Brix Wine Bar Lands in West Village Bank Building

Detroit's wine aficionados are receiving yet another gift from the purple-lipped god of grapes. A new wine bar and bottle shop Brix is poised to takeover a space in a rehabbed bank building on Kercheval in West Village. Owner Mikiah Westbrooks tells Eater that bar is located next to the bank's original vault and service window and will feature wine tastings, charcuterie, and retail.

Brix is a passion project nearly 15 years in the making. Westbrooks worked as a hairdresser and social media consultant, but always hoped to open a tasting room. Then, last year her mother was diagnosed with cancer and Westbrooks says she began to reevaluate her life and what she hoped to accomplish. Her husband suggested that she visit the bank building under renovation just a few blocks from her home. Westbrooks says she fell in love with the space. "Brix" is a term used describe the amount of sugar in wine grapes prior to processing. "I wanted the name to be really reflective of the process that I've gone through," she notes.

Westbrook is currently working with an architect to design the wine bar. The chef's table will seat between six and eight people with between four and five additional tables near the old bank drive-thru service window. Plans also include a patio. Westbrook says she'll begin hosting tastings in early 2016. The wine bar is expected to officially open next spring.

Brix is the latest in a slough of new Detroit wine options. Vertical Detroit wine bar and bottle shop debuted earlier this fall in The Ashley. Just last week, bottle shop House of Pur Vin opened its doors downtown.