DETROIT (WWJ) -- A staple in the Corktown food scene over the last decade is closing its doors, though the owner says “it’s not goodbye.”
Brooklyn Street Local opened in 2012 and became well known for its locally-sourced brunch offerings. Owner Deveri Gifford announced on the restaurant’s Facebook page Thursday morning that she and her husband have made the difficult decision to close their doors.
The restaurant at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Brooklyn Street fell on tough times when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and Gifford says “after 9 and a half years I just don’t have the capacity to keep going.”
“I have made the very tough decision to close Brooklyn Street Local. Almost 10 years ago Jason and I loaded up our Toronto apartment and moved into 1266 Michigan Ave on a cold January night,” the Facebook post says. “We slept on tables at the restaurant while we got our bearings and found an apartment. At that time in Detroit we were able to open a business on a shoestring. We immediately felt welcomed and supported, and fixed up the restaurant as we went. No one minded that it was unpolished and DIY’d. It was the creativity, the strength, the compassion, the ingenuity of Detroiters that drew us to this city and why we fell in love with it.”
She says “this is not goodbye,” however, because she has plans to still serve the community she and her husband grew to love.
“We are scaling down, pivoting again and trying to figure out how to do this in a way that is sustainable. We are not selling the building, there is a plan for this space, more on that later,” the post says.
They have plans to host pop-up events in the coming months, including their famous poutine, while quiche and other brunch items will be available through Eastern Market and Metro Detroit Crunchy Club.
“Please keep following us for updates and events and continue to support small businesses, Detroit artists, creatives and entrepreneurs,” she said.
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