Detroit: Downtown’s Detroit Shipping Company
As we have mentioned in previous posts, there are so many cool, new and exciting things in Detroit. It seems that between Downtown, Midtown, New Center and Corktown there are numerous new bars and restaurants popping up every month. This weeks feature, which we featured back in 2019, is one that is not only creative but it has lot’s of space and something for everyone’s taste: The Detroit Shipping Company. You may have heard of them, or maybe even have been there a time or two. For those of you who haven’t, here is what you are missing.
Let’s start with the concept of repurposing. The name Detroit Shipping Company is because it is built from used shipping containers. 19 of them are 40 footers and 3 of them are 20 footers. The thought was to take something “well-traveled” and give it “new life”, a metaphor to the city itself. There are a few of these types of places around the country, like the Downtown Container Park in Las Vegas, which takes up a square block just outside of the downtown area. Takoi, in Corktown, also utilized used containers in its construction. The Shipping Company is unique because being a food hall, it offers many dining options to its patrons.
The Detroit Shipping Company opened in 2017 and is the brainchild of longtime friends Jonathan Hartzell & James Therkalsen. The full story of how this came to be can be found here on their website here. Originally they planned on making it a seasonal venue, with 2 bars and food trucks, but evolved into a more sustainable year round venue with over 10,000 sq ft. It has 2 stories, which are half indoors and half outdoors. There is a stage for a band or any other live entertainment they may have going on. They like to think of themselves as a food hall and beer garden even though they have 2 full service bars as well as an old Airstream trailer converted to a bar on their new back outdoor patio (added in 2020 due to COVID) There are 5 different food stalls offering everything from Asian Street food inspired fare to burgers and fries.
We have been here dozens of times, and taken many of our friends here. What we love about this place is the ever changing vibe. There are so many different things going on – food, drinks, stores, ice cream, live entertainment, beach volleyball, you name it. Sometimes we see a bachelorette party stop in, and other times we’ve seen a family with several kids. Some people just stop in for a drink, and others grab a table and each person can head to a different stall, depending on what kind of food they want. You can sit in the main food court area, which is community seating, or go upstairs and grab a table near the rail and people watch. There are also little secluded seating areas if you are looking for something more quiet as well as meeting rooms that can be rented for company functions. This place is a phenomenon and is a popular stop for all the peddle-bars in the city.
Bangkok 96 Street Food
A spinoff of Chef Genevieve Vang Hmong’s Bangkok 96 Restaurant on Telegraph in Dearborn. Their food is inspired by the “food normally found during backpacking trips along the Mekong River and in the streets of Bangkok”. This was our first experience with eating at the Shipping Company. We had their “Famous” Pad Thai Roll which looks like sushi but is definitely Pad Thai. It is both pretty and delicious. They also offer everything from Spring rolls and Rangoons, to Candied Beef and Steamed Scallion Dumplings.
Coop Caribbean Fusion
Opened by Chef Maxcel Hardy who also owns Jed’s Pizza on 7 Mile at Dequindre and The River Bistro which had to close due to covid. He prides himself on using locally sourced ingredients to serve delicious food while supporting the local farmers. Some of their specialties include the Spicy Chicken Sandwich with their 24 hour marinated chicken, Jerk Wings and Spicy & Crispy Cauliflower. He does a great job balancing the flavor and heat using the Scotch Bonnet Pepper, a staple in Caribbean cooking. Chef Hardy was recently crowned the winner of The 2022 Detroit Burger Battle last summer at Eastern Market. We were there, and that burger was our favorite, for sure.
Momo Cha – Nepalese Dumplings
Chef Anjani Lama. Momo Cha serves homestyle Nepalese dumplings and snacks. Momos are dumplings made from a traditional South Asian spice blend of ginger garlic, cilantro, cumin, turmeric and masala blends. Made with love, just like if you were invited for a momo party in their home. Momo Cha serves more than their delicious dumplings. They have Nepali Style Chicken Kabobs, Samosas (a Vegan dish made from Asian pastry dough filled with potatoes and peas) and French Fry Chaat, a vegetarian dish made with thin cut fries, tart yogurt sauce, onions and tomatoes served with mint and tamarind dipping sauces. The Momos are sold in orders of 4 or 8 and can be deep fried, pan fried or steamed. They offer Vegetarian, Vegan, Chicken or Pork and are served with choice of dipping sauces, Tomato Cilantro, Mint Cilantro or Roasted Soybean Sesame which are all vegan. They also offer Classic Curries and Tikka Masala which is one of my favorites.
Halal Street
NY Style Street Food by Chef Ismail. Having recently been to New York I fully understand the concept of Halal Street. There seems to be a Halal food cart on every corner. Halal Street brings that classic NY style street food here to Detroit. If you have never been to NY, you may not fully understand. If you have been to NY I am sure you will feel like you are on a mini vacation back there . . . especially when it comes to the “white sauce, hot sauce” You can get NYC Rice Platters with Lamb, Chicken or a combination of both which are served with peppers, onions, lettuce and Royal Biriyani rice and the white sauce, hot sauce. You can also get the same lamb or without the rice in the form of a pita wrap. They also offer weekend specials which change every week.
Motorburger
Restaurateur Jay Soullierre brought his take on the classic burgers and fries across the river from Windsor. Here you can get everything from their Classic Motor City Burger to their Lamborghini ground Lamb Burger. They also offer a Vegetarian Burger and Ground Chicken Burger for the more health Conscious. All burgers are served with fries but you can make the Poutine (of course the owner is Canadian) for $3 more. They also offer deep fried pickles, Nachos (which looked absolutely re-donk-ulous) and Fiesta Fries served with melted cheese, their Motor sauce and fresh pico.
-320 Coffee & Creamery
Liquid Nitrogen Organic Ice Cream. Who doesn't love coffee and ice cream? This is a great place to start or finish your meal. Serving delicious, rich and creamy ice cream made to order using all organic and natural ingredients. The secret is the instant freezing using liquid nitrogen, which if you haven’t figured out by the name, is -320 degrees. They also serve regular coffee, lattes, cappuccinos, hot chocolate and other coffee shop specialties.
There are also other events that are always going on like their 313 Comedy. A free weekly comedy show every Sunday at 8PM. It is free and seating is on a first come first serve basis. Open mic nights on Tuesdays featuring poets, musicians, comedians or storytellers. Saturdays are Karaoke night from 7PM to 10PM and occasionally they offer an event like Sip-N-Skript which is a class on how to do calligraphy.
There are also a couple retail shops selling vintage streetwear and flowers, plants and small gifts. Their hours are Tues-Thurs 4PM-10PM, Fri 4PM-11PM, Sat Noon-11PM and Sun Noon -10PM.
Until next time, live well, eat well and enjoy life!
- Keith & Teresa Becker
