Bandit Tavern in Royal Oak closes after less than a year in business
Susan SelaskyNo more frites, craft beers and seasonal pop-ups at Fifth and Main streets in Royal Oak.
Nearly 8 months after opening, Bandit Tavern in Royal Oak has shuttered.
A post on the bar and restaurant's Facebook page read: "Dear Friends, we have officially closed our doors. Thank you for letting us be a part of the Royal Oak community. We will miss you!"
From the Mission Restaurant Group, Bandit Tavern at 419 S. Main Street in Royal Oak, opened last fall, replacing the former Jolly Pumpkin. Its final day was Sunday.
David Ritchie, president of Mission Restaurant Group, cited "current market conditions" for the closure.
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In an emailed statement to the Free Press Ritchie said:
"We are proud to have served the Royal Oak community for two decades, employed thousands of people, introduced 11 unique restaurant concepts, and made lifelong friends. Unfortunately, current market conditions have forced us to focus our attention and resources in other areas. We are working with staff to place as many people as possible at other locations within our group. We sincerely appreciate the support we received over the years and will miss operating in Royal Oak."
Located inside the historic B&C building, the group pivoted quickly into the new concept.Billed as Bandit Tavern and Hideaway, the tavern was upstairs, and the "Hideaway" was downstairs. Bandit's “Hideaway” featured seasonal themed pop-ups, VIP rooms and private party space.
Its pop-ups included the Griswold's Hideaway, a National Lampoon-themed Christmas Vacation pop-up and one for Valentine's Day.
Before the Jolly Pumpkin, the space housed favorites such as Bastone Brewery, Vinotecca Wine Bar, Café Habana and Monk’s Belgian Beer Alley.
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In announcing the new Bandit Tavern concept, the owners promised it to be an "ever-evolving space" and a return of some menu items from previous spots including Bastone frites and Jolly Pumpkin and North Peak beers.
Bandit's closing comes about six weeks after the Mission Group announced a transformation of its Vigilante Kitchen + Bar space to Epiphany — Nain Rouge Kitchen, a new restaurant concept from Detroit’s Soil2Service nonprofit and its Detroit Institute of Gastronomy culinary program.
Mission Restaurant Group partnered with the nonprofit to operate in the space at 644 Selden St., which opened in 2023 as Vigilante Kitchen + Bar in Midtown. The space was also home to the Smith & Co. restaurant from 2019-2023, named so after the more than half-century-old building, which once housed the Smith Welding Supply & Equipment Co. and the Owosso Casket Co.
Mission Restaurant Group operates several brands and concepts within its portfolio of restaurants, including Avalon Bakery & Cafe, Pretzel Bell, North Peak Brewing Co., Jolly Pumpkin, Blue Tractor BBQ and Brewery and others.
Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on X (formerly Twitter.) Support local journalism and become a digital subscriber to the Free Press.