Smoke’s Poutinerie May Drop Second Michigan Restaurant in Cass Corridor

Canadian gravy fry restaurant chain Smoke’s Poutinerie revealed today that it’s exploring the new Red Wings arena district area for a Detroit location. Midwest franchise co-owner Toine Murphy tells Crain’s that the company is “in negotiations right now to be part of the new arena district.”

If the deal is finalized, the owners hope to launch the Detroit poutine outpost by late fall. This is the second restaurant expected to expand to the Ilitch family-developed “District Detroit” portion of Cass Corridor — an entertainment district broken up into distinct smaller neighborhood developments around the Little Caesars Arena and new Little Caesars World Headquarters. Earlier this year, Lockhart’s BBQ confirmed that it was exploring locations for a third full-service restaurant in the development.

Smoke’s had previously express interest in a Detroit location during an expansion announcement last summer. The franchisees tell Crain’s that they’re now focusing on opening around nine restaurants in college towns across the Midwest.

The company, known for serving upwards of 30 riffs on the traditional gravy and cheese curd-topped fries, will open its first Michigan location in Ann Arbor on June 4 in the former World of Beer space. That restaurant will also be flanked by a new bar franchise called The Beaver Trap.

• Smoke's Poutinerie Bets on Travy Train in Ann Arbor, The District Detroit [Crain’s]

• Smoke’s Poutinerie’s Ann Arbor Outpost Debuts on June 4 [ED]

• Canada's Smoke’s Poutinerie Plots Michigan Gravy Fries Invasion [ED]

• All Expansions Coverage [ED]