodies the strength and unity of Detroit’s diverse community.” 

    Menorah in the D begins at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14 in Cadillac Square, with the menorah lighting beginning at sundown. The event is free and open to the public.

    More information is available at menorahinthed.com.


    Leyland “Lee” DeVito is the editor in chief of Detroit Metro Times since 2016. His writing has also been published in CREEM, VICE, In These Times, and New City.

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    Lee DeVito

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  • Fast-casual Mediterranean chain Cava readies to open in downtown Detroit – Detroit Metro Times

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    National Mediterranean fast-casual chain Cava is bringing build-your-own bowls and pita wraps to downtown Detroit.

    Set to open Friday, Sept. 26 next to Shake Shack at 636 Woodward Ave., it will be Cava’s first Detroit location and second in Michigan.

    “We were delighted by the way the Canton community embraced our first Michigan restaurant this summer,” said Jeff Gaul, Chief Development Officer of Cava. “As we grow across the Midwest, we’re excited to welcome Detroit to our table to experience the bold flavors of our high-quality meals and Mediterranean hospitality while living out our mission to bring heart, health, and humanity to food.”

    The Detroit location will be open from 10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. daily and will employ between 25-40 workers, the company says.

    According to the Washington, D.C.-based company, the chain’s fully customizable menu can make more than 17 billion combinations. It recently opened its 400th location in the U.S. and says it plans to open 1,000 locations by 2032.

    The chain’s first Michigan location opened earlier this summer at 43450 Ford Rd., Canton.


    Leyland “Lee” DeVito is the editor in chief of Detroit Metro Times since 2016. His writing has also been published in CREEM, VICE, In These Times, and New City.

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  • Corporate welfare took $1 billion from Detroit’s schools, city services over past decade

    Corporate welfare took $1 billion from Detroit’s schools, city services over past decade

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    More than $1 billion intended for Detroit’s schools, libraries, and city services has been diverted to pay for real estate projects that benefit wealthy investors over the past decade, according to public records.

    The whopping amount of corporate welfare comes at a time when the city and schools are struggling to pay for basic services. Meanwhile, the investments in areas like downtown and Midtown are driving up the costs of living and displacing long-time residents.

    The figures were compiled by Detroiters for Tax Justice, an activist group that obtained the data through Freedom of Information Act requests.

    Since 2014, when the city was in the thick of municipal bankruptcy, Detroit has captured $516.8 million in taxes for groups that use the money to drum up economic growth. Those groups include the Detroit Brownfield Development Authority, the Local Development Finance Authority, and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA).

    The DDA notoriously spent hundreds of millions of dollars on developments for the billionaire Ilitch family to build Little Caesars Arena and surrounding neighborhoods that never came to fruition. The DDA will be paying off that money in bonds over at least 2048.

    Between 2017 and 2023, the city lost out on more than $500 million in tax abatements that are intended to attract new businesses, encourage expansion of existing businesses, and create jobs. Wealthy developers like Dan Gilbert benefit from those abatements.

    Together, the tax captures and abatements cost more than $1 billion.

    Russ Bellant, co-organizer for Detroiters for Tax Justice, argues that abatements and tax captures favor wealthy developers at the expense of regular taxpayers.

    “The thievery is just incredible,” Bellant tells Metro Times. “When you start undercutting the funding of city, library, and school services, you are bleeding the neighborhood services, and you’re creating conditions that are less and less for people.”

    Over the past decade, more than $347 million that was intended to fund Detroit’s public schools was diverted to development projects or wiped out by tax abatements. The city’s general fund, which pays for services like buses, police protection, affordable housing, parks, and social and senior services, lost out on $237.1 million. Also impacted by the tax handouts were the state education fund ($82.9 million), Detroit’s libraries ($53.9 million), Wayne County Community College District ($39.1 million), Wayne County government ($6.8 million), the underfunded Wayne County jail ($13.3 million), Huron-Clinton MetroParks ($2.5 million), and the Detroit Institute of Arts ($6.9 million).

    The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), which handles the tax incentives, defended the use of the money, saying it generated growth and new taxes.

    “It’s important to note that many of these tax dollars are earmarked specifically for economic development,” a DEGC spokesperson says in a statement. “Without the DDA, a significant portion of these funds would revert to the State, possibly to be deployed outside of Detroit, rather than being reinvested in our city. It’s crucial to understand that these taxes would have never accrued to their current levels without the DDA’s strategic investments and development initiatives.”

    Despite the purported benefits, many Detroiters have opposed using tax dollars to benefit development. A survey in May 2013 found that an overwhelming majority of Detroiters are opposed to tax handouts for wealthy developers and believe incentives should instead benefit neighborhood services, affordable housing, libraries, and recreation centers. The survey of 430 Detroit voters, conducted by the independent pollster American Pulse Research & Polling, found that only 6.1% support prioritizing tax incentives for retail, dining, and entertainment districts. An additional 8.1% of voters support incentives for projects in Midtown and downtown.

    Despite the opposition, the Detroit City Council approved more than $615 million in tax breaks in May 2023 for two billionaire developers — the Ilitch family and Stephen Ross — to develop more of District Detroit, the same entertainment district that previously received roughly $400 million a decade ago to build Little Caesars Arena and surrounding neighborhoods.

    click to enlarge

    Shutterstock

    The Ilitch-owned Olympia Development failed to deliver on its promise to create new neighborhoods surrounding Little Caesars Arena in what was pitched as the “District Detroit.”

    In its statement, the DEGC notes that Coleman Young, the city’s first Black mayor, created the DDA to capture taxes about 50 years ago.

    Young “understood the power of its ability to reinvest in the DDA footprint and attract major development and large-scale employers,” the DEGC said. “Mayor Young’s vision is what has given us tools we have used over decades to bring thousands of jobs into the city and generate income tax revenue that far exceeds — in amount and duration — the more limited property tax revenue realized as a result of the DDA capture.”

    But Bellant says the city is in much better shape than it was a half century ago.

    “Even if you thought giving money to investors was valid to do 20, 30, or 40 years ago when the city was more abandoned, that time is over,” Bellant says. “It just needs to be stopped.”

    Studies have shown that Detroit’s economic development disproportionately favors white, suburban residents and drives up the costs for long-time residents.

    Detroit Future City, a think tank that develops strategies for a more equitable city, found that metro Detroit’s fastest-growing, well-paying jobs are disproportionately going to white workers. About 16% of Black workers in the region are in so-called growth occupations, compared to 26% of white workers.

    Opponents of tax handouts say the incentives aren’t stopping because no one is held accountable.

    “There is not a system of accountability so that the record of the votes is conveyed to the citizens,” Bellant says.

    And tracking the amount of money spent on developments is very difficult. Bellant took more than a year to obtain and compile all of the tax data he received in public records requests. He says the lack of accessibility is unconstitutional.

    “The city should have this information on their websites,” Bellant argues. “The only place you can get all of this in one place is in our reports.”

    Detroiters for Tax Justice is holding meetings, called teach-ins, in neighborhoods to educate residents on how their tax dollars are spent on developments.

    “Citizens have come to our previous teach-ins, and they have been very affected by it,” Bellant says. “They realize it’s important stuff.”

    The system, he says, is inherently unfair.

    “Wealthy investors are not paying for the cost of city services that they get,” Bellant says. “They aren’t paying into the libraries and schools, but they are benefiting from them.”

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    Steve Neavling

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  • Detroit’s Grand Prix to include EDM sets by Illenium and JVNA

    Detroit’s Grand Prix to include EDM sets by Illenium and JVNA

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    Gentlemen, start your engines.

    The annual Detroit Grand Prix Indycar race is gearing up to return to the downtown streets this weekend, and it will do so with a pair of free electronic dance music performances for attendees on Saturday.

    California-based Jana Ma, aka JVNA, will perform at 6:15 p.m., while Denver’s Illenium will take the stage at 8 p.m.

    The shows will take place at the Cadillac Square stage, east of Campus Martius.

    The event is set for Friday, May 31-Sunday, June 2, with a track constructed along Jefferson Avenue downtown — so unless you’re going downtown to enjoy Indycar racing (and/or EDM), you will probably want to avoid the area due to traffic.

    The Detroit event dates back to 1982 as a Formula One World Championship event. Beginning in 1992, the race was moved to Belle Isle State Park (much to the consternation of park goers who prefer idyllic nature over the roar of cars) and it returned to the streets of downtown Detroit last year to fanfare.

     

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    Lee DeVito

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  • Cibo Modern Mediterranean ranks among Detroit’s best high-end restaurants

    Cibo Modern Mediterranean ranks among Detroit’s best high-end restaurants

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    Few dishes in Detroit hit like Cibo’s nduja and octopus with squid ink gnocchi, and the plate’s depth, inventiveness, and contrast encapsulates what makes the new-ish downtown restaurant one of the better high-end options in a city that somewhat lacks in the genre.

    The dish’s inspiration, chef James Sumpter says, is Spanish octopus tapas, traditionally prepared with plenty of paprika, garlic, and potatoes. Nduja, a spicy and spreadable Italian salami pate, comes packed with garlic, paprika, and Calabrian peppers. The gnocchi, which Cibo makes with less flour so it’s more like a potato pillow, plays its role, and its squid ink adds an umami bump. The octopus is cooked sous vide, then pan-cooked in olive oil, then grilled, rendering the notoriously tough mollusk tender. The lean squid is the perfect canvas for the nduja, which adds a fattiness and holds everything together.

    Most of what we tried reached that level at Cibo, where Sumpter runs six kitchens in the Cambria Hotel, right at the edge of downtown’s west side, near Corktown.

    The restaurant describes itself as “Mediterranean,” which can mean any number of things, and in the Detroit area frequently suggests Lebanese fare. Sumpter says the owners are Sicilian and Chaldean, so they wanted Italian and Middle Eastern influences on the menu. Ultimately, there’s a focus on Italian, Greek, and Middle Eastern, but also some North African flavors.

    The glistening space looks straight out of a coastal Mediterranean town, with plenty of sun in the day, and it offers a strong wine list and excellent bar program. Cibo’s menu has evolved a bit since its November opening as the kitchen figures out what works and sous chefs make their contributions to recipes, Sumpter says, and they’re also now shifting with the season.

    Another representative plate is the kofta in which Cibo marries Greek and Middle Eastern elements. Sumpter says he embellished a lamb recipe from famed Israeli chef Michael Solomonov’s Zahav cookbook, and it’s served aside a punchy, slightly sweet tomato jam. That’s contrasted by a cucumber salad made with peeled cukes sliced super thin to pull out the water, then mixed with labneh and fresh dill. Sumpter describes it as “simple,” and on one level it is, but the interplay among the textures, saltiness, herbiness, smokiness, acidic and sweet jam, and other elements are not-so-simple, and give the dish its depth.

    click to enlarge

    Tom Perkins

    The octopus at Cibo is cooked sous vide, then pan-cooked in olive oil, then grilled, rendering the notoriously tough mollusk tender.

    Also fantastic is the mussels in a shakshuka sauce with merguez, essentially a Moroccan plate. The fragrant sauce holds merguez, an awesome earthy North African sausage, and the mix is cooked with butter and wine. My one minor nitpick is that more wine could’ve been added to deepen it a bit. Regardless, don’t skip this one.

    Sumpter, who has worked in kitchens around Michigan, moved to Detroit looking for a new challenge when he became an empty nester last year. He got acquainted with the potential demand for Middle Eastern cuisine here when a halal food influencer stopped in and shot some video that got 800,000 views.

    He notes most meat on the menu is halal, with the exception of a steak, and the crew decided it would be a good idea to lean into some of the Middle Eastern elements. Out of that the halal half chicken was born from a plate that was more European in an earlier iteration. It is, in effect, a chef-ed up version of a chicken shawarma or a chicken and rice plate like those at New York City’s halal carts.

    The chicken is a boneless half bird and its marinade recipe is also spun off of a Zahav cookbook plate. Sumpter takes an herby green onion marinade and enlivens it further with ginger, more garlic, lemon juice, spices, and herbs in an effort to produce almost a Middle Eastern chimichurri. The bird is cooked sous vide with the marinade, before the juices are removed from the bag, then reapplied as a glaze while the chicken roasts in the oven.

    It arrives with a golden toum, effectively garlic sauce prepared with lemon cured cloves and turmeric. That’s accompanied by a bulgerless tabouleh, and a slightly sweet and mellow combination of pickles made with Champagne and white balsamic vinegars. Take each bite with rice or lavash.

    Altogether, Cibo is one of the best higher-end dining experiences in recent memory in Detroit.

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  • Your guide to the NFL Draft in Detroit

    Your guide to the NFL Draft in Detroit

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    Geez, is this city of ours living in pro football favor, or what? Our Detroit Lions completed their best season in more than 30 years, coming within one horrific second half of their first Super Bowl appearance ever, and as a reward for our fanatical enthusiasm we get to host the 2024 NFL Draft!

    Well… that’s not exactly accurate. In truth, the league selected Detroit as the site of this year’s NFL Draft Presented by Bud Light — the free event expected to attract nearly 400,000 football fans to Hart Plaza, Cadillac Square, Campus Martius, and various other downtown sites from Thursday, April 25 to Saturday, April 27 — during its annual league meetings two years ago in Palm Beach, Florida. So The D has been on the clock in our preparations for a while, and the timing of the Lions restoring its roar up through the NFC Championship game is purely coincidental.

    Is it ever. It has been reported that the Lions and consortiums of local civic boosters tried twice before to drive the NFL Draft to Woodward Avenue, but their bids were rejected both times. The league wouldn’t divulge the reasons why, of course, but it’s believed the concerns had more to do with rooms than reputation: there simply didn’t seem to be enough hotel space to accommodate the massive crowds expected. Those anxieties have been relieved somewhat through the recent addition of more than 1,000 rooms downtown in such new hotels as the Roost Detroit at Book Tower, the Cambria Hotel, and the Godfrey Hotel in Corktown.

    The third time will be charming. The 2024 Draft will take place on a gigantic “Draft Theater” stage adjacent to Campus Martius Park, and its footprint will extend all the way down to an interactive, family-friendly “NFL Draft Experience Presented by Rocket Mortgage” theme park at Hart Plaza. With games, exhibits, and entertainment events planned for Eastern Market, Greektown, Grand Circus Park, and other locations throughout downtown, Detroit will be transformed into a spectacular pigskin lover’s fantasyland for three straight days.

    Unique activities include:

    • An Autograph Stage where fans can obtain free autographs of current players and NFL legends (final schedule to be confirmed just before the event).
    • A Pro Football Hall of Fame exhibit including the Hall of Fame busts of such Lions immortals as Lem Barney, Barry Sanders, Calvin Johnson, and Alex Karras.
    • An NFL Locker Room replica allowing fans to see exactly how it appears on game day, including the sights and sounds of a real pregame warmup inside a video tunnel.
    • Interactive Football Skills Tests for fans, including vertical jumps, “Hail Mary” passes, and 40-yard dashes against live opponents and digital NFL players.
    • Youth Activities, concentrated at the Corner Ballpark, located at the former site of Tiger Stadium at Michigan and Trumbull, including a field goal challenge, clinics, competitions and demonstrations.
    • An NFL Shop presented by Visa at 1001 Woodward Avenue, open from April 20-27, for exclusive NFL draft and team merchandise.

    What you need to know

    The 2024 NFL Draft presented by Bud Light will be held Thursday, April 25 through Saturday, April 27 in and around Hart Plaza, Cadillac Square, Campus Martius, and numerous other public spaces across the downtown Detroit area.

    Admission is free, but anyone intending to be within the event area is required to download the free “NFL OnePass” app and register. The “One Pass” will provide up-to-date information on events, fan activities, security and entry procedures, and more. Adults 18 and older are required to register, and may add up to five minors to bring to the NFL Draft Experience.

    Anyone not having a smartphone should look for an NFL ambassador on site who can help them gain access.

    The “One Pass” is good for all events except the seated section of the actual Draft Theater, where player selections will take place. Fans can purchase tickets to be inside the theater during the selections, but anyone who registers for the Draft Experience will have access to witness the draft on giant screens around the area and adjacent to the stage. The NFL encourages fans to get to the Draft Experience early as attendance will be on a first-come, first-served basis. For any other questions, see the NFL.com site (nfl.com/draft/event-info/faq) or the Visit Detroit “Ultimate Guide to the NFL Draft” page (visitdetroit.com/2024nfldraft).

    It’s hard to estimate how many visitors may be arriving in the Motor City. The 2023 Draft in Kansas City drew 312,000 fans, but unlike KC Detroit is within reasonable driving distance of at least six other NFL cities (Chicago, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo). And while it may be difficult to comprehend, people in those cities worship their fan-chises almost as much as we do the Lions. And don’t forget there are football fans in Canada, too, eh?

    At any rate, it is the NFL’s second greatest annual extravaganza (you can guess No. 1) and promises to be the biggest event to hit downtown since Super Bowl XL was played at Ford Field in February 2006. Anybody remember those dark frigid nights, snow flurries, and rows of boarded-up businesses on Woodward back then?

    Roger Goodell does. That was his first year as NFL commissioner, and with those sights and sounds still rattling somewhere in his subconscious he made it a point to come to Detroit last January for a “Pregame Huddle” in advance of the draft to extol the advancements he’s seen here since.

    “What you have done in this community is amazing,” Goodell told an audience at Ford Field that included representatives from the Lions organization, Visit Detroit, the Detroit Sports Commission, and other stakeholders involved in getting the Draft to the D. “I’ve been coming here for decades. You see what you’ve done physically in the downtown area, but it’s really as much about the way you’ve come together.”

    The NFL Draft was held in New York City for 14 consecutive years — and, had it not been for a scheduling conflict at Radio City Music Hall, might still be — but when the decision was made to take the show on the road it was important to Goodell that each league city put its unique personality on the event.

    “We want you to do it Detroit style,” Goodell encouraged. “Let people understand what Detroit is all about. And you won’t get a bigger platform: our draft here will probably be viewed by 60 to 70 million people over the three days. There are not many opportunities like that.”

    click to enlarge NFL Draft attendees can sample local restaurants in and around downtown Detroit. - Downtown Detroit Partnership

    Downtown Detroit Partnership

    NFL Draft attendees can sample local restaurants in and around downtown Detroit.

    Indeed, it will be a priceless opportunity for locally owned Detroit businesses, particularly those located downtown, to strut their stuff before hundreds of thousands of new consumers.

    What’s more, the People Mover will be operating free 24 hours a day beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday, April 25, with trains up to every five minutes, and all 13 stations will be open. The QLine, SMART park and ride bus transportation from metro Detroit locations, and DDOT bus services also will be available. A comprehensive security plan is being developed, which will be carried out by an alliance of local, state and federal agencies.

    A Taste of Detroit


    Local restaurants committed to feed the masses in a “Taste of Detroit” tailgate include:
    • Waka by Baobab Fare
    • Fried Chicken and Caviar
    • Mom’s Spaghetti
    • Good Cakes and Bakes
    • Chef Greg’s Soul-N-The-Wall
    • Juicy Oistre
    • Chita’s Nefertiti Bar & Grill
    • Supercrisp
    • Detroit Water Ice
    • The Kitchen by Cooking With Que
    • Brome Modern Eatery
    • El Parian Taco
    • Fusion Flare Kitchen and Cocktails
    • Louisiana Creole Gumbo
    • M Cantina
    • Detroit 75 Kitchen
    • Good Vibes Lounge
    • Kuzzo’s Chicken and Waffle
    • Bangkok 96 Street Food
    • Shibam Coffee
    • Haraz Coffee House
    • For the Love of Cheesecake
    • Lush Yummies Pie Company
    • Golden Fleece
    • La Marsa Cuisine

    Other special attractions will include a “DCLEATED” art exhibit featuring 20 gigantic football cleats painted with murals from Detroit artists, to be displayed throughout downtown and auctioned off with all proceeds going to charity.

    Goodell praised the Lions for their “can-do spirit” in helping the city ultimately land the draft.

    “They believed that this community should be on the stage, and they pursued it very aggressively,” Goodell said. “They brought the business community together along with the public sector, and leadership here has been extraordinary. And I think people in the world should see it. And you’re going to have that opportunity. So if everyone sees what Detroit really is and the passion of the people in this community, that will be a successful draft.”

    Sound like a hustle? You ain’t seen nothin’ yet! The draft weekend is expected to conclude Saturday with an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest hustle line dance, with thousands doing the Detroit Hustle down Woodward Avenue to Hart Plaza.

    Roger that.

    Do you feel the draft?

    So, the question that’s on the minds and lips of even casual Lions fans: who is the team going to pick in the first round of its hometown NFL Draft?

    Based on their excellent 12-5 record last season, the Lions will pick 29th out of the league’s 32 teams. There are seven rounds in all, and the Lions will have one pick in each round. Teams make their selections in reverse order of how well they performed the previous season, which explains why the Chicago Bears own the No. 1 overall pick.

    (Just kidding, Bears fans. We kid.)

    Last month Tim Twentyman, senior writer for the detroitlions.com website, speculated that the Lions’ top three needs going into next season are defensive line, cornerback, and offensive line. “Cornerback is certainly an option here,” he wrote, “but I think this is a pretty deep class of corners and Lions GM Brad Holmes has proven he can find starting Day 2 talent in the secondary.”

    Twentyman’s pick? Offensive lineman Graham Barton of Duke University. (Never heard of him? You’re not alone.) “Holmes said he won’t overlook the offensive line this offseason,” Twentyman wrote. “Barton would be a great addition in Detroit with his tenacity and versatility. At 6-foot-5, 313 pounds he’s got terrific length and could really play all five spots upfront, if needed.”

    And check his weight: 313. Could be destiny.

    (Since Twentyman wrote that, however, the Lions signed unrestricted Pro Bowl guard Kevin Zeitler from the Baltimore Ravens. So that prediction may need to be adjusted. He has compiled a wide range of opinions from draft predictors nationwide at detroitlions.com.)

    On the NFL Network last month, on a show called Mock Draft Live, the “experts” had the Lions shoring up their secondary by selecting highly-touted cornerback Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry from the University of Alabama. “The marketing campaign just writes itself, right?” one host chortled. “Honolulu Blue Kool-Aid!”

    click to enlarge Brian Branch selected by the Detroit Lions during the 2023 NFL Draft. - Joshua R. Gateley/ESPN Images

    Joshua R. Gateley/ESPN Images

    Brian Branch selected by the Detroit Lions during the 2023 NFL Draft.

    However, Eli Zaret, the gravel-voiced sportscasting legend for decades on both Detroit radio and TV now heard every Monday on The Drew and Mike Show podcast, takes a more pragmatic view. “Deciding exactly who to pick is pretty much impossible when you don’t choose till 29, 61, and 73,” he reasons. “Deciding what to pick is a breeze, because the numbers point us in the right direction.

    “The Lions had the third leading offense among the 32 teams but only the 19th best defense. Yet they were second in rush defense while a dismal 27th in pass defense. They need an edge rusher to play opposite Aiden Hutchinson and a lot of help in the secondary. Then again, Brad Holmes is impressively creative and has surprised us with many of his choices. He’s already signed a free agent corner, so we’ll just have to wait and see how he continues to address their deficiencies in pass coverage.”

    And what say you, Rob Parker, the FOX Sports host and former Detroit media mainstay preparing to launch America’s first all-Black sports talk radio station, “Sports Rap Radio,” on AM 1270 here May 16? “I’m not a draft expert like everybody else this time of year, so I’d rather give you what I think they need,” he says.

    “So the Lions, I think, most need a pass rush. They need that type of player on their roster, somebody who can bust through, especially from the interior, and I don’t believe they have that. I think they can find somebody who can help them with the 29th pick, but that’s number one.

    “Another one, I’d say, is they need help at cornerback,” Parker opines. “Last year they could give up big plays downfield, so a corner has to be a priority in the second or third round. And here’s the other thing: a kicker.”

    Uh… why? “Because last year all the fans made excuses for (Lions head coach) Dan Campbell’s blunders, but he cost them a trip to the Super Bowl,” says Parker. “I don’t care what anybody says. If the reason he kept going for it on fourth down was because he couldn’t trust his kicker, you’re not going to win. So I think third round or lower, that should be a priority, too.”

    click to enlarge Blue: Front of house guest areas for NFL Draft Experience - Teal: NFL Draft Experience entrances - Green: Draft D in D activations - Red line: People Mover route - Rideshare: Designated areas for rideshare app drop-offs - Red: Back of house restricted areas for NFL Draft Experience - Downtown Detroit Partnership

    Downtown Detroit Partnership

    Blue: Front of house guest areas for NFL Draft Experience
    Teal: NFL Draft Experience entrances
    Green: Draft D in D activations
    Red line: People Mover route
    Rideshare: Designated areas for rideshare app drop-offs
    Red: Back of house restricted areas for NFL Draft Experience

    Schedule of events

    Thursday, April 25:

    2024 NFL Draft Experience
    Noon-10 p.m., Campus Martius Park/Hart Plaza

    NFL Draft Red Carpet Kickoff Event
    5 p.m., Fox Theatre, featuring attending draft prospects

    2024 NFL Draft Day 1 (Round 1)
    8-11 p.m., Draft Theater, Randolph and Monroe Streets

    Friday, April 26

    2024 NFL Draft Experience
    Noon-10 p.m., Campus Martius Park/Hart Plaza

    2024 NFL Draft Day 2 (Rounds 2-3)
    7-11 p.m., Draft Theater, Randolph and Monroe Streets

    Saturday, April 27

    2024 NFL Draft Experience
    9 a.m.-6 p.m., Campus Martius Park/Hart Plaza

    2024 NFL Draft Day 3 (Rounds 4-7)
    Noon-7 p.m., Draft Theater, Randolph and Monroe Streets

    The revolution will also be televised

    
If you don’t want to come downtown — fear of crowds, parking paranoia, whatever — but still want to see Detroit showing out to the world, the draft will be televised locally on Channel 7 and nationally on NFL Network, ESPN, and ESPN Deportes, and streaming on NFL+. Air times are scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday, 7 p.m. Friday, and noon Saturday on all four networks. For more information on NFL Network’s coverage, see nfl.com/network/events/nfl-draft.

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    Jim McFarlin

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  • It’s time to register for free entry into the NFL Draft in Detroit

    It’s time to register for free entry into the NFL Draft in Detroit

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    Seems like we blinked and it’s already nearing the end of March. This means the 2024 NFL Draft, which will take over downtown Detroit from Thursday, April 25 to Saturday, April 27, is drawing near.

    Organizers announced on Tuesday that registration is open for free tickets to attend the NFL Draft festivities taking place mostly around Campus Martius and Hart Plaza.

    Entry is free, but registration is required. To register, you’ll have to sign up online at nfl.com/draftaccess or download the NFL OnePass app. Adults can sign up to bring up to five children to the events.

    Beyond the NFL Draft itself, the event includes a lineup of free concerts, photo opportunities, local food pop-ups, games, youth activities, and autograph signings from current NFL players and NFL legends.

    The 32 NFL teams will be selecting their draft picks at the main “NFL Draft Theatre” in the Monroe Street Midway. Access to this area is standing room only on a first-come first-served basis. It will also be broadcast on screens throughout the area.

    The NFL Draft Experience presented by Rocket Mortgage will take over Hart Plaza for the duration of the draft like a festival. Attractions include games like a 40-yard dash and vertical jump. The grounds will include a replica of the official NFL Draft stage and the Vince Lombardi Trophy for photo opportunities. A Pro Football Hall of Fame exhibit will include hall of fame bronze busts of Barry Sanders, Lem Barney, Joe DeLamielleure, and more.

    Local restaurants will rally for a “taste the town tailgate” featuring Waka by Baobab Fare, Fried Chicken and Caviar, Good Cakes and Bakes, Chef Greg’s Soul-N-The-Wall, Supercrisp, The Kitchen by Cooking with Que, Brome Modern Eatery, Kuzzo’s Chicken and Waffles, Haraz Coffee House, Bangkok 96 Street Food, Mom’s Spaghetti, Detroit 75 Kitchen, M Cantina, and others.

    A youth activity hub called the Corner Ballpark will be located at Michigan and Trumbull.

    There will also be free concerts throughout the draft. Local artists will perform on April 25 and April 26 before the draft pick announcements, and a post-draft concert will close out the event on April 27. Headliners have not been announced yet.

    For more information and a full lineup of events and activities, see nfl.com/draft/event-info.

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    Randiah Camille Green

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  • Gilly’s Clubhouse set to open in April

    Gilly’s Clubhouse set to open in April

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    The downtown Detroit sports bar dedicated to Dan Gilbert’s late son has an opening date. 

    Gilly’s Clubhouse is set to open on Friday, April 5 at 10 a.m., the owners announced on Wednesday. Located at 1550 Woodward Ave., Gilly’s boasts 10,000 square feet with a 120-square foot television, Detroit sports memorabilia, and American fare.

    The menu includes things like grass-fed beef smash burgers, chicken wings, homemade mac and cheese, and turkey meatballs along with healthier options like grain bowls and salads. A variety of draft beers and specialty cocktails will be on offer. It will also have a coffee shop cafe with classic coffee and fresh-pressed juice.

    Gilly’s is named for Dan and Jennifer Gilbert’s son Nick Gilbert whose nickname was Gilly. He passed away from complications related to neurofibromatosis at 26 years old in May of 2023, and the sports bar was originally his vision. 

    The interior design for Gilly’s includes original artwork by Detroit artist Davariz Broaden and Tyrell Winston with an installation of Nick Gilbert’s signature.

    The sports bar’s opening coincides with the Detroit Tigers’ home opener on April 5. It will host a tailgating party for the opening game starting at 10 a.m. that day, a watch party at 1:15 p.m., and a post-game celebration with DJ E-V. Gilly’s will also host daily watch parties for the NFL Draft when it comes to Detroit April 25-27.

    Gilly’s Clubhouse is a dual concept with Gilly’s Rooftop, which will serve Mexican street fare. An upscale cocktail lounge named Saksey’s will be located on the lower level of Gilly’s Clubhouse and Rooftop. Saksey’s and the Rooftop are both slated to open later this spring. All will be operated by Ohio-based 7OH2 Hospitality. 

    “We are excited to have this unique opportunity to introduce our unique concept to the city of Detroit in time for the Tigers’ home opener, and to the rest of the sports world during the NFL Draft,” said Josh Lang owner of 7OH2 Hospitality. “Gilly’s Clubhouse will be the destination for every fan to show their spirit and pride. Sports, great food, creative cocktails, art, and entertainment – Gilly’s will offer it all. As Nick Gilbert often said, ‘What’s Not to Like?’”

    Hours for Gilly’s Clubhouse will be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Reservations can be made online starting Friday, March 15. See gillysdetroit.com for more info.

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    Randiah Camille Green

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  • Chick-fil-A is coming to downtown Detroit

    Chick-fil-A is coming to downtown Detroit

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    click to enlarge

    Shutterstock

    Chick-fil-A is coming to downtown Detroit.

    Southern fried chicken chain Chick-fil-A continues its expansion into Michigan with the announcement of a downtown Detroit location.

    According to Crain’s Detroit Business, the company plans to open the store in Dan Gilbert’s First National Building, which also houses Shake Shack and Central Kitchen + Bar.

    Gilbert’s Bedrock real estate company is aiming for a May or June opening date.

    There is one other Chick-fil-A store in the city, located at the Detroit Medical Center, in addition to about 10 other stores that have opened in the greater Detroit area in recent years.

    Aside from its sandwiches, the Georgia-based chain is known for its Christian values, which includes closing for business on Sundays and holidays as well as donating money to anti-LGBTQ+ causes in the past, though the company has moved away from that in recent years.

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    Lee DeVito

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  • Dan Gilbert is bringing back Saksey’s, a bar owned by his father in the ’70s

    Dan Gilbert is bringing back Saksey’s, a bar owned by his father in the ’70s

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    click to enlarge

    Steve Neavling

    The forthcoming Gilly’s Clubhouse & Rooftop at at 1550 Woodward Ave.

    An intimate lounge with tableside mixology is planned to open in downtown Detroit this spring.

    Saksey’s Cocktail Lounge, owned by Dan Gilbert and helmed by 7OH2 Hospitality, will be located on the lower level of the forthcoming Gilly’s Clubhouse & Rooftop at 1550 Woodward Ave.

    Saksey’s is named after a Detroit bar owned by Dan Gilbert’s father in the 1970s. Gilly’s Clubhouse & Rooftop is the vision of Nick Gilbert, who died from complications related to neurofibromatosis in May.

    Guests at Saksey’s can expect a craft cocktail menu by Eric Hobble, who was named Las Vegas’s Most Intriguing Mixologist in 2019. Some of the cocktails on offer include the “High Class Gal” with gin, cantaloupe juice, orgeat, lemon, watermelon ice diamonds, and champagne. The “Smoke & Mirrors” includes tequila, lemon, Saint Germain, egg white powder, and charcoal lipstick kiss served in a black coupe glass.

    The lounge offers tableside mixology service.

    click to enlarge A rendering of the forthcoming Saksey’s Cocktail Lounge. - POPHOUSE

    POPHOUSE

    A rendering of the forthcoming Saksey’s Cocktail Lounge.

    Shareable plates will also be on offer by 7OH2 Executive Chef Adrian Estrada who has designed menus for multiple venues across the Midwest and East Coast. The menu has been described as “a celebration of Detroit’s rich heritage featuring light bites with a flair for the dramatic,” whatever that means.

    The entrance to Saksey’s is through an alleyway just off Woodward that leads into a dimly lit lounge with lacquered wood and “adventurous patterns” designed by Jennifer Gilbert’s POPHOUSE, according to a press release. Adding to the exclusive feel, the bar will only have eight tables with a total of 55 seats.

    7OH2 Hospitality is an Ohio-born hospitality company led by Josh Lang. Saksey’s and Gilly’s Clubhouse & Rooftop will mark the company’s debut in Detroit.

    “Saksey’s is designed to provide an experience that connects people,” Lang said in a media announcement. “I want guests to come in, try a little of everything on the menu, sit back and spend time with the people they love. Intimacy is a product of those you share it with. This room is built for intimate moments.”

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    Randiah Camille Green

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