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Opening party guests packed the patio and inside of Queens Bar Detroit on Friday, social media posts show.
The downtown newcomer, brought to us by Paul Howard, a co-owner of Cliff Bell's and the Bronx Bar, is at 35 E. Grand River Ave. -- across Farmer Street from the Detroit YMCA.
"Another great new spot downtown," Detroit Experience Factory executive director Jeanette Pierce posts on Facebook with a video and three photos, including two shared above and below with permission.
Opening party guests on the patio Friday. (Detroit Experience Factory photo)
Earlier, a Detroit writer named Jessica described her preview visit to a site with the "best view in Detroit." Here's an excerpt from Paws Buzz Go!, her nine-month-old blog:
I already love Queens Bar Detroit . . . because they give zero fucks. They don’t care if they’re mentioned in fancy articles, they don’t want to do interviews, they don’t want to get caught up in crafty foodie bullshit, they just wanna throw open the doors and do what they do.
Queens Bar Detroit is brought to you by the owner of Cliff Bell’s, and Bronx Bar. Get it, Bronx . . . Queens. These are bars for people who love REAL bars. Wood. Beer. Booze. History. Swearing. And killer music. . . .
It has insane wrap-around windows and one of the coolest panoramic views I’ve seen. Check out the People Mover, the giant mural by Shepard Fairey and some pretty entertaining foot traffic. . . .
I was surprised to hear that the entire inside was built from scratch. It looks and feels old. It’s classic, Art Deco and somehow makes you feel comfortable instantly.
The bar, which has a small kitchen, is in a two-story 1948 building that had been the Biegas Gallery and that still houses the PuppetART Theater. Howard and Sam Spruill, a former co-manager of Cliff Bell's, bought it last year for $685,000, Kirk Pinho reported in Crain's Detroit Business.
“It’ll be a neighborhood corner bar," Howard told Pinho.
The wrap-around patio is at the corner of Farmer Street and East Grand River Avenue. (Detroit Experience Factory photo)
