The year 2024 has so far been a mixed bag for restaurants and bars in metro Detroit. Macro issues like changes in consumer spending have contributed to a dearth of diners at the area’s food and drink establishments. This shift has forced restaurateurs to search for ways to reconfigure their operations to be more efficient and to help weather whatever economic headwinds they may be contending with. Sometimes that means closing down — temporarily or indefinitely — until a solution can be found to realize sustainability. Here are five closures that illustrate the uncertainty involved in running a restaurant these days.

The Shutter, a regular roundup of Detroit and metro Detroit’s restaurant closures, is your resource to find out what’s on its way out. The list is by no means comprehensive. Have information on another closing? Send all tips to detroit@eater.com.

June 2024

MOHICAN REGENT — Capers (14726 Gratiot Avenue), famous for its steak-by-the-ounce pricing point on the city’s east side, announced earlier this summer that it would shutter temporarily for construction.

July 2024

CORE CITY — Detroit Institute of Bagels (4884 Grand River Avenue), the Core City bagel shop that flung open its doors in 2023 following its Corktown closure, is once again closed. This time, according to BridgeDetroit, the shutter is related to the resignation of much of its workforce after the business was sold to Detroit developer Philip Kafka by its original owner Ben Newman.

ROYAL OAK — The Morrie (511 S Main Street, Royal Oak), this music-centered restaurant and bar has closed and will see new life as Blind Owl, an existing New Baltimore establishment, according to a news release. Owner of AFB Hospitality Group, Aaron F. Belen opened the Morrie in 2016, but is shifting his focus on real estate development and renting the space to Blind Owl owner Nicolas Andreasson. The new spot will emphasize a fusion of Latin and sushi and is supposed to open sometime in September.

August 2024

DOWNTOWN — Hanah House (607 Shelby St #100), an Asian fusion-inspired restaurant that opened in 2022 in downtown’s Financial District, is reportedly closed permanently and is currently seeking investors to purchase the business. According to the Freep, the restaurant has been posting on social media that the establishment is for sale, offering few details beyond a call for potential buyers to message the team for more information.

SAINT CLAIR SHORES — Jamex Brewing Co. (21721 Harper Avenue, Saint Clair Shores) will close at the end of August. Citing challenges in the service industry, owners Jeff and Kat Kaye announced the closure in an Friday, August 9 post on Facebook.

MILWAUKEE – Voting begins today (Aug. 19) in the Transportation Security Administration’s 2024 Cutest Canine contest.

Birdie, a three-year-old Yellow Lab/Vizsla mix who works at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, is one of four finalists in this year’s contest.

You can help the TSA pick which of its working canines is most deserving of the title. All voting is being conducted via TSA’s social media platforms, including Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook.

SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News

How to vote

You can vote every day via Twitter Poll, Facebook Stories and Instagram Stories.

Birdie will be competing in round one of voting, which is open now until Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 11 a.m. central time.

If she advances, the public can vote for her again in the final round of online voting starting Wednesday, Aug. 21.

TSA will announce the contest winner on Monday, Aug. 26.

In addition to MKE’s Birdie, the other finalists are Barni, a German Shorthaired Pointer from San Francisco International Airport (SFO); Carlo, a Vizsla from Kansas City International Airport (MCI); and Badger, a Belgian Malinois from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).

More about Birdie

Birdie is an energetic pup who has been working with her handler Zach at Milwaukee Mitchell for nearly a year. She loves her squeaker ball, wiggling her whole backside, and chewing Greenies.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android.

Airport canines

TSA utilizes canines like Birdie in its security operations nationwide. They are trained to detect the scent of explosives or explosive materials.

These highly-skilled dogs are paired with handlers and utilize their keen sense of smell when working in a busy transportation environment.

Canines are a visible layer of security, and they supplement TSA’s efforts to keep travelers safe and secure.

In addition to working in an aviation environment, they are also trained to work in mass transit, commuter rail and maritime venues. TSA currently has more than 1,000 explosives detection canine teams deployed nationwide.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) on Monday unveiled a new aircraft rescue and firefighting station at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

MAC said the new $42.3 million, 25,000-square-foot fire station is the first stage in consolidating public safety and operations into one facility. The next stage will be opening the Public Safety and Operations Center, for which construction began this summer. The Center will connect to the fire station.

Fire Station 2 is approximately 50% larger than the previous station it is replacing, which was built in 1965.

The new station is located at the north end of the airfield adjacent to the MSP air traffic control tower. Fire Station 1 is on the south end of the airfield.

MAC said that MSP firefighters respond to around 3,200 calls per year — including medical cases, structural and aircraft emergencies and hazardous material calls. As firefighters typically spend 121 nights per year at the airport, MAC said the new station includes individual bunk rooms, locker rooms, a larger kitchen and interactive meeting spaces.

The fire department as a whole covers MSP’s 3,400-acre campus and has mutual aid agreements with nearby communities in case of emergency.