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New Restaurants for the New Yearmodern tax

(Crystal A.Proxmire, Jan. 5, 2013)

Hungry for some new places to eat?  Well 2013 should be an exciting year for Ferndale as at least three new restaurants are in the works.

Ferndale Public House

At the Dec. 17, 2012 City Council meeting, elected officials approved the redevelopment liquor license for a new restaurant called Ferndale Public House which will be opening at 241 W. 9 Mile.  The Ferndale Public House is the second creation of restaurateur Jeff King, who last year opened The Imperial on Woodward.

Councilperson Scott Galloway said “the concept is a nice fit for the city.”  And Councilperson Mike Lennon said “I appreciate Mr. King’s investment in the City of Ferndale.”

The Ferndale Public House will be an all-ages restaurant with a community-pub feel. King explained “We are interested in community.  That has been our focus in previous business and moving forward…We have every interest in food dinos02sidelogoand the reality of our business is in order to keep food costs in line and to be able to offer affordability to the consume we feel that it’s crucial to have sales of alcohol.”  He noted that at the Imperial, where many customers bring their children, there are “quite a lot of non-alcoholic beverages at the space.”

241 W. 9 Mile sat vacant for over a year after Josephine’s Bistro closed.

Zekes R&R BBQ

Across the street from the new Ferndale Public House a new BBQ joint is expected to open.  The word got out during the Winterfest Ice Festival and Holiday Market when the new owners had a Zeke’s R&R BBQ logo carved in ice placed before the now vacant location at 240 W. 9 Mile.

Most recently 240 W. 9 housed AJs Café, a large coffee house with a stage and eclectic décor.  Before that it was Xhedos, another coffee shop known for their open mic nights HowesLocationand grungy-goth atmosphere.  It seems that renovations have begun, but there is no word yet when Zeke’s may be ready to open.

Tokyo Sushi and Thai

When Pete’s Place at 1225 Woodward Heights closed at the end of November, there was scant explanation or notice.  However we may now know why.  The cozy, Broadway-themed café just off Hilton now has a new sign on the front – Tokyo Sushi and Thai – Japanese and Thai Cuisine.

Not much else has changed yet.  Posters from Broadway Shows still adorn the building inside and out and the Closed for Remodeling sign does not give an opening date.

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