Zazios may not yet be closed, but the developers behind Birmingham’s Greenleaf Trust Building already have a new restaurant lined up for the corner of Maple and Woodward.
At the Wednesday night meeting of the Birmingham Planning Board, Patti Owens of the Catalyst Development, Co. announced that a new restaurant called The Stand would be moving into the Greenleaf Trust Building’s soon-to-be empty first floor.
Zazios, a colorful fixture on Woodward since July 2010, announced earlier this month that they would be closing on Jan. 31.
The project will be headed up by Catalyst, the development arm of the Kalamazoo-based Greenleaf Trust. Also on board is the Birmingham architecture firm Victor Saroki & Associates and John Kelly Construction.
“We’re working as quickly as possible with a really dedicated and wonderful team,” said Owens, president of Catalyst.
“We’re committed to this building,” she added. “This is going to be a wonderful concept that I think everyone will really love.”
The developers are now putting the finishing touches on their Special Land Use application, which they plan on putting before the Planning Board by the end of February.
Planning Director Jana Ecker said the group must receive an amendment to their original Special Land Use Permit since The Stand will have a new name and new operators.
Zazios is the owner of Birmingham’s only economic development license, a special form of liquor licenses set aside for projects that heavily invest along the Woodward corridor.
Though more details have yet to be released, Planning Board members said they were happy the Greenleaf Trust Building wasn’t going to be empty for long.
“I’m pleased we’re not going to have a dark building,” Planning Board chairman Robin Boyle said.
What kind food should they serve or specialize in at The Stand? What kind restaurant does Birmingham need?
