The Conserva Is Quietly Hosting Previews in Ferndale

Welcome to the Plywood Report, a continually updated list of intel on Detroit's and metro Detroit’s coming restaurant attractions.

November 4

FERNDALE — Dinner Club Pop-Up chef Matt Baldridge's new project The Conserva is hosting weekend soft openings in the former Torino restaurant space on the east side of Nine Mile. Baldridge tells Eater he's obtained temporary licensing to begin hosting previews as he tweaks the menu for an official rollout.

Courtesy of Janna Coumoundouros, Lilacpop Studio

The restaurant won't be quite as focused on preserves and dishes served in jars as was previously reported due to Health department restrictions. Diners can expect a limited menu (the cold storage space in the restaurant is notoriously small), with dishes like grilled octopus, terrines of cheese and fruit preserves, stuffed avocadoes, and more. Baldridge is still fine tuning the offerings. Cocktails are available at the bar. The restaurant likely won't be fully operational for a few weeks. [EaterWire]

FERNDALE — Forthcoming Ferndale restaurant and music venue Otus Supply could be opening very soon. The restaurant has started hiring staff and is scheduled to host an event on November 17. [Facebook]

TROY — Canton-based vegetarian-friendly Indian eatery NeeHee's is expanding to 4924 Rochester Rd. in Troy. According to a tipster the restaurant could debut as soon as Saturday. [EaterWire]

NORTHWEST DETROIT — Eastern Market's Louisiana Creole Gumbo is expanding to Seven Mile in Northwest Detroit this month. A rep for the restaurant tells Eater the second location is on track to begin soft openings on November 12. [EaterWire]

DEARBORN — Developers are moving fast on Ford's Garage. The car-themed restaurant chain based out of Florida broke ground on the project last month and have already framed the new building. The restaurant is expected to debut in spring 2017. [Facebook]

October 24

DOWNTOWN — Far past its initial opening date projection (remember May?), renovations of The Penobscot's historic Caucus Club are finally underway. The revived, steak-filled concept is now slated to debut by late-December with chef Rick Hussey (Filippa's Wine Barrel) heading up the kitchens. While the restaurant was almost entirely swept clean, owner George Sboukis worked with designer Wendy Silverman on a look that pays homage to Art Deco interiors. Still no word on whether the restaurant's beefy The Bullshot (beef broth, vodka, and spice) cocktail is also making a comeback. Take a peek at some of the interior drawings below. [Freep]

Facebook/Caucus Club

SHERWOOD FOREST — Gourmet slider outpost Slyde is still in planning mode for its brick-and-mortar restaurant on the Avenue of Fashion. The buildout reportedly is not underway yet, although co-founder LJ Nelson says he still hopes to see the restaurant open by next April. [Crain's]

JEFFERSON-CHALMERS — Caribbean food truck-turned-restaurant Norma G's is expected to cost $350,000 to build-out. That restaurant is also slated to debut in the spring if permitting and construction go as planned. [Crain's]

October 17

DETROIT — Forthcoming fast-casual, sustainable sushi restaurant Itadaku is moving in a new direction. Chef Mike Han tells Eater the restaurant will no longer be opening on the corner of Bagley and Trumbull. Eater has also learned that Han will not be opening a location inside the Detroit Shipping Company. "Although we cannot at this time disclose any information regarding our new location or timeline, please rest assured that we are committed to open in Detroit, and will create a special experience with sushi & art," Han writes via email.  [EaterWire]

NEW CENTER — Plans for the renovations of a building in New Center are moving forward. The Michigan Economic Development Corp. confirmed last week that it would spend $750,000 to rehab a building on Woodward Avenue that will house Wilda's — a new concept by the owners of Rose's Fine Food. As Eater first-reported in August, the 60-seat eatery will offer sweet and savory breakfast pastries, sandwiches, and salads alongside a full bar and coffee counter. [Eater/Freep]

SOUTHWEST — Long-delayed pizza and tacos restaurant La Noria has gained some signage — though unfortunately no firm opening date. El Barzon's sister restaurant was expected to debut over the summer but missed the boat. [EaterWire]

ANN ARBOR — The brick-and-mortar restaurant from former San Street Food founder Ji Hye Kim is slated to arrive in Ann Arbor's Kerrytown neighborhood in mid-November. Dubbed Miss Kim, the 85-seat restaurant will serve contemporary dishes rooted in Korean food traditions such as bibimbap and spicy rice cakes with pork belly and poached eggs. The eatery will also implement a "no-tip" policy, instead providing all employees with a fair hourly wage and benefits. [Crain's]

September 29

Facebook

MIDTOWN — Metro Detroit-based Mediterranean/Middle Eastern fast-casual chain 2941 Street Food is aiming to launch its Woodward Avenue location by early October with the Birmingham restaurant to follow in November, and two more spots in the works for Auburn Hills and Bloomfield Hills. Of course, the chain isn’t stopping there. Backed by the Joe Vicari Group, 2941 is expected to open 25 Michigan restaurants over the next five years and aims to branch out into the Las Vegas market. [Crain’s/Eater Vegas]

FERNDALE — Slowly but surely Urbanrest Brewing Company is developing its northeast Ferndale warehouse into a production space and taproom. The startup recently scoured a former Max & Erma’s bar for materials and equipment and gave the walls in the future fermentation room a fresh coat of paint. [Instagram]

DOWNTOWN — Work is moving ahead on Parc, the restaurant headed for the former Fountain Bistro space. When renovations are completed the 124-seat eatery will feature a 25-foot bar and 90-feet of retractable glass NanaWalls. Co-owner Zaid Elia says the restaurant’s as-of-yet-unnamed chef is preparing a menu with "‘redefined Detroit cuisine’ that draws on trends, influences, and flavors from the various communities and cultures represented in Detroit, both historically and today." [Crain’s]

MIDTOWN — Dangerously Delicious Pies has pushed back the anticipated opening timeline for its forthcoming Midtown brick-and-mortar. The new location in the Strathmore Apartments is now slated for a winter opening. Co-owner Sam Wood says fans of the pie shop can expect a "fancier" version of the company’s Wyandotte location with "a stage for live music." [MLive]

CORKTOWN — The opening date for the Trumbull & Porter Hotel’s bar and restaurant has been pushed back, but the company confirmed this week that it has secured $7.85 million in financing to complete its renovations. [Crain’s]

September 14

The Farmer’s Hand

CORKTOWN — Corktown’s game changing lunch counter and grocery store The Farmer’s Hand is slated to debut on September 30 on Trumbull Avenue. [Metro Times]

BIRMINGHAM — Chef Jacques Van Staden has now teamed up with the Vicari Restaurant Group (Joe Muer Seafood, Andiamo) in the expansion of his new Mediterranean/Middle Eastern chain, 2941 Street Food. In addition to the Rochester Hills location and the forthcoming Midtown restaurant, 2941 will add a location in Birmingham. [DBiz]

DOWNTOWN — Meanwhile, after several delays, Van Staden says he finally plans to open latent downtown Detroit French-American eatery Grand Cirque Brasserie next year in the David Whitney Building. [DBiz]

EASTERN MARKET — Detroit City Distillery is poised for a big expansion of its whiskey business this fall. The company has leased the former Stroh’s Ice Cream facility in Eastern Market, which will allow DCD to grow its whiskey capacity by 10 fold while providing room for aging spirits and space for custom spirit production. The first tours will be hosted on September 22 during Eastern Market After Dark. [EaterWire]

• Detroit’s Most Anticipated Restaurants and Bars, Fall 2016 [ED]
• All Eater Tracking Coverage [ED]
• All Plywood Report Coverage [ED]