Construction Begins on Ferndale’s Black Owl Restaurant

Construction has finally started on Black Owl, a new project by Toast owners Thom Bloom, Reagan Bloom, and Scott Myrick. The restaurant was initially expected to debut last spring at 345 E. Nine Mile Rd. Then it was pushed back to November. Right now, the restaurant looks more like a pile of cinder blocks, plywood, and rebar than anything else, but it's nice to see some progress on the site. The owners appear to be adding additional space to the original structure and many of the building's windows have been covered by cinderblocks.

Scaffolding surrounds a brick wall on the west side of Black Owl. Photo: Brenna Houck

Black Owl's liquor license application dates back to September 2013 and offers some sparing details regarding the restaurant as well as an early drawing of the layout. For those who are totally sick of the Detroit gastropub trend, this eatery won't provide any relief. "Black Owl will open for lunch and dinner, serving a variety of gourmet entrees, salads, soups made fresh daily, other ‘gastropub' cuisine," the company writes. Eater has reached out to Thom Bloom for updates on the project. Stay tuned.

A copy of Black Owl's plans accompanied the restaurant's liquor license application.