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"After being closed since March 16, 2020, the longtime New Center bar and restaurant is set to reopen for evening dance parties beginning Friday, May 26 (timed for Movement weekend), briefly close for Memorial Day, then return to seven-days-a-week service starting Tuesday, May 30. Owner Michael Solaka used the pandemic downtime to make building improvements but delayed reopening until COVID variants subsided and staffing could be secured; chef Yolanda Evans will return, bringing back the spot’s house-made chicken strips and falafel-based veggie burgers and adding a black bean and beet vegan burger patty. Known before the closure for a sprawling garden patio, mimosa-filled brunches, almost nightly DJ sets and live performances (including regular appearances by Detroit guitarist Dennis Coffey), the venue also stood out for a glamorous sitting-room–style restroom, a vintage shuffleboard, and a friendly neighborhood vibe. Planned regular hours are 2 p.m. to midnight Sunday–Wednesday and 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday–Saturday, with the kitchen open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and eventual weekend 11 a.m. brunch service; the place originally opened in 2004 and previously operated as Tandem Bar and Grill serving nearby General Motors workers." - Serena Maria Daniels