‘Up North’-Themed Restaurant and Barcade Drop Anchor on Selden Street

A new Northern Michigan-inspired restaurant, arcade bar, and brewing program are slated to open in Cass Corridor in 2018. The projects are part of a larger $20 million development called the Selden Corridor Initiative led by Midtown Inc.

Founded in 2004 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Barcade — an old-school video game arcade and craft beer bar — will be expanding to the former Smith Welding Supply Co. building at 666 Selden St. It will be the chain’s first location in the Midwest and one of only a handful of arcade bars within metro Detroit. The bar is expected to be one of Barcade’s largest locations, the company’s CEO Paul Kermizian said during a press conference today at the site. The extra space will make room for a “larger pinball selection than we have anywhere else.” Barcade intends to keep the original Smith Welding Supply Co. signage on the building.

Barcade will also share the building with a forthcoming brewers training program in collaboration with Eastern Michigan University’s bachelor’s in fermentation science program and the founders of Jolly Pumpkin and North Peak Brewing Co. (operated by Northern United Brewing Co.).

Courtesy of Midtown Detroit Inc.

North Peak’s co-founder Jon Carlson said that while details of the education program are still being worked out it will likely focus on 10-week courses for groups of eight students. The program will be targeting an effort to increase diversity in the brewing industry. “Half the seats in the brewery program will be reserved for women and minorities,” according to a release. Beers produced through the program will be pumped through an underground system in the courtyard into the neighboring building where Carlson and his partners Greg Lobdell and Chet Czaplicka are developing a new restaurant.

Courtesy of Midtown Detroit Inc.

Plans for that Up North-influenced restaurant were first revealed last spring. During the press conference today, Carlson elaborated on the project — dubbed North Cookshop. The restaurant was something he and childhood friend-turned-business partner Greg Lobdell had been planning for quite sometime. “We always wanted to do a restaurant that represented Northern Michigan,” Carlson said. North Cookshop, located at 644 Selden St., is expected to offer “wood-fired pizza, meats cooked over cherry wood, salads, and artisan sandwiches.” The owners will also “be working with local farmers to plant hops and grape vines for use in our beer, wine, and spirits.”

In addition to the food and beverage projects, the Selden Corridor Initiative will also include a new start-up accelerator space focused on developing women and minority-led projects, a, mixed-use housing, and an outdoor courtyard. All of the projects are expected to debut by late fall 2018. Stay tuned for more updates.

Brenna Houck

Brenna Houck

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