Detroit's Craft Work restaurant to close after 6 years in trendy West Village - Detroit Free Press

Susan Selasky Detroit Free Press

Published 4:14 PM EST Feb 13, 2020

After six years in Detroit's historic and trendy West Village, Craft Work restaurant and bar is closing.

Craft Work is in the ground floor of the Parkstone apartments on Agnes street between Van Dyke and Park streets and in the former Harlequin Café. The block also includes Red Hook coffee shop and the popular Detroit Vegan Soul restaurant. 

Craft Work’s last day of service will be March 7. Until then the restaurant will maintain normal hours and continue accepting reservations for the dining room. The bar will remain open on a first come basis. 

Known for its new American fare and craft cocktails, Craft Work's favorites include its fried chicken, Big Mack Avenue Burger and raw bar.  Craft Work is owned by Hugh Yaro and Christian Stachel.

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Yaro said it was not an easy decision and cited financial reasons for its closure. 

Business, Yaro said, has been very inconsistent.

“We noticed a change about eight months ago,” Yaro said. “Things started to become inconsistent with weekday and weekend business.”

The West Village area is up and coming among millennials. The neighborhood stretches from Kercheval to East Jefferson.

"It just slowed down to the point that were not able to stay current with the bills and that became difficult," he said. 

Craft Work, which employs about 20, showed a little bit of growth during each of its first five years in business, according to Yaro and managing partner Christian Stachel. 

The sixth year was a different story, said Stachel, who came on board in September 2019.

“We know a lot of places have opened around the city since we have,” Stachel said. “This past year has been so impactful for us that we looked for an opportunity to dig deeper, think smarter and make some changes."

"We believe it should be or should have been an eclectic neighborhood spot," Stachel said. "Going after the high end of the entrée price point might not have made the most sense."

Rachel Lutz, who lives nearby in the Elmwood Park area, is a regular visitor to Craft Work and sad to hear of its closure.

 Lutz, owner of the Peacock Room shops in the Fisher Building and Park Shelton, remembers when it was the Harlequin Café. 

“After the Harlequin Café closed, that was one fewer place for neighbors to gather,” said Lutz. “I was excited to see Craft Work open because I was hoping it could be that community hub again.” 

Lutz believes the restaurant succeeded in drawing both local neighbors and destination traffic. 

“It was a nice alternative to the downtown restaurants,” she said. “It drew traffic into a thriving Detroit neighborhood. “

Lutz likes that Craft Work was two restaurants of sorts with a more formal sit-down room and a bar area where people could mingle. 

“The food wasn’t always fussy, but it was always reliably good,” Lutz said. “The staff was super friendly and that really makes a difference in a neighborhood place.”

Favorites, Lutz said, included the oysters and scallop crudo. And she appreciated that they had a raw bar. 

Lutz now worries about West Village because the rents are going sky high.

“I hope they will still maintain those cool and independent businesses,” she said. 

She also is worried what will take Craft Work’s place. “I hope they are able to attract another locally owned tenant.”

Other popular spots in the area are Sister Pie and Marrow, a butcher shop and restaurant.  

Contact food writer Susan Selasky at 313-222-6872 or sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. 

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