Ten Recent Detroit-Area Restaurant and Bar Closures to Know #DetroitFood
A longtime vegetarian restaurant in Midtown, a taproom in Corktown, and a beloved downtown bar are among the shutters
It’s not easy to run a vegetarian restaurant in Detroit, but Seva in Midtown had a handle on it for more than a decade before it announced it would close permanently by the end of February. Downtown vegan doughnut shop Dooped attempted to tap into the needs of folks who’d rather stick with plant-based as well but also has announced its closure. Meanwhile, the aftereffects of the pandemic continue to plague the bottom line for many other Detroit-area restaurants. Here are 10 recent closures to know about now in metro Detroit.
The Shutter, a regular roundup of Detroit and metro Detroit’s restaurant closures, is your resource to find out what’s on its way out. The list is by no means comprehensive. Have information on another closing? Send all tips to detroit@eater.com.
February
MIDTOWN — Seva Detroit (66 E Forest Avenue), the stalwart destination for vegetarian fare in Detroit for more than a decade, is closing its doors permanently after service ends on Friday, February 28. In a Facebook post published by the restaurant on Sunday, February 23, ownership said that years of financial hardship stemming from the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic made staying open unsustainable.
DOWNTOWN — Dooped Donuts (1555 Broadway St), a vegan doughnut shop owned and operated by Eastern Market Brewing Co. with locations downtown and in the Cass Corridor, has shuttered, according to a BridgeDetroit report published on Wednesday, February 19. Eastern Market Brewing Co. founder Dayne Bartscht told BridgeDetroit that the company decided to cease doughnut-making operations after the lease at its Broadway location ended and in response to low foot traffic at its flagship Cass Corridor location, Elephant and Co. — a self-service taproom, pizzeria, and cafe featuring Dooped doughnuts that opened in 2024.
FERNDALE — Detroit Fleat (1820 E 9 Mile Road in Ferndale), is closed temporarily until further notice as a result of a pipe bursting in its fire suppression system, according to an Instagram post published by the eatery on Wednesday, February 19. The incident reportedly caused significant flooding in half of the establishment. A reopening date has not been announced.
FERNDALE — Public House (241 W Nine Mile Road in Ferndale), the once-popular Ferndale restaurant that flung open its doors in 2013, closed permanently on Sunday, February 9. In recent years, the establishment has changed ownership and struggled to recover from the economic aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
January
CORKTOWN — Brew Detroit (1401 Abbott Street), a contract brewer based in Corktown, is now closed. According to the Detroit Free Press, its taproom shuttered permanently at the end of January and the space would focus on production and distribution. Meanwhile, a Crain’s Detroit report notes that the brewery itself has been acquired by Livonia-based Benchmark Beverage Co. — which also recently acquired Roak Brewing Co. — moves made to expand its footprint in Michigan-based beverage production. Brew Detroit opened for production in 2014 within a 68,000-square-foot facility and launched a taproom the following year.
WYANDOTTE — Bobcat Bonnie’s (118 Sycamore Street, Wyandotte), the decade-old local chain that more recently has faced backlash over accusations of poor treatment by management and shuttered three of its other locations, has closed another of its outposts, this time in Wyandotte. The location closed permanently on Sunday, January 26. The mini-chain also closed locations in Ypsilanti and Partridge Creek and relinquished operation of the Fly Trap in Ferndale.
DOWNTOWN — Lafayette Coney Island (118 W Lafayette Boulevard), the century-old downtown destination for coneys, chili fries, and late-night dining has closed temporarily on Friday, January 24 for the second time in less than three years on account of a rat infestation. Denise Fair Razo, Detroit’s chief public health officer, told the Free Press on Saturday, January 25 that her team visited the restaurant after a visitor used the city’s complaint hotline to report seeing rats while at the restaurant. Upon inspection, Fair Razo told the daily that officials saw evidence of rat droppings scattered throughout the basement. A spokesperson for the city told Eater on Thursday, January 30 that the eatery closed voluntarily to address the situation. In the weeks since then, the restaurant has remained closed.
GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Saucy’s Pizza (21215 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe Woods), a Pointes-area pizzeria closed permanently in January, according to an Instagram post published on Wednesday, January 22.
DOWNTOWN — Checker Bar (124 Cadillac Square), the longtime downtown bar, closed temporarily as a result of being damaged by an early morning fire on Tuesday, January 14. According to a Facebook post, the fire broke out in the electrical room of the bar’s basement as an apparent result of a utility explosion that originated outside of the building. A reopening date hasn’t been announced, however, ownership said in the Facebook post that it expects to recover from the fire. In the meantime, a GoFundMe fundraising campaign has been launched in support of employees and has held pop-up events at nearby Whisky Parlor, according to Checker’s Facebook page.
ECORSE — Auburn Cafe (3520 W. Jefferson Avenue in Ecorse), a beloved Downriver Greek restaurant, closed temporarily on Friday, January 10 after a fire caused damage to its interior on Friday, January 10. A Facebook post about the fire and closure published by owner Kosta Callis on Saturday, January 11 says that the eatery has been in operation for more than 44 years. Ownership plans to rebuild, but in the meantime, fans of the stalwart spot can donate to a GoFundMe campaign set up to support workers and aid with reopening efforts.
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