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Photo courtesy of Eastside Roasterz
The Metro Detroit area has always been known for its innovation, partly because it’s a burgeoning hotspot for entrepreneurship and business ventures. With the new year underway, several new spots are opening or getting close to doing so. Some businesses have only been pop-ups before, and are now entering a brick-and-mortar space, while others are taking a starting-from-scratch approach. Regardless, we’re looking forward to welcoming these new ventures to the Metro Detroit business scene. Let’s dive into some of the new businesses to keep your eye out for shortly…
ELEPHANT & CO.
330 East Lincoln Avenue, Royal Oak
Elephant & Co. sort of covers it all, from beer from Eastern Market Brewing and pizza developed at Ferndale Project to the donuts baked fresh from Dooped Donuts. Elephant & Co.’s Royal Oak spot is Michigan’s first fully self-service taproom. This brand is set to open its flagship location downtown later this year, but you can consider the Royal Oak location as its’ testing playground. Imagine dozens of self-pour brews from Eastern Marketing Brewing along with Detroit-style pizza. Many fell in love with the pizza and beer delivery service that this company offered during the pandemic, and now can’t wait for it to be offered again. For all of the exciting developments on their new businesses, follow along on social media.
NUEVO SEOUL
Set to open very shortly downtown is Nuevo Seoul, a Korean-Mexican fusion restaurant. Around Shelby and Congress, this spot will be combining two cuisines that many are looking forward to trying. Some dishes that have been shared thus far include Korean barbecue tacos, Korean fried chicken, and kimchi papas fritas (kimchi over French fries). Keep up with their Instagram so you’ll be the first to visit this new fusion restaurant and try these dishes yourself.
EASTSIDE ROASTERZ
For those looking for a caffeine boost, Eastside Roasterz have you covered in their own spot shortly. Co-owners Tiffany and Riss Dezort tell us, “We are Eastside Roasterz, a specialty coffee roaster in Detroit, Michigan. We are majority-black-owned, entirely-LGBTQ+ owned, and tiredly-mama-owned. We have a passion for coffee and community and are very excited to open our first brick-and-mortar location in mid-2024. We feel incredibly blessed to have already partnered with many new and established businesses throughout the city, and are proud to be the coffee suppliers for Sister Pie Detroit and BasBlue.” If you want a taste right away, Eastside Roasterz often has pop-ups at Next Chapter Books and other community establishments that you can find posted on their social media and website.
LILY’S & ELISE TEA HOUSE
Lily’s & Elise Tea House is going to be the place where tea party dreams come true. This luxury tea lounge with pastries, mocktails, and small bites has shared many sneak peeks throughout its construction and opening process. While the storefront is currently closed, the specialty teas and treats are available for online order if you just can’t wait to give Lily’s & Elise Tea House a try! For more tea party action in the meantime, check out our list of tea spots here.
GAJIZA DUMPLINS
Headed to East English Village later this year is Gajiza Dumplins, known for its Southeastern Asian flavors. Along the East Warren corridor, construction is underway to build Gajiza Dumplins’ first brick-and-mortar restaurant. In the meantime, you can grab an impressive dish (or two!) from its frequent pop-ups around the Metro Detroit area. After taking a well-deserved break during January, Gajiza Dumplins will start popping back up throughout February and beyond with its dumplings and other specials like pho, noodle stir fry, and more.
VECINO
In the Midtown area, Vecino is a modern Mexican bar and restaurant looking to open in the coming months. Vecino is planning to offer a simple yet innovative menu inspired by traditional Mexican dishes. One example is its aguachile, made from serrano and jalapeño peppers, cilantro, radish, seaweed, and guajillo oil. Executive Chef Ricardo Mojica’s Mexican-Guatemalan background sets the stage for his creative, spice-infused dishes that will grace our tables within the next few months. Keep up with their website and social media for more updates.
ENCARNACION
If you’re around the West Village area, you may know that Encarnacion is well on its way. Encarnacion offers Latin American coffee and food in a remodeled home along Kercheval Avenue. This spot opened back in November for a soft opening, with its latte art and dishes impressing many. While the soft opening has recently come to an end, the next time Encarnacion opens, it should be for good. Follow along on Instagram to see when Encarnacion is ready to welcome everyone back for its grand opening.
