A First Look At The New Cornerstone Barrel House

What was once Oslo, a sushi restaurant/club on the corner of Woodward and John R, is soon going to be Cornerstone Barrel House, a sports bar upstairs, cocktail bar/club downstairs. Owner Mike Bowen, a Farmington Hills native, came back to Detroit after working in the Chicago bar/restaurant industry for 11 years. He purchased the space in April of 2013, and started renovations after closing in July.

He hopes to draw the Downtown after work crowd to the multipurpose space. Upstairs, with exposed brick and a more daytime feel, will have not only TVs and beer, but a kitchen and full menu. Bowen says that the style will be American comfort food, but with a strong emphasis on what's fresh and local, with everything made in house. He believes good food is the "cornerstone" of Cornerstone, and he plans on being open for lunch as well as dinner and beyond.

Downstairs, nicknamed the "Whiskey Disco" will have a more "late night" vibe, with cocktails and a club-like atmosphere. They're already hosting events in the space, including last Sunday's Whiskey Rebellion 2, and will continue to do so on weekends. Once Cornerstone is officially open the lower level will be open Thursday through Saturday, in the evenings only.

As the photo shows, there is still plenty of work to be done upstairs, and downstairs Bowen plans to redo the bar surface, build better display shelves for behind the bar, and make a few other changes before opening sometime in late February or early March. While they don't have a set date yet, Bowen knows one thing for certain; they will definitely be open before St. Patty's Day.
· Once Oslo, Now Cornerstone: Photos Of Their Basement Event Space [-ED-]
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