What's opening in the old Monroe Street Bakery Building?

**Traveller1** · February-06-10, 05:40 PM

I know that there has been quite a few threads lately about Greektown, but I was wondering if anyone knew what was opening up in the building that the Monroe Street Bakery was in. I was in Greektown yesterday and noticed people working on the outside and inside of the building, I know that the Monroe Street Bakery moved out some time ago and the building has been empty since.

I also noticed that a "Five Guys: Burgers and Fries" is opening up on the corner of Beaubien and Monroe streets where the former casino owned Grapevine Cafe was. Months after closing, the shuttered Olympia Restaurant on Monoe is still for rent by the casino, same goes for Sweet Georgia Brown. It looks like the casino is doing a poor job of renting out the properties that it owns on Monroe Street.

Plus, does anyone have an update on what may happen to the demolished New Hellas site at Monroe and St. Antoine streets? Having a crater in the middle of Greektown is awful looking.

**Traveller1** · February-06-10, 10:07 PM

Nobody has any idea what's opening in that building?

**stasu1213** · February-07-10, 07:59 AM

What downtown location is Buffalo Wild Wings is opening at?

**Gambling Man** · February-07-10, 02:10 PM

Well traveller, as you are so astute, you probably should have read the huge sign in the window that reads "Red Smoke Barbecue"....Also, have you ever been involved in commercial real estate? Do you know how long it takes to identify, negotiate, finance, construct, and open a restaurant? Especially in this business climate? If find your criticisms unfounded and unwarrented.

**MDoyle** · February-07-10, 02:25 PM

Having a 5 Guys Burger and Fries open in Downtown is a pretty big deal. Its a national chain. Now by no means am I huge on national chains but it may be the first time in a while that one had located downtown. Hell we can't even get our own chains [[did i hear someone say Sheilds Pizza) to locate downtown.

http://www.fiveguys.com/locations.aspx?fAddress=48208

**stasu1213** · February-07-10, 05:17 PM

This may be a lttle off the subject but I think Caribou Coffee should set up shop in one of those vacant building along Monroe or Beubian. Caribou has a rustic look on the inside with it's wood beams and woodwork. Some of those vacant building has the same thing inside and with the pedestrial traffic that goes through there Caribou would make a killing there

**Traveller1** · February-07-10, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by Gambling Man

Well traveller, as you are so astute, you probably should have read the huge sign in the window that reads "Red Smoke Barbecue"....Also, have you ever been involved in commercial real estate? Do you know how long it takes to identify, negotiate, finance, construct, and open a restaurant? Especially in this business climate? If find your criticisms unfounded and unwarrented.

Hmmm...Somehow I must have missed the sign, or maybe it wasn't up? Well, at least it's good news that a business is moving into that building.

**Traveller1** · February-07-10, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by stasu1213

This may be a lttle off the subject but I think Caribou Coffee should set up shop in one of those vacant building along Monroe or Beubian. Caribou has a rustic look on the inside with it's wood beams and woodwork. Some of those vacant building has the same thing inside and with the pedestrial traffic that goes through there Caribou would make a killing there

I believe that a Caribou Coffee would be successful in Greektown. I remember back in the 80's and 90's there were quite a few Greek coffee places in Greektown which you saw all the old Greek men sitting at for hours and sipping their coffee out of those little cups. All those independently owned coffee shops closed through the years though, and now there is not a single remaining one left. A new coffee shop would be inviting.

**stasu1213** · February-07-10, 08:12 PM

I used to hang out at the Caribou on Woodward in Birmingham. When I was east I had visited the one in the Grosse Pointes. I had noticed that rustic look in all of them. The buildings in Greektown has that same interior It could cater to people coming from the casinos, the sport events, concerts or people who work downtown. They have to make sure that their presece is known in the area. I know of this great popcorn place called "Good People Popcorn" which sits on beaubien. I heard a person tell the owner that if she want more business she would have to put a billboard or sign up front or at the corner so pedestrian who doesn't look up at awnings would know the you exist. Greektown has great potentials. It could be like little villages in New York and Chicago. When Trappers Alley was in Greektown, Greektown could had been compared to Canal Street in New York's Manhattan.

**cman710** · February-08-10, 08:47 AM

I have never had Five Guys, but my wife loves it. It is good to see another business opening.

**gazhekwe** · February-08-10, 08:59 AM

I am traveling and have passed several Five Guys billboards. Never having heard of it, I thought it was just around here. I'll have to look one up and see what it's like.

**gnome** · February-08-10, 09:33 AM

In one of those convoluted stories of who owns what, it turns out that Caribou Coffee is owned by Cresent Capitol which in turn is backed by First Islamic Investment Bank of Bahrain. Numerous charges of whether the FIIBB supported Hamas, operated under the precepts of sharia law, or in other ways funded Islamic charities and thereby hinting at other off-the-books Islamic organizations burned up the internets a few years back.

By all evidence the First Islamic Investment Bank cleaned up its act by hiring a Washington DC law firm to monitor its image and its support of Islamic groups.

However, bottom line is that Caribou Coffee is owned by the FIIBB and is not what you might think when you enter one of the rustic cabin adorned coffee emporiums. In my attempt to buy from American owned companies, I avoid Caribou Coffee, you may differ in your opinion.

**stasu1213** · February-08-10, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by gnome

In one of those convoluted stories of who owns what, it turns out that Caribou Coffee is owned by Cresent Capitol which in turn is backed by First Islamic Investment Bank of Bahrain. Numerous charges of whether the FIIBB supported Hamas, operated under the precepts of sharia law, or in other ways funded Islamic charities and thereby hinting at other off-the-books Islamic organizations burned up the internets a few years back.

By all evidence the First Islamic Investment Bank cleaned up its act by hiring a Washington DC law firm to monitor its image and its support of Islamic groups.

However, bottom line is that Caribou Coffee is owned by the FIIBB and is not what you might think when you enter one of the rustic cabin adorned coffee emporiums. In my attempt to buy from American owned companies, I avoid Caribou Coffee, you may differ in your opinion.

Show me proof. I don't want to believe a statement like that unless there is a reputable website that I could go to.

**gnome** · February-08-10, 10:03 AM

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/caribou.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribou_Coffee
http://www.answers.com/topic/caribou-coffee-company-inc

This the re-named First Islamic Bank web-site
http://www.arcapita.com/
Here is a list of a few of the companies they have an interest in:
Caribou Coffee
PODS
Cypress Communications
Southland Log Homes
American Pad and Paper
Freightliner

You are welcome to look for yourself for a complete list.

I'm not saying Caribou supports Osama Bin Laden, I'm saying they are not the all-american coffee chain you might think.

**stasu1213** · February-08-10, 03:04 PM

The guy did step down from the pressure

**jackie5275** · March-29-10, 02:21 PM

Just talked to a colleague who works at our Greektown office who checked out the opening of Five Guys Burgers & Fries today. He said they were crowded when he first got, but thinned out by the time he was done eating. Says the staff were still learning [[which I think is to be expected on day one), says he paid $11.00 for a double patty cheesebuger, fries, & pop, says it was good, but in his opinion not worth $11.00. I may check it out in a few weeks after the crowds die down, & the staff is up to speed. Hopefully, they can make a go of it.

**jt1** · March-29-10, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by cman710

I have never had Five Guys, but my wife loves it.

Oh c'mon, how could nobody take a cheap shot with a statement like this?

**Savoyard** · March-29-10, 04:31 PM

Thanks, jt1. You just made my evening!

**cman710** · March-29-10, 05:36 PM

I guess I left myself open to that one...

The Dude · March-29-10, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by gazhekwe

I am traveling and have passed several Five Guys billboards. Never having heard of it, I thought it was just around here. I'll have to look one up and see what it's like.

Five Guys started out east, I think either Virginia or D.C. fIRST TIME i WENT TO ONE WAS IN tAMPA IN'07.Very good burgers and fries. Abig choice in toppings, too. Not a place to "the dollar burger". Simple red and white decor with big bags of peanuts. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and fries, griled cheese, pop, that's all.

Looks like they're going to have to find a new name for "Greek Block" since most of the Greeks have left[[maybe to Tarpon Springs, FL)

hERE'S A CHAIN THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY FIND INTERSTING They airbake instead of frying or deep frying.

http://evos.com

**Downriver Gal** · March-29-10, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by Traveller1

I also noticed that a "Five Guys: Burgers and Fries" is opening up on the corner of Beaubien and Monroe streets where the former casino owned Grapevine Cafe was. Months after closing, the shuttered Olympia Restaurant on Monoe is still for rent by the casino, same goes for Sweet Georgia Brown. It looks like the casino is doing a poor job of renting out the properties that it owns on Monroe Street.

Wow. I haven't been to Greektown in years. I had no idea the street was in such disarray. The Olympia was great as a dive with a Telly Savalas photo over the jukebox; not so good as a generic yuppie joint.

Sigh.

**whitehorse** · March-30-10, 10:32 AM

This post opened with a question about who or what business might be opening in the Monroe Street Bakery. Well the answer to that is The Red Smoke. I visited the new eatery a few weeks ago to say hello to the owners who also own Astoria's down the street.

**Homer** · March-30-10, 11:01 AM

$11.00! I'll wait for some coupons.

**p1acebo** · March-30-10, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by Homer

$11.00! I'll wait for some coupons.

You actually don't have to pay that much for a burger and fries, they have the option of getting a single stack or a double stack [[which he got). The double stack is like 5 or 6 dollars but rightfully so because it is pretty big and you put pretty much anything on it [[bacon, mushrooms, jalapenos etc). Now you can only buy fries by the bag, and I mean a big bag filled with fries [[it is meant to serve multiple people). So with that 11 dollars he probably ordered more than he could finish. It is a good burger, but ya it is not like a dollar menu type of place like a Mcdonalds or B king.

**EL Jimbo** · March-30-10, 02:16 PM

If we are talking of opening coffee shops, why not open a Biggby in Greektown. The coffee is good and Biggby is a Lansing-based company. If you want chain coffee, why not buy from a locally owned chain?