Eater Award-Winning Ima Is Expanding Down the Street With an Even Bigger Space

Eater Award-winning Ima, known for its udon noodles and other Japanese-leaning dishes, is closing down its original Corktown location to head down the street towards bigger digs, Crain’s first reports. The restaurant, which opened in 2016, will leave its 2015 Michigan Avenue address to takeover the shuttered Gold Cash Gold space, which closed in February 2020. The new restaurant, located at 2100 Michigan Avenue, is set to open in early 2022. According to Crain’s, Ima owner Mike Ransom’s lease had expired and now he’s signed onto a 15-year lease at the new Michigan Avenue space. This isn’t the only expansion for Ransom. Back in 2018, he opened a second location of Ima in Madison Heights. Then, in 2019, Eater reported Ima’s expansion to Midtown, where he opened in the former Sweet Loraine’s building. When Ima Midtown opened, it was then Ransom’s largest restaurant at 3,700-square-feet. It is unclear if the relocated Ima original will be bigger than that, but according the Detroit Free Press, the space is set to be three times larger than the original. The Freep reports that it will have a full bar with about 20 seats. Detroit Soul is looking to open a new location next year What began as a catering business back in 2015 between brothers and co-owners Jerome B. Brown and Samuel VanBuren, has since blossomed in a brick-and-mortar. According to a representative, the duo are eyeing a second location for their business, Detroit Soul, highlighting a “healthier take on soul food.” According to a press release, the second location will open at 14300 East Jefferson and Lakewood in early 2022. Their first restaurant is located and 2900 East Eight Mile Road and is takeaway-only. “We inherited family recipes to offer a higher quality and healthier approach to traditional soul food,” Jerome shared with Detroit Metro Times. “We hope that this sense of loyalty to family and traditions will continue to enrich the community.” Pakistani pop-up Khana is taking over Frame this January Since opening in 2017, Frame has come to be known for its chef residency format. The space has become so popular that it lured former Detroit Free Press critic, Mark Kurlyandchik to join the team. Now, starting in early 2022, the Hazel Park space will be home to Pakistani-inspired fare from Maryam Khan and Carlos Parisi of Khana. The pop-up is set to run at un at Frame from January 5 until February 6. The menu will feature sharing plates like a Pakistani take on fish and chips, butter chicken nachos, and more, paired with drinks from the Frame bar team. Reservations are now open. Greektown has a new sports bar Three Legged Goat is now open in the former Pappy’s Bar & Grill space, at 517 Monroe Street. The spot will be open lunch and dinner, everyday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., with DJ sets hosted at 10 p.m. on Saturdays.