50 Detroit-area restaurants that we said goodbye to in 2020

By Metro Times editorial staff on Fri, Nov 20, 2020 at 12:00 pm

Draw a bath, cue up the Sarah McLachlan, and grab a pint of ice cream because we are seriously bumming about not being able to dine at some of these metro Detroit restaurants that made the difficult decision to close this year. While many of these shuttered establishments were unable to weather the financial crisis of the coronavirus pandemic, others had issues with landlords and leases, and some just needed to move on. Regardless, we tip our hat to these eateries that kept us caffeinated, fed, and boozed-up throughout the years. I will remember you...

Tags:

Scroll down to view images

Page 2 of 3

HopCat (Royal Oak)

208 W. Fifth St., Royal Oak
Craft beer bar HopCat permanently closed its Royal Oak location due to a dispute with the building's landlord. The Grand Rapids-based chain started in 2008 and has 17 locations across the country. HopCat plans on relocating somewhere else in Royal Oak.
Photo via HopCat/Facebook

21 of 50

Logan Restaurant

115 W. Washington St., Ann Arbor
After 16 years in Downtown Ann Arbor, New American restaurant and wine bar Logan Restaurant announced it was to close in June. Though it is unclear as to why it closed, Logan was planning on reopening after Gov. Whitmer lifted the dine-in restaurant restrictions.
Photo via Logan Restaurant/Facebook

22 of 50

Aut Bar

315 Braun Ct., Ann Arbor
A historic LGBTQ+ haven and hangout, Ann Arbor’s Aut Bar made the decision to not reopen after 25 years of operation. COVID-19 closures caused a decline in revenue, which had already been a concern for several years.
Photo via Aut Bar/Facebook

23 of 50

Sanders Candy (various locations)

Homegrown candy company — and Bumpy Cake revolutionaries — Sanders Candy announced in June that it would permanently close four of its retail locations, including those in Grosse Pointe, Livonia, Novi, and St. Clair Shores. Sanders saw a boom in online sales as in-store revenue declined as a result of the coronavirus.
Photo via Sanders Candy/Facebook

24 of 50

A Good Day Cafe

399 S. Lafayette St., South Lyon
A sad day for South Lyon’s A Good Day Cafe, which permanently closed in May after announcing that the pandemic — both at work and the home front — had made it difficult to maintain business as usual. The restaurant opened in 2017.
Photo via A Good Day Cafe/Facebook

25 of 50

Mike's Coney Island

2719 Russell St., Detroit
Eastern Market tenant Mike’s Coney Island closed in January after a battle with FIRM Real Estate, which has marked the coney island building for demolition. However, the owner had said he would relocate nearby and offer groceries and other home goods.
Photo via Google Maps/Street View

26 of 50

Wilma's

403 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor
What started as a market offshoot of popular vegan/vegetarian restaurant Seva eventually transitioned into Fred’s before becoming Wilma’s, an airy and light breakfast and brunch spot. Owners are in the process of opening Dixboro House, an American restaurant, however construction on the old farmhouse was halted due to coronavirus but anticipates opening this summer.
Photo via Wilma’s/Facebook

27 of 50

Town Tavern

116 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak
Royal Oak’s American eatery, Town Tavern, closed in May after suffering financial losses due to coronavirus. The restaurant had been at its Fourth Street location for 13 years before abruptly closing.
Photo via Town Tavern/Facebook

28 of 50

Blue Grill

426 N. Main St., Milford Popular family-owned Mediterranean restaurant Blue Grill could not weather the coronavirus and announced that it would close in May. The fast-casual eatery used family recipes and will continue to sell bottled products, like sauces and marinades.
Photo via Blue Grill/Facebook

29 of 50

New Order Coffee

3100 Woodward Ave., Detroit
Small batch coffee roaster New Order Coffee pulled the plug on its Midtown location in June after suffering financial setbacks due to coronavirus closures. New Order Coffee’s Royal Oak cafe remains open.
Photo via New Order Coffee/Facebook

30 of 50

Marovski's Family Restaurant

25032 W. Warren St.., Dearborn Heights
Since temporarily closing on March 16, family-owned and operated Marovski’s Family Restaurant in Dearborn Heights called it quits after 50 years of business. Owners posted on Facebook, “A worldwide pandemic was the only thing that could separate our tightly knit family; if you were here, you were definitely family.”
Photo via Marovski’s Family Restaurant/Facebook

31 of 50

Eastern Market Seafood Co.

2456 Market St., Detroit
After 45 years, the family-owned and -operated Eastern Market Seafood Co. closed in February so owner John Janevski could retire. Janevski, who worked at his father’s business since he was 12 years old, told Eater Detroit that three generations of his family have worked there. Known for frozen seafood and old-world sandwiches inherited from the building’s previous sausage company tenants, the Eastern Market Seafood Co. space was purchased by Sanford Nelson’s FIRM real estate in 2019.
Photo via Eastern Market Seafood Co./Facebook

32 of 50

Arbor Brewing Co.

114 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor
Opened in 1995, popular brewpub Arbor Brewing Co., decided to close its longstanding downtown Ann Arbor location with plans to relocate within the city. However, Arbor Brewing Co.’s Ypsilanti and Plymouth locations will remain open.
Photo via Google Maps/Street View

33 of 50

Poke Burri

70 W. Alexandrine St., Detroit
We guess Detroit wasn’t ready for sushi doughnuts, seeing that Poke Burri lasted but two months at its Midtown location. The Atlanta-based chain closed its Detroit location in January citing “unforeseen circumstances” and a parting of ways between the company and the Detroit franchise owner.
Photo via Shutterstock.com

34 of 50

Golden Basket

32286 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak
Another Royal Oak diner called it quits due to pandemic-related concerns. Golden Basket is listed as permanently closed and the phone number has been disconnected.
Photo via GoogleMaps

35 of 50

Detroit Taco Company

304 N. Main St., Royal Oak
After six years in Royal Oak, Detroit Taco Company closed its original location in June. According to a Facebook post, there were issues negotiating the terms of its lease. However, the restaurant has reopened its Troy location, with plans to open spots in Shelby Township and Detroit.
Photo via Detroit Taco Company/Facebook

36 of 50

Satchel’s BBQ

221 W. Liberty, Ann Arbor
Casual barbecue eatery Satchel’s BBQ made the decision to close its downtown Ann Arbor location in wake of COVID-19 and rising food costs. The restaurant’s original spot, at 3035 Washtenaw Ave., remains open.
Photo via Satchel’s BBQ/Facebook

37 of 50

Avalon Cafe & Biscuit Bar

2990 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit
Avalon International Breads closed its New Center outpost of beloved in August. The Detroit brand took over the former Cafe Con Leche space three years ago to offer a selection of Avalon’s signature coffee drinks and sandwiches made with flakey biscuits. The closure means owners can focus more energy and resources into the bakery’s flagship Cass Corridor location, and Avalon’s downtown spot, which offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and booze, both of which have recently reopened.
Photo via Avalon International Breads/Facebook

38 of 50

Holy Cannoli’s

2752 Coolidge Hwy., Berkley
In July, the Berkley outpost of this Rochester Italian bakery announced it would not reopen. The company was forced to turn its resources to its Rochester shop due to pandemic-related closures, staffing, and costs.
Photo via GoogleMaps

39 of 50

Nello’s

25994 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak
Casual family-dining mainstay Nello’s permanently closed according to Yelp and Google users after years at its Royal Oak location.
Photo via GoogleMaps

40 of 50