Marais Restaurant to Feature Outdoor Dining

The , will feature an outdoor patio at the corner of St. Clair Street and Kercheval Avenue that will be nearly 400 square-feet. 

Construction has already been underway on the building. Crews tore off the back facade of the building a few weeks ago, revealing the old "Fischer's" signage painted on the brick. 

More construction is ahead after the restaurant owners, Monica and David Gilbert, gained approval of his site plan, which includes a 390 square-foot outdoor dining area. The patio will require some changes to the corner, which currently houses a traffic control box and is well-landscaped with trees and flowers as a pedestrian corridor offering bench seating and flowing waterscapes.

Much of the streetscape will remain, providing an outline of the patio but some reconfiguration is necessary to accommodate the outdoor dining area. 

In gaining approval for the patio, Gilbert has agreed to pay for the relocation of the traffic control box and for any work requiring the removal of greenery. Additionally, he must replace greenery.

The restaurant will occupy what was formerly two storefronts that is now being converted into one space that is 6,007 square-feet. Since the size exceeds the City's 5,000 square-foot designation, it required approval for special use. Council unanimously granted this Monday. 

Once the patio is created, the restaurant must provide an enclosure to the space as required by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission as well as Wayne County. There must also be a detailed storage plan for the months when the outdoor dining furniture will not be in use, according to the site plan documents reviewed by council. 

According to the preliminary floor plans, the restaurant will have 80 seats in the main dining area, 22 in a private dining area and lounge seating in the bar. It will also have a wine cellar and three entrances. 

Marais owners, the Gilberts of Grosse Pointe Park, were also granted the transfer of a liquor license. The license was transfered from within Wayne County and has full service capabilities even on Sunday. 

According to the background investigation related to the license, the restaurant will ultimately employ 30 to 40 people and be open Tuesday through Sunday.