8 Degrees Plato's Cass Avenue Bottle Shop Aims For August Reveal

Five years ago, beer enthusiasts Brigid Beaubien and Tim Costello began looking in earnest for the right building in Detroit to open a bottle shop. While real estate wasn't nearly as hot in the downtown area then, finding the right lease still proved challenging. They lost spaces in two buildings before deciding to head to Ferndale. Still, the pair never lost interest in a Detroit-based shop. Next month, the couple's perseverance will be rewarded with the opening of 8 Degrees Plato's Detroit location — a bigger, bolder version of their suburban beer mecca.

Alongside the company's fresh and expansive craft beer selection, Plato's Cass Avenue shop will feature a 16-tap bar with growler fills. In terms of design, Beaubien says, "We're working very closely with Architectural Salvage Warehouse and everything has been reclaimed." The 2,400-square-foot bottle shop will feature reclaimed mahogany tables made from the former Agave restaurant's bar top, a bar back constructed with oak Cass Tech bookcases, shelving built with wood from faded red and green bleachers, and antique bakers racks for inventory. "The energy for this spot has been so wonderful," Beaubien says, noting that the build-out has moved ahead smoothly with the exception of electrical work.

Plato is installing lighting at the Cass Avenue shop and plans to paint this week. [Brenna Houck]

Beyond their regular selection of craft beer, Plato will also serve two collaboration brews: Axiom by Greenbush and Beaubien's Ribbon Farm by Right Brain. In developing the beers, Beaubien and Costello actually visited both breweries and participated in the process. "I grated orange peels for an hour because [Axiom is] a Belgian-style tripel. We were right in it with them." Plato also plans to host kombucha classes led by Unity Vibrations. Beaubien is expects to see the shop open by mid- to late-August.