Hey friends, Jer here.
It's always good when an old, beloved friend comes back into your life. The Checker Bar did just that today, as it reopened after being closed for more than a year due to a fire.
For decades, this place has been slinging shots and serving salty fries.
What I love about what happened here is that they did a very hard thing to do with the rebuild: A refresh without losing what made the place special.
As my podcast cohost Norris Howard and I bellied up to the bar on day one, I was impressed that the bar had kept the vibes. It felt both comfortable and approachable, but it was of new materials and rebuilt.
The music was even on point, and I half-expected to have the unmistakable riff of Steely Dan's "Peg" pop on at any time.
Checker Bar is a place that knows what it is, and that comes through. The influencers might call it "authenticity."
But they manufactured it through memories and many nights serving customers, not by marketing.
The place was clean while keeping its characteristic cozy warmth.
It has two long bars, so they're ready for whatever a game day or a warm and sunny weekend might throw at them.
And the classic red booths with paneled walls? Immaculate.
And the food? The burger is worth considering for one of the best in town, complete with fully melted American cheese.
We tried the Spicy Pep Pep — pepperoni pizza, fresh jalapeños, and hot honey — and it had a real zip to it.
The Checker Pasta Salad was good, too. A bit of heat thanks to the banana peppers, salt with the black olives, and depth with the red onion, green peppers, and mozzarella with shells in creamy Italian dressing.
And the fries passed the test. Crispy on the outside, warm and soft on the inside.
The menu has options without being overwhelming, keeping it to a page.
It was lunch so I didn't dive into the cocktail menu. That honor I will save for another visit.
So embrace the vibes of the 70s and before with timeless food — and get over to Checker Bar.
With apologies to Thin Lizzy, the Bar is back in town.
Chai Khana in Detroit's Midtown Opens
In a long-empty triangle-shaped spot on Second Avenue at Brainard, Chai Khana swung open their doors with coffee, chai, and arabic options like Karak and Adeni tea, Iraqi chai, Saudi Qahwah and more. [Instagram]
One thing I wanted to note is their expansive hours.
They're open from 6a-10p during the week, Saturdays 8a-10p and Sundays 9a-10p. There aren't that many later evening coffee options around, and there's tons of room there to spread out.
You'll find it at 3574 Second Ave. in Detroit.
313 Day Detroit Trivia is back at Tocororo!
Detroiters have pride, opinions, and a healthy competitive streak... so let’s put it all to the test on 313 Day, celebrating our city (and our area code).
Daily Detroit is back at Tocororo in Eastern Market for our second annual all-Detroit trivia night.
Every question is about the city and region you love:
- Classic Detroit movies and TV moments
- Motown and modern music
- Detroit food and drink
- Neighborhood and city history
- Detroit sports legends and heartbreaks
- Plus the weird, wonderful “only in Detroit” stuff
We're keeping it fun with a touch of challenge in each category.
Come solo and we’ll squad you up, or assemble your own crew. We’ll have multiple rounds, prizes, bragging rights, and plenty of chances to yell at your friends (in the fun way).
Tocororo’s bar and kitchen will be open with drinks and food for purchase, so you can feast between questions.
Join us in Eastern Market! The event is free to attend, but we do ask for an RSVP for planning purposes.
I gotta head out the door, so cutting it a bit short tonight.
Before I go, remember that our project is brought to you by people like you. Local media needs local support to survive and thrive, and if you can swing it, consider joining us as a member on Patreon.
Until next time — remember that you are somebody, and I'll see you around Detroit.
-Jer
p.s. - See if you can spot me and Norris at the Checker Bar in this TV news report. Look for the pizza.
