Detroit’s Charming French Cafe Le Petit Zinc Is Closing

Detroit’s popular French cafe and creperie Le Petit Zinc is closing on Sunday after just over a year in Midtown. The restaurant, which relocated to the Strathmore Apartment building in February 2018, announced through social media today that it would be shutting down operations on Sunday, April 21.

“Thank you for your loyalty and showing up everyday to visit and support our little Café,” Le Petit Zinc wrote in a post to Facebook on Saturday. “Today we celebrate, as we will be closing our the doors of our business Sunday, April 21, 2019.”

Le Petit was founded by owner Karima Sorel in Corktown in 2009. It became a mainstay for breakfast and brunch, known for its sweet and savory crepes and big bowls of coffee and hot chocolate. Sorel, who splits her time between Detroit and Paris, was forced to relocate from the original location in September 2017 due to a landlord-tenant dispute. Sorel reopened Zinc last year with help from business partner Scott Rutterbush; however Rutterbush tells Eater he is no longer involved in Le Petit Zinc. Eater has reached out to Sorel for more details on this most recent closure.

Although the restaurant is saying its farewells, Le Petit Zinc’s message does imply that it may return in the future. “Le Petit has exciting changes in the making, until further notice: STOP BY AND SAY AU REVOIR & TAKE PICS WITH YOUR FAVORITE DETROIT STAFF,” the restaurant wrote in its statement.

Stay tuned for more updates.

• French Cafe and Creperie Le Petit Zinc Returns in New Midtown Space [ED]
• Inside Le Petit Zinc’s Charming Homage to Parisian Dining [ED]
• All Le Petit Zinc Coverage [ED]
• All Closings Coverage [ED]