Top of the Pontch Closes, Switches to Events-Only Space

DOWNTOWN — Another high rise restaurant quietly bid farewell to downtown this month. Top of the Pontch, the eatery located on the 25th floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, has suspended its dinner service and transitioned into a private events-only space. The announcement was made on April 1 on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Top of the Pontch debuted in 2014 to much anticipation, but the high-end restaurant struggled to find its niche in Detroit’s increasingly packed restaurant market. Opening chef Justin Vaiciunas was replaced by Brandon Schatko in 2015. Schatko later exited for a chef de cuisine position at Whitelake Lodge in Lake Placid. Still, the Crowne Plaza appears to have more projects in the works — possibly a reinvention of The Jefferson House that shuttered in 2015.

The hotel management writes that there will be “some exciting new developments in the coming months for our Jefferson House dining room and Urban Cellars bar.” [Freep/Facebook]

Brenna Houck

DOWNTOWN — What will break the curse at the corner of W. Adams and Woodward? Restaurants in these spots seem to turn over as quickly as a new one pops up (see: R.U.B. BBQ Pub’s revamp and later transition to Brass Rail Pizza). A tipster tells Eater that Norte Modern Mexican — which replaced TAQO last summer — may be the latest victim of the block. It appears to have closed its doors in Grand Circus Park and an arcade bar may replace it. Eater has reached out to the management for confirmation. The restaurant’s listed phone number appears to no longer be working and the signage has been removed from the exterior of the building. [EaterWire]

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