Detroit’s World-Renowned Heidelberg Project Is Planning a Burger Restaurant

Detroit’s world-renowned art installation the Heidelberg Project may soon gain its own restaurant tribute. The organization that helps promote and maintain artist Tyree Guyton’s work in the McDougall-Hunt neighborhood is preparing to host a food pop-up previewing a new burger restaurant called Heidelburgers.

The restaurant would be the latest step in the evolution of the public art installation — a collection of buildings and found objects Guyton began creating more than 30 years on the street where he grew up. “For years, visitors to the project have asked Tyree to recommend a place to eat near the installation,” Jenenne Whitfield, Heidelberg Project CEO and Guyton’s wife, says in a release. “With so few restaurants in our neighborhood, it inspired me to create the Heidelburgers concept to fulfill a need and demonstrate the economic potential of an arts and culture village.”

After some talk of dismantling artwork, in 2016, Guyton, Whitfield, and partners in the organization began developing a new vision for Heidelberg 3.0 that would preserve the installation attracts more than 200,000 visitors from around the world each year. The plan included renovating the Numbers House and purchasing a house in McDougall-Hunt for a Heidelberg Project headquarters. In an interview with NextCity, organizers said they were exploring a healthy food market or cafe. That healthy food option appears to be transpiring with the development of Heidelburgers.

People will be able to get a first taste of the Heidelburgers menu during a preview called Heidelburgers: An Edible Art Experience on Saturday, October 19 at 3442 McDougall St. Private chef and caterer Jeffrie Toney is developing the menu, which includes burgers like the Vegan Volt, Veggie Baby, Turkey Tempter, and Bad-ass Beef. Tickets cost $40 per person and admission includes a tour of the new Heidelberg campus, a meal, a champagne toast, music, and more. The doors open at 5 p.m. with seatings at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The pop-up is a bit of good news for the Heidelberg Project, just a few weeks after a fire gutted the “You” building. Eater has reached out for more details regarding the restaurant. Stay tuned.

• Heidelburgers: An Edible Art Experience [EventBrite]
• What’s Next for the Heidelberg Project? [CDET]
• All Coming Attractions Coverage [ED]
• All Pop-Ups Coverage [ED]