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Noodle Bar Favorite Ima Is Adding a Midtown Restaurant

Chef Mike Ransom is bringing his Japanese-influenced shop to the former Sweet Lorraine’s building

A vegetarian noodle bowl with tofu, seaweed, mushrooms, soft boiled eggs, and green onion
Udon at Ima.
Michelle and Chris Gerard
Brenna Houck is a Cities Manager for the Eater network. She previously edited Eater Detroit and reported for Eater. You can follow her on the internet at @brennahouck.

Eater Award-winning Corktown noodle bar Ima is preparing to expand to a third restaurant. Chef Mike Ransom confirms to the Detroit Free Press that he’s in the process of signing a lease for the shuttered Sweet Lorraine’s Fabulous Mac n’ Brewz property at 4870 Cass Ave. near Wayne State University.

Ransom opened a second, larger Ima restaurant in Madison Heights last November with an expanded menu, but says he’s also been in the market for a new Detroit location, too, as his four-year lease in Corktown winds down. There are currently 10 months left on the lease before it transitions to month-to-month. Ransom believes there’s a chance the building could sell.

The Sweet Lorraine’s building has been vacant since last winter. Before the restaurant opened, the building was home to the Marwil Bookstore. At 3,700-square-feet, Ima Midtown will be the largest of Ransom’s restaurant set and will feature a bar. With its close proximity to the university campus, Ransom plans to add more options for students including some fried food options, more non-alcoholic beverages, a bigger dessert menu, and grab-and-go items.

Ransom is aiming to open this fall in the new space. Stay tuned for more updates as the project moves forward.

Ima, 2019 Restaurant of the Year, to Open Its Largest Location Yet in Midtown Detroit [Freep]
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Ima Midtown

4870 Cass Ave., Detroit, MI Visit Website

Ima Madison Heights

32203 John R Rd, Madison Heights, MI 248-781-0131 Visit Website