Hey, Jer here. Welcome to your Tuesday Vesper Edition!
If this is your first time here, don't forget to sign up for future notes.
Woke up to the news this morning that something had gone wrong over at the Checker Bar, one of Detroit's longstanding drinking institutions.
According to Reddit, there was a "boom" around four in the morning. One of our supporter Discord chat members said that they had seen broken glass and a chair propping a door open. At first, the Metro Times reported that the damage appears to be "fairly significant" as the fire had ripped through the basement.
A WXYZ report says that the damage was mostly contained to the downstairs and the tin ceiling helped shield the heat — and fire — from going further than it did. The space will be closed for a few months.
Checker Bar posted on social media:
"Early this morning, a fire broke out in the electrical room of the Checker Bar’s basement due to what appears to have been a utilities explosion originating outside of the building."
That said, for the big Lions playoff game this Saturday night there will be a party by the Checker Bar folks at the Whiskey Parlor above the Grand Trunk Pub. That's just a couple blocks away at 608 Woodward.
There's also a GoFundMe for employees.
I have some good memories at Checker, and it seems like they'll bounce back in time.
📚 You might have noticed that instead of "evening edition" I used the word "vesper." Well, that's because on the Monday episode of the podcast, I talked to Chris Williams of Wayne State University about the 10 most underused words that should come back in 2025.
Another word I like a lot? Hurkle-durkle.
Vesper, meaning evening, was one of them. I feel like if we're gong to do a "Vesper Edition" it needs some sort of Art Deco poster or cover art.
It looks like there's some work happening over at a former Detroit Police Department mounted headquarters on East Bethune. Built in 1898 near Detroit's New Center, the Louis Kamper designed building is one of the most unique smaller buildings left in the city.
Last I heard, it is going to become the headquarters for KODE Labs, saying that they hoped to be moved in by late 2025. There's a lot of work to be done, and I wish them the most speed on this one.
Here's some historic background on it from Nailhed. I'm really glad to see something happening here, and if you know more - send me a note jer - at - dailydetroit - dot - com.
🧱 A joint venture between two Michigan developers has plans to demolish a former furniture store to make way for a $14.2 million, three-story apartment building with ground-floor retail. The project will bring 50 new residential units — including 11 affordable apartments — and 7,000 square feet of commercial space to Detroit's historic Livernois corridor. [Crain's Detroit Business]
🔨 Restoration work at the historic Bonstelle Theater is well underway. This photo update from HistoricDetroit.org (used with permission) shows the interior being worked on.
Starting life as the Temple Beth-El in 1903, it has had many lives. For some time it was a movie theatre, a playhouse, and it served for many years as Wayne State's undergraduate theatre. [HistoricDetroit.org]
Next, it'll be an event space next to the new AC Hotel that's risen next door (that we told you about on our podcast). More photos over here on [Historic Detroit.org's Facebook]
🛣️ Wanted to give you a heads up that MDOT will close nine miles of eastbound I-696, from Lahser Road to I-75 starting in March. Work should last at least two years, as MDOT will re-construct this entire stretch of freeway and fix 60 bridges, update more than a thousand drainage structures, and replace the Church Street Plaza Bridge in Oak Park.
MDOT will detour traffic south on the Lodge, east onto Davison, then to northbound I-75 and back to 696.
This is the third and final phase of MDOT's "Restore the Reuther" project and will cost $290 million. The overall cost for all three phases of I-696 construction is $655 million.
MDOT is funding the project through a variety of sources, including the “Rebuilding Michigan” bond program and the federal “Reconnecting Communities” grant program.
🚙 What should you be looking for when you go to the 2025 Detroit Auto Show? The event this year is a shift towards more interactive, consumer-focused automotive experiences with new vehicle models and classic favorites. We get into it on the podcast with Eric Trytko, a veteran covering the auto industry. [Apple Podcasts] [Spotify]
🦜 The Detroit Zoo announced that their main Zoofari Market gift shop will be closed through mid-April as it undergoes significant renovations. The upgrades will add a coffee shop with an outdoor pickup window, improved checkout areas, and refreshed display spaces including a decorative mini water tower centerpiece. [Detroit Zoo]
Thanks so much for reading! If you haven't already, tell a friend about these emails so they can be caught up on what to know and where to go in Metro Detroit.
Until next time, remember that you are somebody — and I'll see you around Detroit.
-Jer
