Selden Street Dive Bar Honest John's Sells to Dave Kwiatkowski

Adding to his rapidly expanding portfolio of bars and restaurants, Dave Kwiatkowski today purchased Honest John's from owner John Thompson, Crain's reports. Kwiatkowski also owns The Sugar House, Wright & Co., and the coming attraction Café 78 inside the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit.

The new owner says the bar will be run by his brother and co-owner (a different) John:

"We are going to maintain it as Honest John's," says Kwiatkowski. "We're keeping everything that's good and hopefully cleaning it up a little bit and improving it."

Many suitors were apparently vying for the opportunity to purchase the Detroit staple on Selden Street.

"A lot of people were interested in it," Kwiatkowski says. "But a lot of people trying to buy it were aiming to rip it down and develop the land because it includes the vacant lot next door. The reason we all got along so well is that we wanted to keep it Honest John's."

This is the third time the Honest John's has changed hands according to reporter Amy Heimerl.