(WWJ) Fans were devastated when news broke that venerable Russell Street Deli near Detroit's Eastern Market may shutter for good, but a glimmer of hope emerged Thursday when owner Ben Hall posted a social media message saying they're considering a kickstarter campaign.
In an interview with WWJ, owner Ben Hall said he's not exactly sure yet what the money would be earmarked for if he did go for a kickstarter -- a new location or a totally new venture that's based on food other than soups and sandwiches. He's still deciding if Russell will re-make itself in a new location, and if it does, what the next itiration could be.
"We're lucky enough to have so many people want us," Hall told WWJ's Sandra McNeill, adding they've had overtures from East English Village, Hamtramck, and more.
One thing's for sure: Staying open in its current location is "really unlikely," Hall told McNeill. Russell Street Deli is set to close Sept. 28, he said.
After rumors of a closure and the cause of it swirled for weeks, Hall posted a message explaining what had happened. He says the owner of the building wanted him to pay $50,000 for floor repairs as part of a new lease.
'"But, what's wrong with the one we have?" we asked him," Hall wrote on Facebook. "Other than the fact that our lease was penned when almost all Detroit landlords were desperate to maintain occupied, street level businesses, there's nothing wrong with it. The new lease he proposed would increase our rent to $3,775 a month, a more than $2,000 or 122% increase. This would add up to $124,500 over those five years--or an additional $74,500."
Hall went on to claim the owner shut down the building randomly one day, and "then there were three "anonymous" complaints to the city, resulting in surprise inspections from building, health, and fire. Our business has never had a complaint placed with the city, anonymous or otherwise, since 1996."
Hall decided the relationship with the owner amounted to "bullying," and it was time to close.
"It's hard enough to sell food at a profit. There's a reason so many restaurants go out of business. It's hard enough to make a sandwich without some guy's hand deep in your pocket. It's hard to make soup with a boot on your neck."
For their part, the building owner counters that Hall seemed determined to close no matter what they offered. The company issued a statement saying, "we tried to solve this amicably from the very beginning, but the owner of has made it clear that he is determined to close despite offers from many sources, including FIRM Real Estate. We're sorry to hear he is leaving his current location and wish he and his team the best of luck in the future."
So, does that mean it's the end of the road for the deli known for produce straight out of farmer's fields?
Not necessarily.
"In the meantime, we'll probably have to do a damned Kickstarter to raise some cash," Hall wrote on Facebook. "We'll certainly need your help with that and spreading it far and wide to do this kind of emotional (and business) barn raising. While we're scrambling to work out this massive transformation we're about to undergo, we need help from you supporting our community partners. We strongly encourage you to donate time and/or cash. In lieu of cash or time, we ask you to spread awareness about the following organizations who aren't just friends but mentors. They are people who do the kind of groundbreaking, inspirational community work that we aspire to.
"The love has been massive. But this is Detroit, right? This kind of love--it'sDetroit love. And the offers for bright, loving new homes for our little business have been extraordinary and plentiful. We'll find a place, a space, a landlord, a building, and whatever block we arrive on, we hope you'll come and break bread with us and continue to share OUR story and OUR future, which is YOUR story. It's a Detroit story. It's all about the ashes and the phoenix in this city.
