Dequindre Cut Shipping Container Development Preview Features Food and a Pop-Up Biergarten

Beer and design geeks can get a sneak peek at Detroit’s latest shipping container development this weekend during HarvestFest. The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy is offering visitors a chance to preview Dequindre Cut Freight Yard — a new food, retail, arts, and entertainment venue — during the annual celebration.

The preview hosted from noon to 5 p.m. on October 21 features music and art vendors as well as food from Comfort Cafe and an Atwater pop-up biergarten.

Located along the Dequindre Cut Greenway between Wilkins and Division streets, Freight Yard is being manufactured from nine repurposed shipping containers. Five of those containers will be stacked to create the “Hub,” a venue that will feature a DJ booth, retail space, and space for local art.

Ultimately, Freight Yard will be utilized as “a weekend gathering space that will feature refreshments, entertainment, retail and a unique pedestrian market where local vendors can display and sell their wares,” according to a release.

“The Cut is perfect for recreation and exercise, and as a connection between Eastern Market and the riverfront. The Freight Yard will provide a local food destination at the Cut and serve as a hub for local entrepreneurs,” RiverFront Conservancy president and CEO Mark Wallace says in a statement.

The Build Institute is in the process of recruiting an unspecified number of vendors to be featured at Freight Yard on a rotating basis, a representative for the RiverFront Conservancy tells Eater. “Pop-up and temporary space is crucial to entrepreneurs as a low-overhead way to test ideas and launch vetted businesses,” says Build Institute executive director April Boyle.

Partners in the development include the RiverFront Conservancy, Build Institute, PonyRide, Lawrence Technological University (LTU), Western International High School, and Groundswell Design Group.

The project is slated to be completed in spring 2018. Freight Yard isn’t the only food and beverage project the RiverFront Conservancy has in the works. The group is also on the hunt for a food and beverage operator to help its concessions at the forthcoming Atwater Beach.

• New Freight Yard at the Dequindre Cut to Preview During Harvestfest [CDET]
• All Developments Coverage [ED]