‘Healthy’ Barbecue Stall Bids Farewell to Fort Street Galley on Sunday

The third member of Fort Street Galley starting restaurant lineup of four food stalls is preparing to pull up its stake at the downtown Detroit food hall. Lucky’s Noble BBQ is will close up shop on Sunday, October 13, the Detroit News reports.

The stall helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Jimmy Schmidt and partner Brian Recor was billed as a “healthy” barbecue restaurant with a pork-free, gluten-free, soy-free menu. While Lucky’s is departing from Fort Street Galley, it’s expected to continue operating as a catering company and eventually as a ghost kitchen with online delivery. Schmidt and Recor tell the Detroit News they still haven’t found a permanent space for the business, but are looking.

Fort Street Galley is run by the Galley Group, which has opened similar food halls with a restaurant incubator format across the Midwest. The founders tout Galley’s relatively low startup costs for restaurant owners looking to test a concept. Restaurants applied for the spaces through a competitive vetting process. As part of their one-year lease, businesses pay 30 percent of their revenue to Galley Group. Galley Group in turn pays for the buildout of the stall, as well as the insurance, utilities, and marketing for partnering restaurants. After the year is up, restaurants do have the option to stay on if they’re successful or open in their own space.

Lucky’s Noble BBQ opened alongside Filipino restaurant Isla, Korean seafood spot Pursue, and Israeli-influenced deli Allenby last December. A majority of the business were allegedly struggling in the space within just a few months of opening. Pursue closed on May 1, due to low sales. Allenby followed at the end of June with the owners citing low foot traffic.

Galley Group replaced Pursue with a Galley-run restaurant called Table Detroit. Allenby was temporarily replaced by Detroit-style pizzeria Michigan & Trumbull, which started at a Galley property in Pittsburgh and is expected to open a full-scale restaurant in Corktown in November.

Eater has reached out to Galley Group for details on what will replace Lucky’s Noble BBQ and did not receive a response at the time of publication. Eater will provide an update when more information is available.

• Chef Jimmy Schmidt’s Lucky’s Noble BBQ to Move On From Fort Street Galley [Detroit News]
• All Fort Street Galley Coverage [ED]
• Fort Street Galley Loses Another Food Stall at the End of June [ED]
• Fort Street Galley’s Korean Seafood Restaurant Is Closing After Less Than a Year [ED]
• All Closings Coverage [ED]