Griffin Claw Brewing Owners Score DTE Energy Park’s Flagship Restaurant Space

DTE Energy has finally named the operator for its downtown park restaurant. The utility company acquired land in downtown Detroit — bounded by Grand River Avenue, Plaza Drive, and 1st Street — in 2013 and announced plans to reinvent the area as a green space with a restaurant last year. After an extensive search, DTE Energy has named Norm and Bonnie LePage as the operators of the new flagship restaurant and food service for the larger park, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The LePages are the owners of Birmingham-based restaurant Big Rock Chophouse and Griffin Claw Brewing Company as well as Clubhouse BFD in Rochester Hills. Together, they’ve been searching for opportunities to launch a restaurant in Detroit proper for the past two years.

Courtesy of DTE

The 4,000-square-foot restaurant features a distinctive swooping design by Victor Saroki and architects Touloukian Touloukian that’s visible to travelers on Grand River Avenue. All together the unnamed brasserie is expected to seat 85 diners indoors with 125 seats on the patio. Retractable Nana Walls will create an outdoor feel for the flagship restaurant during warm weather. The rooftop platform area blends outdoor dining and sustainable green roof that will collect water runoff. The bar will focus on a selection of Belgian-style beers.

The park is expected to debut in July with the year-round restaurant to follow later this fall. It’s still unclear whether the privately-owned green space will offer room for food trucks as previously envisioned. Eater is reaching out for more details. Stay tuned.

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