Metropolitan Bar and Kitchen in Detroit to close, looking for new spot

After nearly five years in the West Village neighborhood, Metropolitan Bar and Kitchen and its adjacent variety store are closing.

Metropolitan Bar and Kitchen is known for its New York-style pizzas, cocktails and the variety store that sells beer, wine, a variety of sandwiches and pantry items. There’s also an ice cream shop sandwiched between the store and the restaurant. Owner Rick Stanza said his lease is up, and he set Oct. 4 as its last day open. The Detroit News was the first to report its closing.

Metropolitan Variety Store, Bar and Kitchen in Detroit on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022.

Tucked away at 8047 Agnes St., a side street between Van Dyke and Parker, Metropolitan Bar and Kitchen is on the same side of the street as Norm’s Diner and Red Hook coffee shop.Stanza, who opened the neighborhood spot along with chef Brendon Edwards, who is now at Corktown’s Batch Brewing, said he is looking to move into a new location.

First opened in 2021, Metropolitan Bar and Kitchen ranked as the No. 7 Best New Restaurant on the Free Press’ 10 Best New Restaurants list. Before Stanza opened the bar and kitchen, the space was the former Craft Works restaurant and bar, known for its burgers, which stood for six years in the trendy neighborhood.

Detroit’s West Village neighborhood stretches from Kercheval to East Jefferson. The area includes popular spots like Marrow Detroit restaurant and butcher shop, La Fonda Street and the temporarily closed Sister Pie.

For those that live in the neighborhood, offerings at the Metropolitan Bar and Kitchen’s variety store are convenient for those looking to stop in for pizza and beer, wine and other items.

Stanza said they launched the New York-style pizza two years ago.

“It saved the business, and we want to keep focusing on it,” Stanza said. “Surprisingly, we became well known for the quality of our New York-style. We got rave reviews and converted a lot of people from other pizzerias.”

While he is looking for other places to relocate, including the West Village neighborhood and in the Grosse Pointes, where Stanza said a lot of his customers are from, he will take time to look through historic sales, “see what makes the most sense,” and put together a business model and plan.

“Staying on the east side makes the most sense, where we are the most well-known,” Stanza said.

Stanza said the space on Agnes will not stay empty very long. While Stanza can’t share who will take up the space, he hinted that it’s a restaurant group.

Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: [email protected]. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.