Metro Detroit restaurants are more than just places to eat. They're spots where we make memories with friends and family, celebratebridal or babyshowers or enjoy a favorite dish for a birthday or anniversary.
While the venues may not last forever, the memories will. We compiled a list of well-known restaurants in Wayne and Oakland Countiesthat closed in 2019. Hopefully your favorites aren't on the list. We've sorted them by county below.
Oakland County
Axle Brewing, Ferndale
Axle Brewing Co. opened its Livernois Tap in June 2017, but factors including road construction and distribution 'headwinds' led to its closure in June.Livernois Tapwas selected as one of the Free Press' Top 10 Best New Restaurants in 2018.
Beirut Palace, Royal Oak
Downtown Royal Oak lost another longtime restaurant this year due to what the owner said is lack of parking spaces. Beirut Palace had been in downtown since 1997. The restaurant's owner says he'll eventually open in a new location not far from Royal Oak.
Black Lotus Brewery, Clawson
After more than a dozen years in Clawson,Black Lotus Brewing Co. shuttered and serve its last beers in October, according to employees.
Cameron's Steakhouse, Birmingham
Cameron’s Steakhouse at 115 Willits Street closed after serving its last meal in June,Downtown magazine reported. It originally opened in 2001 and was owned by Landry’s.
Cellarmen's, Hazel Park
Hazel Park lost its onlycraft beverage maker later this summer.Cellarmen's, which opened in October 2015as the city'sfirstbrewery-meadery-cidery, closed July 27. Co-founder Dominic Calzetta cited multiple reasons forclosing— including craft beverage industry challenges, obstacles in distribution and rent increases from their landlord.
El Patron Mexican Grill, Pontiac
Located at1188 Joslyn Ave., El Patron Mexican Grill abruptly announced on Facebook that it would close on June 30, 2019. The restaurant had been in operation for six years. No reason was given.
Ginopolis Restaurant, Farmington Hills
Ginopolis Restaurant in Farmington Hills, one of metro Detroit's most famous restaurants, closed Aug. 17. It was co-owned by brothersJohnny and Peter Ginopolis who purchased Oba's Bar in 1979 at that spot and built Ginopolis Restaurant, which opened in 1982.
Golden Crown, Royal Oak
Golden Crown owner Connie Low closed the Bloomfield Township restaurant at 43239 Woodward in November.
Several factors contributed to her decision to close the restaurant, including deciding on whether to sign a new lease and whether she wanted to keep going while working long hours at the age of 72, according to Hometown Life.
Kim's Family Restaurant, Troy
Troy's beloved "Kim's Family Restaurant"decided to close its doors this year after nearly 45 years in business. The owners of the popular Chinese eatery said they would retire, and served up theirlast meal on August 31.
Mongolian Grill, Royal Oak
The bd's Mongolian Grill chain closed its Royal Oak location at 430 S. Main in December.
"Given that we have a couple of nearby locations, we've made the difficult decision to close this location," the company said in a Facebook post.
Moose Winooski's, Clawson
Moose Winooski's, or The Moose, at 38 S. Main St., has been sold after 31 years. Owner Larry Johnson retired, said Joan Horton, director of Clawson’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA).
Pasquale's, Royal Oak
A staplein the community for more than 60 years, Pasquale's closedthe doors of its Woodward locationApril 7.The restaurant served up Italian favorites such as pizza and pasta. The property went up for sale in 2018 after the original owner announced plans to retire. There are new plans in the works for the shuttered property.
Sushi Coup, Rochester Hills
After about three years in business, Sushi Coup on West Auburn Road served its last poke bowl May 3. It's unclear why the business decided to close, but the restaurant appeared to be hopeful for future plans in a Facebook post that read: "Rest assured, we’re closing, but not gone."
Two Guys From Italy, Hazel Park
After 10 years in business, Two Guys From Italy announced on Facebook that it would serve up its final pie this summer. The owners of the carry-out restaurant located on John R. planned to retire, according to Crains Detroit.The company's Royal Oak location remains open.
Wayne County
Alexander The Great
Known for their ribs, broasted chicken and pasta, Alexander the Great remained a staple on Warren and Wayne roads for 42 years until owners Tom and Paulina Tomich retired in December.
Allenby, vendor inside Detroit's Fort Street Galley
Fort Street Galley lost another vendor in June, when Middleastern sandwich spot Allenby announced its plans to close. Allenby co-owner Michael Goldberg cited a number of reasons for closure, including lack of foot traffic and higher price points than what the lunchtime crowd wanted.
Ashley's Beer and Grill, Westland
Ashley's Beer and Grill at 7525 N. Wayne closed in December after 12 years of business. The restaurant cited complications with its lease agreement with Westland Shopping Center as the reason behind the closure.
Big Boy, Westland
The Big Boy in Westland abruptly closed its doors in July after years of serving up Big Boy hamburgers and Slim Jims.
Blue Plate Diner, Livonia
The Blue Plate Diner, 32610 Seven Mile, closed for good in December after many years in business.The diner wasknown for breakfastfood like omelettes and pancakes, as well as sandwiches, burgers and pitas, according to HometownLife.com.
Bolero Latin Cuisine, Midtown Detroit
The space that once housed Bolero Latin Cuisine in Detroit's Midtown went in a new direction after the restaurant closed this past spring. Eater Detroit reporter that a new project called Savant would take over the space at 51 West Forest Ave.
Brann's Steakhouse & Sports Grille, Northville Township
Brann's Steakhouse, located at 39715 Six Milein Northville Township, closed Sept.7.
Assistant general manager Stephen Benyi told HometownLife.com that steakhouse competition, a beer compressor breaking down and road construction that affected business were all factors in the closure.
The restaurant had been open since 2004.
Chene Adele, Wyandotte
The Chene Adele was born more than half a century ago in Detroit’s old Poletown neighborhood before moving to Wyandotte. That was in 1981. Almost 40 years later, the Chene Adele took its final bow on August 3.
The Claddagh, Livonia
The Irish pub at 17800 Haggerty closed its doors in December after more than 15 years in business. Justin O'Driscoll, the operations director for Claddagh Irish Pubs based in Cleveland, said the restaurant's lease was up at the end of the month and they decided not to renew it, according to Hometown Life.
Drive Table Tennis Social Club, Detroit
There's no more ping pong happening anymore at the Drive Table Tennis Social Club located in Detroit's Penobscot Building. As of Jan. 27, the eatery and hangout closed its doors with hopes of relocating in the future.
Farmer's Restaurant, Detroit
Located in Detroit's Eastern Market at 2542 Market St., Farmer's Restaurant closed without warning in March, after the building wassold to a developer. The restaurant as known for its Reuben sandwiches.
Giordano's, Detroit
Giordano's, located at 1224 Randolph, closed this summer after less than two years at its Detroit outpost.Giordano's was located around the corner from homegrown marinara-pie slinger Pizza Papalis, which remains a popular option. The only remaining Michigan location is in Holland.
Hard RockCafé, Detroit
After 15 years in operation, Hard RockCafé closedJan. 26 its location in One Campus Martius, the former Compuware Building.During its early years, the Detroit location regularly hosted shows by local musicians and occasional touring acts, but bookings trickled off in recent times.
Johnny Carino's, Allen Park
Johnny Carino's abruptly closed its Allen Park location, located at 23075 Outer Drive, in April. At the time of closing, Yelpshowed the Commerce Township location had also closed.
Katsu Japanese, Detroit
Katsu, the first and only U.S. location of a Japanese gastropub chain, closed after just six months at the corner of Trumbull and Putnam in Detroit's Woodbridge neighborhood. A minority partner in the restaurant told Eater Detroit that the restaurant was losing money after a costly opening process.
[Has the industryreached a saturation point? Here's why Mark Kurlyandchik says the restaurant boom is over in metro Detroit.]
Le Petit Zinc, Detroit
A French-inspired breakfast and lunch spot, Le Petit Zinc closed its doors April 21.The restaurant, originally located in Corktown,moved to Midtownlast year, after adispute with its landlord. At the time of its closing, the restaurant said "exciting changes" were in the works.
Malarkey's Irish Pub, Westland
Malarkey's Irish Pub in Westland closed for good St. Patrick's Day after it was told it would have to leave its location on Warren Road two years earlier. The restaurant opened in 1982 and had been at the Warren Road location since 1998.
Mel Bar, Melvindale
After nearly 65 years in business, the Mel Bar, aneighborhood favorite, closed its doors for good in June. Known for its karaoke crowds, fish frys and specials, the popular dive bar fared well in online reviews. At the time of its closing, one of the bar's four employees said the owner "is moving on."
Pizza Hut, Canton
Canton's dine-in Pizza Hutlocation at 44995 Ford Road closed after 40 years of business in March
Pursue,vendor inside Detroit's Fort Street Galley
Less than five months into a one-year contract,Pursue, a concept offering sustainable American seafood paired with Korean flavors,closed May 1. It was replaced by Table, which serves up southern-inspired cooking paired with comfort food.
River Bistro, Detroit
Press and accolades couldn't save chef Max Hardy's River Bistro, a two-year-old Caribbean-Soul restaurant in Detroit's Grandmont-Rosedale neighborhood.
"Regretfully, and after sincere thought and consideration, we’ve decided to set our sights on new goals,"Hardy announced in a September news release.
Russell Street Deli, Detroit
A longtime fixture in Detroit's Eastern Market, Detroit's Russell Street Deli closed ahead of schedule, serving its final customers on August 31. The closure was prompted by a dispute with the building's new landlord. As chef and co-owner Bell Hall told it back in April,the impasse began over a complaint about the nearly 130-year-old building's floor.
