Willis Show Bar, located in Detroit’s historic Cass Corridor, is temporarily closing its doors for the remainder of the summer, citing rising operational costs in a post on Facebook.
“This wasn’t a choice we made lightly. However, given rising operational costs and the seasonal lull in business that hits Detroit each summer, it’s clear now is the time to pause, reset, and focus on much-needed improvements for this historic music venue and cocktail bar,” the live entertainment venue said in a social media post.
The cocktail bar originally opened in 1949, during an era of cabarets, jazz clubs and prostitution that defined the historic neighborhood, until it first closed in 1978.
The shuttered cocktail bar reopened in 2018 with the help of a group of Los Angeles-based hospitality veterans in partnership with the Detroit Optimist Society.
The space is located at 4156 3rd Ave, on the corner of Willis Street. The 3,000-square-foot space seats 113 people.
According to the post, the cocktail bar says it hopes to “return with a sustainable future.”
It is not yet clear when the bar will reopen.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit’s iconic Willis Show Bar says it’s closing for the summer
Reporting by Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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