Put a Fork In It: As Andiamo Closes, Royal Oak Restaurants Feel Growing Pains
Red Fox and Cantina Diablo’s are out; national chain Bar Louie is in on Main Street in downtown Royal Oak.
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Royal Oak is one of the more walkable communities in metro Detroit, but that doesn’t mean parking isn’t important to the 70 restaurants that populate the downtown dining destination.
Detroit News features reporter Melody Baetens says a longtime dining staple in the suburb is closing while a duo of new restaurants open up.
“Royal Oak keeps popping up in the restaurant news this month over and over again,” says Baetens. “It started with the closing of Andiamo,” who had a high-profile location on Main Street for about 20 years. The Italian restaurant closed earlier this month, citing an issue with parking as a new development is constructed directly behind their business. Royal Oak Mayor Michael Fournier was quick to fire back via a prepared statement.
“This has nothing to do with parking and landlords, but perhaps everything to do with the product he offers,” Fournier said.
Just across the street, Cantina Diablo’s will close and be replaced by Diamonds Steak and Seafood which currently operates a location in Howell. And a few blocks away further south down Main Street, national chain Bar Louie will replace Blackfinn, which closed October of last year.
