Daily Detroit

What does it take to run a bar and restaurant?

When Owen Burke and his business partner Tony Piraino first ran a bar called Pulse in 2005, the building they were leasing got demolished by the city for future progress.

So they changed concepts, got a hold of a historic building in Greektown, and opened Firebird Tavern in 2013.

A decade in one concept is quite the accomplishment in their industry.

And recently, they expanded with a second location in Troy, Michigan. In this honest conversation at the Daily Detroit studio at TechTown, we talk about the ups, the challenges, and a lot more.

Show notes:

02:21 - History of the building in Greektown and introductions

06:17 - Why do a second location in Troy?

06:44 - The harsh impact of COVID on business, and the long-term changes

08:02 - Traffic feels down in Downtown Detroit to 2008, pre-bankruptcy levels and patterns

10:51 - Extensive plans to convert Monroe Street to be more pedestrian friendly, thoughts and impact

11:51 - The timing of I-375 project matters and it's all interlocked

12:40 - Hard business lessons from the Avenue of Fashion closures on Livernois and businesses closed

13:39 - Lessons learned since 2005 on making a place go

15:06 - Everyone will bring you a Bud Light. What's different about your spot?

17:11 - On keeping staff

19:42 - Biggest changes in the Greektown neighborhood over the years

20:40 - Wrestling with negative headlines for Greektown and addressing issues late at night

23:47 - How important are events like the NFL Draft, Opening Day, and Super Bowl?

26:37 - General advice for others wanting to start a bar or restaurant

30:14 - What to order at Firebird Tavern

34:54 - How to get business? Answer the phone. Follow up. Build the events business.

39:21 - Online ordering is a multiple times the volume in the suburbs than the city. The volume is almost non-existent downtown; in suburbs, it's a key part of business

40:10 - Who thought we'd be paying with our eyeballs? And the fact credit cards are everywhere when a lot used to be cash. Patrons are driving that change, since so few use cash now, credit card companies come with fees.

43:26 - Hopes for 2024

Thanks to today's sponsor, City Bird: https://www.citybirddetroit.com/

(To be clear, they had no impact on the content of the episode outside of their ad read)

Support the businesses that support us this holiday season.

Feedback as always - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211

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hanks to our members: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

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Happy Friday! Three topics for today's show:

>> What we're drinking: Craig's Coffee. The independent shop recently opened on Peterboro near Cass, and Devon popped in to try it and bring some to the studio (NOT sponsored)

Thanks to today's sponsor, Castalia at Sfumato. https://www.castaliacocktails.com/

Stories:

>> There's a change in rail proposals that would connect Toledo, Cleveland, Metro Airport and Detroit via Amtrak. Literally, thanks Ohio - as it's part of a wider plan lobbied by one of their Senators. https://www.crainsdetroit.com/transportation/amtrak-proposal-would-link-detroit-dtw-toledo-cleveland

https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/sherrod-brown-announces-first-step-expanding-amtrak-ohio

>> With the conversion of the Hammer and Nail building from apartments to an extended stay hotel, it's the perfect opportunity to discuss why developers may take the apartments they built off the market and convert them (commonly) to condominiums or extended stay hotels. Since the condo market in Detroit is pretty soft, extended hotel stay it is... and Devon even used to live in this building a few years ago.

More: https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/2023/12/05/midtown-detroit-office-tower-plaza-marriott-hotel/71811326007/

Feedback as always - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211

Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://lnk.to/dailydetroitonapple

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Thanks to our members: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

Or those who do a one-time contribution: http://www.buymeacoffee.com/dailydetroit

Happy Wednesday! Engineer Randy Walker is in the studio today filling in for Norris Howard who is on the road this week. 00:56 - We try Kiss - themed Detroit Rock City rum.

Because why not?

05:39 - Randy's lived in the city of Detroit proper for about a year now, but the other night was his first QLINE experience, and although in the region for years his first Noel Night. We talk about it.

12:13 - There's a series of shops teased to come to downtown Detroit, we discuss.

20:05 - Engineer Randy has been a big part of setting up the studio at Techtown, and we talk a bit about it from a tech perspective.

Feedback as always - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211

Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://lnk.to/dailydetroitonapple

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Thanks to our members: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

Or those who do a one-time contribution: http://www.buymeacoffee.com/dailydetroit

Producer Shianne Nocerini is a bit of a lover of shopping local, so she's in the Daily Detroit studio at Techtown to share some of her favorites to the North, East, South and West.

Plus, we talk about her checking out the Frozen musical (playing now), Noel Night highlights and the difference between a Sousaphone and a Tuba.

00:58 - Frozen musical preview

05:02 - Sousaphone vs tuba and my mis-instrumenting

06:18 - Noel Night highlights

09:28 - Shianne's small business Metro Detroit shopping guide

Feedback as always - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211

Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://lnk.to/dailydetroitonapple

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Thanks to our members: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

Or those who do a one-time contribution: http://www.buymeacoffee.com/dailydetroit

Hello and welcome back from the weekend. Today's show is a busy one.

00:41 - Lions talk as they beat the Saints. There's pluses and minuses.

08:43 - Michigan is going to face Alabama after crushing Iowa. Some first takes.

13:19 - The Pistons are losing a lot. Like, a lot a lot. Could be a record amoung of losing. What's next?

18:48 - Jim Leyland, former Detroit Tigers manager, has been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Well deserved, and we discuss.

Feedback as always - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211

Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://lnk.to/dailydetroitonapple

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Thanks to our members: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

Or those who do a one-time contribution: http://www.buymeacoffee.com/dailydetroit

Happy Friday, and welcome to the weekend!

Busy show as Devon O'Reilly is back after the holiday weekend.

02:45 - There's a new bar going into the David Whitney Building that is steeped in the history of the structure, the man behind it, and will have a library vibe.

06:24 - Alba in Corktown has soft opened in the former Astro space. Jer tried it, we discuss.

10:06 - Hamilton's restaurant has opened in the Godfrey Hotel.

12:13 - A quick reminder that Noel Night is this weekend! https://www.noelnight.org/

13:35 - Devon got his paws on some Detroit City Distillery Honey Bourbon

15:42 - Dan Gilbert comes out strong for regional mass transit. More: https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/2023/11/30/dan-gilbert-detroit-free-press-breakfast-career/71729706007/

22:20 - Jer's moderating a panel on keeping talent for MichAuto on Tuesday. https://michauto.org/michauto-summit/2023-michauto-summit/

Feedback as always - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211 Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://lnk.to/dailydetroitonapple

Or Spotify: https://lnk.to/dailydetroitonspotify

Thanks to our members: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

Or those who do a one-time contribution: http://www.buymeacoffee.com/dailydetroit

The first wireless electric charging road in the United States - where, with the right equipment, you can drive on it and charge while moving - has opened in Detroit's Corktown.

Using technology by Electreon and deployed at Michigan Central, it seems only appropriate for this first quarter mile to be here.

Me and Norris Howard discuss the technology, the implications, the possibilities, the challenges and more in this single-topic episode of your Daily Detroit.

We're not sure if this will be the final form - this is still early days, and there's a lot to learn - but we can't help but think something important happened this week.

Feedback as always - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211

Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://lnk.to/dailydetroitonapple

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Thanks to our members: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

Or those who do a one-time contribution: http://www.buymeacoffee.com/dailydetroit

I know we promised fewer shows this week but Detroit never stops.

Danny Dichio was named the new head coach of Detroit City FC on Wednesday, taking over from Trevor James on the sidelines.

If you didn't know, James is moving to the role of Sporting Director for the USL Championship club.

Fletcher Sharpe and me share our first reactions and do some prognosticating as a major contract option deadline is Thursday.

Feedback as always - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211

Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://lnk.to/dailydetroitonapple

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Thanks to our members: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

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The rundown:

01:13 - Fletcher Sharpe shares and amazing catch in High School Football

04:17 - Michigan wins and how they're like Kintsugi pottery

12:33 - Lions lose on Thanksgiving. Should we be stressed? Do we need more out of Jared Goff?

17:04 - Amon-Ra St. Brown fined 5% of his salary. Is the physicality of the NFL changing?

20:40 - The Tigers reportedly sign pitcher and AL Cy Young runner-up Kenta Maeda.

23:20 - The NFL Detroit is coming to Detroit in 150 days. Jer and Fletcher went to the preview at Ford Field and have thoughts.

Housekeeping: Three shows this week so we have the time to finish our very special project that if you're a member, you already know about.

Feedback as always - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211

Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://lnk.to/dailydetroitonapple

Or Spotify: https://lnk.to/dailydetroitonspotify

Thanks to our members: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

Or those who do a one-time contribution: http://www.buymeacoffee.com/dailydetroit

Lots of listener feedback and some parade talk in this episode with Norris Howard.

00:26 - Detroit Thanksgiving parade memories, like when Chilly Willy flew away to Belle Isle.

03:41 - We discuss feedback on a previous segment on solar power.

09:23 - And then get into a program to add 250 acres of solar panels in the neighborhoods of Detroit.

15:24 - A listener asks if Detroit is welcoming after a recent experience where they were told "they don't belong." We get into a touch subject locally.

Feedback as always - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211

Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://lnk.to/dailydetroitonapple

Or Spotify: https://lnk.to/dailydetroitonspotify

Thanks to our members: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

Or those who do a one-time contribution: http://www.buymeacoffee.com/dailydetroit