Hey friends, Jer here.

It seems like it’s been a rough road in the restaurant business lately in Metro Detroit.

Costs are going up, diners still haven’t returned to their habits from before the pandemic — even being called “The Best New Restaurant” of 2024 by the Detroit Free Press might not be enough to help keep the lights on.

🍽️ Coeur, which described itself as where “elevated dining loses the ego,” announced this evening that their last service will be Sunday, October 19.

Located in Downtown Ferndale on West Nine Mile, the Detroit Free Press last year said it was a “New American restaurant with heart” when it named it the top of a list of ten standouts.

It also made “Best New Restaurant” in Oakland County in 2023 in the Metro Times.

During Ferndale Pride, I picked up one of the best burgers I’ve ever had on their shortened menu for the event (our pride arch representing the project was out front).

Others told me it was quite good, specifically calling out the great service, perfect wine pairings, and the tasting menu — as well as podcast listener Tommy’s most notable pick, pickled kiwiberries.

In a social media post, the restaurant said:

When we opened Coeur, we had noble ideals: to cook with the best products, to pay our team fairly, and to create a truly special dining experience here in Ferndale that was welcoming to all.

However, the reality of this economic climate is less than ideal. Simply put: We can’t keep to our mission without raising prices beyond what makes sense for our guests. So after a lot of painful reflection, we’ve made the tough decision to close Coeur.

Our last service will be Sunday, October 19.

Until then, we’d love to see you one more time — for a tasting menu, a happy hour smashburger, or just to share a final night together in this place we care so deeply for.

Thank you for all the memories, Ferndale. We’ll miss you.

— Chef Jordan Smith & the Coeur team

🍗 That said, the old M-Brew space a few blocks away on Vesper in Ferndale has a new concept. Smokehaus BBQ has kept some of the vibes of the building that feels like it’s something out of a lodge up north. I’ve yet to try it, and I plan to get over there. Beyond BBQ, they promise sandwiches, salads, and wings. [Smokehaus]

🏋️‍♀️ Planet Fitness is adding another city of Detroit location, this time next to Harbortown Market on East Jefferson. An opening date hasn’t been announced, but an eagle-eyed one of our contributors spotted the new listing on their website. [Planet Fitness]

☎️ Don’t miss our latest live stream episode. We talked about the new area code and dialing ten digits, plans for the WNBA practice facility, answered a listener question about what it’ll take to grow Michigan, and got an update about an urban garden that — if you’ve been to games or the MGM casino — you can’t miss. Follow the show on [Apple Podcasts]

Where to go

🦉 The Royal Oak Birdfest is this weekend. There are three events at Wild Birds Unlimited on Woodward. [Event]

On Saturday at 10a, people from the Detroit Zoo will be speaking on preventing window bird strikes, and at 1p the Red Oaks Nature Center will be talking about the magic of migration. On Sunday at 1p it’ll be the Michigan Experience with raptors up close.

Wild Birds Unlimited is at 28558 Woodward (just south of 12 Mile) and they ask you RSVP free at (248) 548-2424 as space is limited.

🪽 It's also World Migratory Bird Day on Saturday. At the Red Oaks Nature Center in in Madison Heights, there's a Walk and Talk from 8a-9:30a on Oct. 11 where you'll hopefully see some things and learn some stuff. [Event]

Yes, this is niche. But I’m also the kind of person who goes to bird trivia, and has the Merlin Bird ID app on my phone to report all the feathered finds.

🤖 TechTown is one of Detroit’s pillars of business building in Detroit for more than 20 years, and their annual fundraiser Toast of the Town is this Friday.

Maybe I’m a little biased as our podcast studio happens to be located in there, but beyond office space — they’ve worked with so many of the cool, interesting, and job-creating businesses in Detroit. They’re a non-profit project of Wayne State University.

There’s tasty treats from more than a dozen vendors, some of Detroit’s smartest ideas, and Burroughs street will be shut down for the fun. Tickets include unlimited food and beverage. [Toast of the Town]

BTW, tomorrow morning I’ll be sending something special in your inbox.

Thanks to our members on Patreon for supporting us. You can join them! Independent media needs independent support.

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Remember that you are somebody,

-Jer

p.s. You don’t think I’d leave you with an evening edition without a track?

Tonight I had what I call a “sample realization,” and it was with one of my favorite songs from the late 80s, “Eye Know” by de La Soul.

Now, most places list the Otis Redding whistle part, “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay…” but I also lined up “Peg” by Steely Dan in my brain, without doing a Google (but confirmed it after).

p.p.s. GO TIGERS! ONE MORE WIN TO ADVANCE! 🐅