Slows Bar BQ in Pontiac Will Temporarily Close for Restructuring

Still relatively green from its spring debut, Slows Bar BQ’s Pontiac restaurant will temporarily close its doors on December 3 for restructuring. The suburb outpost of the popular Detroit barbecue restaurant intends to continue operating on a part-time basis during performances at the Flagstar Strand Theatre and will also be available for private events.

In a statement released to Eater this afternoon, restaurant management said they aimed to relaunch by spring 2018:

After eight months of learning about the local market needs, we have decided to take a moment to restructure our business initiatives and relaunch with a stronger and more dynamic restaurant. A late winter or early spring 2018 re-opening is anticipated.

The restaurant, which is located inside the Flagstar Strand Theatre at 8 Saginaw St., notified its roughly 40 employees of the impending closure over the weekend.

Management have been working actively throughout the week to find those employees new positions throughout metro Detroit. Slows will also be “retaining a good number of staff members in our other locations, so they will be ready to re-launch the Pontiac restaurant,” according to the release.

While Pontiac’s downtown has made significant strides over the past several years to attract new business, the partial closure of Slows suggests that its still a challenging location for restaurants.

Slows management was positive about the future of downtown Pontiac and its partner the Flagstar Strand, which the company stated was making efforts to organize a “compelling” lineup of shows for next year. “We are thrilled about all the positive economic development in the city and are fully engaged in being involved in the process to grow the community.”

Based in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood, Slows has since grown into a several locations with restaurants in Midtown Detroit, Grand Rapids, and multiple outlets inside Ford Field. The Pontiac restaurant, in the works since 2015, was its latest expansion effort.

The restaurant will open for the George Winston performance at the Flagstar Strand on December 16. Stay tuned for future updates on the restaurant’s relaunch.

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