HopCat
Bar & grill · Royal Oak ·
Woodwork brewpub with massive beer list, creative fare & brunch
Woodwork brewpub with massive beer list, creative fare & brunch
"This latest opening follows HopCat’s recent move into a new space in Royal Oak after that location’s previous spot closed in May 2020." - Serena Maria Daniels
"After closing its Fifth Avenue location in May 2020 following a landlord dispute, this Michigan-based brewpub operated by Project BarFly is returning to Royal Oak with a new space at 430 S. Main St. (occupying the former Noodles & Company, GameStop and BD’s Mongolian Grill storefronts). The operator plans to hire about 150 employees for front- and back-of-house roles — including line cooks, prep cooks, dishwashers, barbacks, hosts, food runners, servers and bartenders — with training beginning in late November; applications are being accepted at barflyjobs.com, in person at the Detroit location (4265 Woodward Ave.) or by texting BarFly to 85000. An exact opening date has not been announced, but the group hopes to open sometime this winter and emphasizes providing a supportive work environment focused on growth and long-term careers." - Serena Maria Daniels
"The Royal Oak location of a regional bar chain permanently closed after the company was unable to reach an agreement with the building landlord, though the brand intends to seek a new site in the area in the future." - Eater Staff
"Downtown Royal Oak’s massive Hopcat location closed and served as a bellwether for financial troubles at the Grand Rapids–based gastropub chain; not long after the Royal Oak closure the company filed for Chapter 11 citing rent-payment problems, and a private equity group purchased the chain out of bankruptcy in October for $17.5 million." - Brenna Houck
"The Royal Oak craft-beer bar was evicted from its space amid the company’s mounting financial problems; that eviction was confirmed shortly before the parent company filed for Chapter 11, illustrating local fallout from broader rent-payment and cash-flow issues." - Brenna Houck