Detroit Vegan Soul closes its original West Village location restaurant
Detroit Vegan Soul, an all-vegan eatery, is the latest restaurant to suffer the effects of the pandemic. The restaurant announced its original West Village neighborhood location will permanently close, Crain's Detroit first reported.
Its second location, at 19614 Grand River, is closed for an extended winter break but is expected to reopen in April, according to the Facebook post.
The restaurant's Facebook post, dated Jan. 9, says the restaurant officially closed on Dec. 31.
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Owned by Erika Boyd, the executive chef, and Kirsten Ussery, the general manager, Detroit Vegan Soul at 8029 Agnes St. opened in 2013 after operating a catering service. It was noted as Detroit's only 100% plant-based restaurant at the time.
In 2017, the women opened the Grand River location.
The post started out with "2021 was a whirlwind of emotions for us."
The closing was led by staffing issues, Ussery told Crain's.
"We've been trying to add staff for two years," Ussery told Crain's. "It became finally impossible to continue holding the space without it generating revenue and not having reliable staff."
When the restaurant first opened on Agnes, the post reads, the owners had two missions: To help people live healthier lives and revitalize the commercial viability of the neighborhood.
Detroit Vegan Soup was often cited as one of the go-to vegan restaurants on PETA’s (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) annual list.
When the Grand River location reopens in April, customers can expect more "catering opportunities and a new meal planning service," the owners posted. They also plan to bring back Sunday brunch service.
Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: 313-222-6872 or sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Vegan Soul closes original West Village location restaurant
