GAR Building sold, to be turned into steakhouse and event space

**Airforceguy** · February-01-23, 05:17 PM

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Colloquially known as the GAR Building, the castle-esque five-story property at 1942 Grand River Ave. at Cass Avenue is expected to be converted from its current office and event space use into purely event space with a new steakhouse on the ground floor replacing the old Parks & Rec Diner and Republic Tavern restaurants, according to a press release.The purchase price for the property, which had been owned by Tom Carleton, David Carleton and Sean Emery, was not disclosed. The local offices of Colliers International Inc. brokered the sale, which closed on Tuesday. It had been on the market since June 2021.
"Situated in the heart of the District Detroit and Grand Circus Park, the GAR Building has been an icon since opening in the late 1800's," Barbat, who is chairman and CEO of West Bloomfield Township-based Barbat Holdings, said in the press release. "We plan to allocate space for a public memorial room that will display many artifacts that have been left behind to ensure that the building's historic character is preserved and highlighted. Our team is honored to add this historic landmark to our portfolio of properties."

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-e...ublic-building

**401don** · February-01-23, 07:02 PM

It's good that they found a buyer. The current owners deserve a world of thanks for restoring the building. It was tough for the previous eateries to do well, relying on people dropping in for breakfast or lunch. It's still a pretty desolate area. Hopefully a steakhouse will be more of a destination restaurant and they can also utilize it with events being held there. Once the UM campus is built it should be fine.

**Ray1936** · February-01-23, 07:17 PM

I trust everyone knows that GAR stands for Grand Army of the Republic; a fraternal order of Civil War Union vets. Don't think there's many around any more.

**Henry Whalley** · February-01-23, 07:19 PM

I used to rehearse there with Detroit's Parks & Rec Band [also, known by the politically incorrect name of the Detroit Boy's Band even after it welcomed female musicians] when Harold Arnoldi was the conductor. We played all over town, e.g., the Belle Isle music shell, the State Fair Grounds summer concerts, and during the lighting of the Christmas tree downtown.

**ddaydetroit** · February-01-23, 08:14 PM

How is the parking for the Gar Building?

**masterblaster** · February-02-23, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by ddaydetroit

How is the parking for the Gar Building?

There is
1) on-street parking on Grand River and Adams,
2) there is a $9 parking Ilitch lot on Adams across the street,
3) there is a parking lot kitty-corner on Adams street
4) there is a Ilitch-parking lot on Adams across the street from the above-mentioned parking lot
5) there is a parking lot 'kitty-corner' attached to the massacred Michigan Theater
6) there is a triangular island parking lot across the street bounded by Grand River, Cass, and Bagley,
7) there is a parking lot 'kitty-corner' that is next to the Leland Hotel
8) there is on-street parking on First Street where is curves into Grand River and Adams

Lots of parking options, but I don't know if it had a dedicated lot.

**gumby** · February-02-23, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by ddaydetroit

How is the parking for the Gar Building?

There should be no problem finding a spot. https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3359...!3m1!1e3?hl=en

**K-slice** · February-03-23, 12:43 PM

Joe Barbat owns the nearby Houze properties as well, and has really done a great job with their renovations from a "keeping their historical charm" standpoint.

His Pao restaurant in the old Oriental/RKO theater lobby retained as much of the original plaster work that was salvageable while adapting the space to be reused. The apartments themselves retain much of the original molding and plaster as well.

Hopefully the same care is given to this important part of Detroit's history.