Lost River Tiki Springs to Life on Detroit’s East Side This Week

Detroit’s newest tiki bar, Lost River, is poised to make its public debut in Morningside this week. The tropical cocktail lounge located inside the former Memories Jazz & Blues Lounge at 15421 Mack Ave. announced on Sunday that it would open its doors to the public with its full drink menu from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9.

Owners Matt Mergener and Karen Green have been hosting previews of the bar with a limited selection of cocktails for the past two months in advance of the official opening.

The 1,000-square-foot bar is expected to seat roughly 40 people and will feature a nautical-themed interior with plank walls, netting, thatch decor, and a penny-topped bar. To that, Mergener has contributed a items from his personal collection of kitschy faux Polynesian decor from some of Detroit’s most iconic tiki bars. Well-known local artist Ouizi also painted one of her signature floral murals inside the space and Hamtramck Ceramck is in the process of designing some special tiki mugs exclusively for Lost River.

Expect plenty of classic tiki drinks on the menu such as mai tais, painkillers, and fog cutters alongside modern and original takes on tiki drinks using spirits like mezcal and gin. The bar will also offer beer, wine, and boilermakers.

Lost River is expected to expand into regularly hours next week, opening from 4 p.m. to midnight Wednesday through Saturday. Stay tuned for more updates.

• Detroit’s Next Tiki Bar Is Heading to the East Side [ED]
• All Lost River Tiki Bar Coverage [ED]
• All Openings Coverage [ED]