Downtown Detroit’s Willow is the first Black-owned speakeasy in the city

The long-awaited Black-owned artisan cocktail bar, Willow, located at 431 Times Square, opened in Detroit and pays homage to Southern hospitality. According to Freep, the speakeasy secretly debuted last month and is situated in the downtown alley just around the corner from upscale soul food eatery, SavannahBlue.

Andre Sykes, who formerly oversaw Shelby’s beverage program and was a semifinalist for the 2022 James Beard Awards for Best Bar Program, was hired by Ron Scott, J.D. Simpson and Roger Yopp, the trio who own and run SavannahBlue. According to EATER Detroit, Savannah Blue was one of several candidates for Outstanding Restaurateur on the Beards’ extensive list of nominations.

Freep’s Lyndsay Green notes that a maître d’ uses a Ring doorbell to keep tabs on guests as they enter through a golden door adorned with an abstract willow tree. Sykes explained to Green that the menu he created has libations with flavors drawn from his Afro-West Indian ancestry and recounts the tale of the Black experience. For instance, the Fannie Ward No. 2 is an homage to the original Fannie Ward, which was made by Black bartender Tom Bullock and used the Jamaican hibiscus drink, sorrel.

Before making a reservation at this impressive establishment, be sure to go over the speakeasy’s policies. The rules are listed on their website, but we’ve included them below for your convenience.

House Rules

1. Willow is a seated bar. 50 seats for 50 guests. For the enjoyment of all ourguests, we ask you to limit any standing and any unnecessary movement.

2. Respect your neighboring tables. Please “speak easy” and respect the privacy of your neighbors.

3. Willow cannot accommodate groups larger than four without a reservation.

4. Willow does not allow add-ons to any parties without prior approval.

5. Willow is a small bar with very limited seating. Guest visits are limited to 90 minutes.

6. The majority of your party must be present to be seated.

7. Guests will not be seated less than 30 minutes before closing time.

8. At Willow cell phone usage of any kind is strongly discouraged.

9. All men must remove their hats prior to entering Willow.

Evie Blanco is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience who was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Queens, New York. She is extremely well-versed in hip-hop music and culture and is always aware of any developments within it. Whether it’s the latest in pop culture, a fascinating foreign destination, a truly amazing new restaurant, or breaking news, she loves to write about it all.

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This story was originally published March 2, 2023 at 6:08 PM.