HopCat Announces Detroit Arrival, Media Frenzy Ensues

Not since Anthony Bourdain's Detroit visit has the local media been so single-mindedly excited about something culinary. The news that HopCat, one of "the world's best beer bars" is coming to Detroit, that they're taking over the Agave Building in Midtown, and that they're planning to open in August has inspired at least one article by nearly every major local news source.

Here is a roundup of (almost) all of the stories so far, with links for the beer enthusiast's clicking pleasure:

Curbed Detroit: "HopCat Chooses Midtown, Scores the Old Agave Building". They posted renderings yesterday, along with many current pictures of the Agave space. Curbed notes that the press release doesn't mention an August opening, opting for a more general "2014" instead.

The Detroit News: "Grand Rapids-based brewery HopCat to open Detroit bar in August". The article notes that the Detroit location, like the one in Lansing, will be a bar only and not a brewery. They also mention that it's expected to create over 100 new jobs.

WXYZ: "HopCat pub to bring 100 jobs, 130 taps and new life into historic Midtown Detroit building". They stick to the press release facts, but do offer that HopCat will "bring new life" to the long vacant building (it's been empty since 2006).

The Detroit Free Press: "Tom Walsh: HopCat to open state's largest craft beer bar in Midtown". The Freep says that Mark Sellers is another Dan Gilbert, and they give background on the entrepreneur, who dabbled a little in a lot of things before finding gold with HopCat in Grand Rapids. The article also mentions that lots of prep-work has been done to help speed the opening process along when it comes to zoning, taxes, and the like.

Hell Yeah Detroit: "The $3.3 Million Hopcat That's Coming To Midtown Detroit By The Numbers". Looking for the stats to impress friends and family? This is that post.

Metro Times: "The Largest Craft Beer Bar in Michigan Is Slated to Open in Detroit This Summer". It's short, sweet, and written post "Agave Building" reveal, but they do note Mark Seller's plans to expand into other Midwestern cities (look out Ann Arbor, Chicago, and Indianapolis).

Crains Detroit: "'Best bar in America' is coming to Midtown". Again, it's press release stuff, with the addition of McIntosh Poris Associates in Birmingham being named project architect and Grand Rapids' Wolverine Construction named general contractor, for those who follow these things.

CBS Detroit: "Largest Craft Beer Venture Ever Coming To Detroit — Meet HopCat!". What is HopCat according to CBS? It's "hip" young Metro Detroiter bait, AKA "craft beer and outdoor summertime fun".

Deadline Detroit: "Detroit Next Home Of Award-Winning HopCat Brewery -- With 130 Beers On Tap". Trust Deadline to spice things up with something totally crazy-an analysis of HopCat's dog policy. Apparently they allow dogs (and cats for equality's sake) on the patio within reason, no word yet on whether or not dogs will be welcome in Detroit.

MLive: "Popular craft beer bar HopCat announces Detroit location". Apparently Sellers has been making loads of money through HopCat and his other ventures, with the numbers in the MLive article adding up to a combined $28 million in annual sales.

Detroit YES!: "HopCat Bar opening in Detroit; will be biggest location yet". It's not a media frenzy without the Detroit lovers/haters/concern trolls/vocal folks over at Detroit YES! weighing in, but go down this rabbit hole at your own risk.

· HopCat Chooses Midtown, Scores the Old Agave Building [Curbed]
· All HopCat Detroit Coverage [-ED-]