Here are some metro Detroit businesses that became another casualty of the pandemic.
It was like the “shot heard round the world.” On March 11, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. What came to follow after this was mass death, an insufferable amount of loss, lockdown orders and political strife. It was a day where people learned to appreciate the small moments in life like office banter, coffee dates with friends or a quick hug from someone you love. As the worldwide death toll malignantly grew, eventually passing 2 million deaths, a financial crisis evolved alongside the pandemic. As businesses found it increasingly difficult to keep up with rent and diminishing revenue, many decided to shutter their doors forever. Here are some metro Detroit businesses that became another casualty of the pandemic. Andiamo, Dearborn Andiamo closed its doors forever on Feb.28 after losing more than $3 million throughout its 24-week closure, owner Joe Vicari said in an email to the Free Press. “This restaurant casualty is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic-related closures, capacity limits, and ‘pauses’ that have limited our ability to remain profitable,” Vicari said. The Dearborn location opened in 2004 on the north side of Michigan Avenue in the city’s west business district. Avalon Cafe and Biscuit Bar, Detroit Tucked in New Center was another branch of the Avalon International Breads bakery. The Avalon Cafe and Biscuit Bar debuted three years ago and closed in August. Avalon co-founder Jackie Victor said to the Free Press the closing was directly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Other Avalon locations are still up and running in Cass Corridor, downtown Detroit, Bellevue Street and Ann Arbor. Briggs Detroit, Detroit Known for its screenings of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” while also being a sports bar, Briggs Detroit quietly left the restaurant scene in 2020. According to the Metro Times, a new seafood spot called the Sloppy Crab will overtake the former bar, located right across from the Renaissance Center. Brujo Tacos and Tapas, Detroit After a stint in the Detroit Shipping Co. food hall, the non-traditional taco stand closed in September, according to Eater Detroit. A halal, New York-style street food stand now takes the spot of the former taco place. Detroit Institute of Bagels, Detroit The beloved bagel spot on Michigan Avenue closed after seven years in business. On a typical Sunday morning, one would have to wait in a long line for the boiled and baked bagels. However, the bagel joint closed in September. Recently, Rand Paul, R-Ky, mentioned the Detroit Institute of Bagels on the Senate floor when criticizing the $50,000 loan the bagel restaurant received from an earmark. On Twitter, the Detroit Institute of Bagels shot back at the senator, saying “While Sen. Paul was probably just grandstanding and has no idea about DIB, it’s worth mentioning that he did so at the expense of an American small business; and, that the federal gov’t would have a hard time getting a better return on its investment that it did with that $50k.” Dilla’s Delights, Detroit Herman Hayes had the idea of starting Dilla’s Delights to honor his music-producing nephew, J Dilla, who was a staple in Detroit’s mid-1990s underground hip-hop scene. Dilla died in 2006 from a rare blood disease and lupus, and his death was just three days after he released his last record titled “Donuts.” Hayes opened the donut shop in May 2016 on the first floor of the Ashley building at the corner of John R and Centre Streets in downtown Detroit. People knew Dilla’s Delights for their high-quality donuts with Detroit-inspired names. The shop officially called in quits in an Instagram video on Jan.10. Lady of the House, Detroit In 2017, award-winning chef Kate Williams opened Lady of the House on 1426 Bagley Street However this February, Williams closed the restaurant permanently. When the restaurant first opened, Free Press reporter Mark Kurlyandchik described the restaurant’s atmosphere by saying “While its DNA is distinctly present-day Detroit, there’s an undercurrent of Old World joie de vivre pulsing through its veins.” Some of Williams’ notable dishes from Lady of the House include the rich shrimp butter, duck leg confit with grapefruit gastrique, roast lamb shoulder with lemon sauce and coffee jus rum cake with cheese glaze and sesame tuille.
