Frita Batidos to Bring Award-Winning Cuban Inspired Street Food to The District Detroit as Part of New Columbia Street Retail & Dining Destination
Located in Detroit’s sports and entertainment district, the award-winning restaurant will feature special game day menu along with signature favorites
Frita Batidos adds incredible new flavor to Columbia Street between the historic Fox Theatre and new Little Caesars world headquarters campus expansion
Additional announcements coming soon for the pedestrian-friendly shopping and dining destination
DETROIT – Frita Batidos and Olympia Development of Michigan announced today that the award-winning Cuban inspired restaurant is joining Detroit’s incredible resurgence with a location at the new Columbia Street shopping and dining destination next to the historic Fox Theatre and the new Little Caesars world headquarters campus expansion.
The restaurant’s Ann Arbor location is a favorite destination in Ann Arbor’s busy restaurant scene and will open its doors in The District Detroit next year. Owner and nationally-recognized chef Eve Aronoff said it’s been her longtime dream to launch a new restaurant in the city of Detroit.
“I’ve been exploring Detroit locations for a long while and there is no better fit than The District Detroit – it offers the opportunity for us to be in the heart of downtown with all of the vibrancy and cultural diversity that brings as well as being in the very center of the sports and entertainment district,” Aronoff said.
The Detroit menu will include the same high-quality, locally-sourced items found at its Ann Arbor location and will also feature an express menu designed for game days. In addition to the Fritas and Batidos, the menu includes fresh salads, Cuban inspired pressed sandwiches, churros and alcoholic beverages, featuring seasonal cocktails.
Located west of Woodward, between the new Little Caesars world headquarters campus expansion and the historic Fox Theatre, the European-style Columbia Street promenade where Frita Batidos will be located is slated to bring many new storefronts totaling nearly 40,000 square feet of new shops and restaurants to serve theater-goers, Detroit Tigers fans and a growing number of area residents and employees. Planned amenities for the block-long, pedestrian-friendly strip will include cobblestone paving, festoon lights and al fresco dining space. Additional tenants are expected to be announced soon.
“The District Detroit presents a unique opportunity for retailers to play a part in Detroit’s remarkable revitalization,” said Travis Arbogast, Vice President of Development at Olympia Development. “With multiple storefronts under development and a number of new announcements planned, Columbia Street and The District Detroit will offer a wide variety of shopping and dining choices.”
Frita Batidos is known for its chef-driven interpretations of Cuban street food staples, the Frita and Batidos. The signature “Frita” is a house made chorizo burger on a brioche bun topped with shoestring fries. Additional unique Frita varieties include beef, chicken, fish and a vegetarian black bean. Their Batidos, or tropical milkshakes, are made with fresh fruit, crushed ice and sweetened milk.
Largely inspired by Aronoff’s childhood visits to Miami and the city’s various Latin cuisines, Frita Batidos opened in 2010, a year after she was a contestant on the sixth season of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef: Las Vegas." The restaurant has gone on to earn the 2017 and 2018 Detroit Burger Battle championships.
Detroit-based PUSH Design, was contracted to design the new restaurant. Known for its work on other local projects including the recently opened Founder’s Brewing Company Detroit, the team of architects and designers will create a unique and authentic atmosphere.
In addition to the new storefront restaurant on Columbia Street, Frita Batidos will also be unveiling a new Airstream food truck serving favorite menu items at Woodward Avenue and Columbia Street. More details will be announced soon.
Construction on the new 2,400 square foot space on Columbia Street will begin soon.
About The District Detroit
The District Detroit is a dynamic urban destination in the heart of Detroit. One that includes something for everyone—a dense neighborhood experience with a variety of developments alongside Detroit’s premier sports and entertainment venues. Connecting downtown Detroit to growing nearby neighborhoods such as Midtown, Corktown and Brush Park, The District Detroit is having a dramatic economic impact on Detroit and is a driving catalyst of the city’s remarkable resurgence. The District Detroit will deliver $1.4 billion in new investment to Detroit including the new Little Caesars Arena, Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University and Little Caesars world headquarters campus expansion. Additionally, new office, residential and retail spaces will continue to add momentum to Detroit’s amazing comeback for years to come.