Da Edoardo Foxtown Grille to close
Serving northern Italian cuisine next to the Fox Theatre since 2001, the Da Edoardo Foxtown Grille will close at the end of the year after service on New Year’s Eve.
Owner Ann Barbieri-Kolinski confirmed the closing to The Detroit News this week.
“It was not our decision, we’ve been there since 2001 and we had every intention of staying and thought that we were going to be a part of all of (the city’s) new growth,” said Barbieri-Kolinski. “The Ilitch organization decided not to renew our lease.”
She said she was instead asked to pay month-to-month. When she asked why, Barbieri-Kolinski said she was told they wanted to “go in a different direction” with the space.
“As far as I know we’ve been very loyal and good tenants,” she said. “We’ve never really gotten any negative feedback from our landlords. I always thought that we had a good relationship. I don’t know what direction they’re going in. I don’t know what prompted this.”
When asked for details on why the lease was not renewed or what was planned for that space, Olympia Development e-mailed a brief statement: “We appreciate our long partnership with the Foxtown Grille in serving the many residents, fans and visitors in the neighborhood, and we wish them the best during this transition.”
Da Edoardo Foxtown Grille briefly closed in 2014 because of flood damage, but reopened after renovations and repairs were made.
The Barbieri family also owns La Lanterna, which opened in Detroit’s Capitol Park this spring, plus Cafe Nini in Grosse Pointe Farms and Da Edoardo in Grosse Pointe Woods and Grand Blanc. Barbieri-Kolinski’s grandfather Edoardo Barbieri Sr. opened his first restaurant, also named La Lanterna, in Detroit in 1956.
Barbieri-Kolinski says she’s not sure at this time if her family will open another restaurant to replace this one.
“We’ve developed some really great relationships and really great customers and we’re going to miss them,” she said. “Hopefully we’ll see them at our other locations. It’s a bummer.”
Foxtown Grille will be open through New Year’s Eve, and the family will host a party at 9 p.m. that evening with a buffet dinner. The Grille is at 2203 Woodward in Detroit. Call (313) 471-3500 for reservations.
mbaetens@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @melodybaetens