New Restaurant, The Stand, Looks to Open This Fall

The Stand, the restaurant looking to replace Zazios in Birmingham's Greenleaf Trust Building, is looking at opening in fall 2013.

The Birmingham City Commission approved The Stand's final site plan earlier this week, as well as their request to transfer Zazios' economic development license.

The Stand was on the fast track to approval, receiving the go ahead from the Birmingham Planning Board last Wednesday. The restaurant's owners will return to the city once more for the official transfer of the liquor license.

The Stand is being described as a "modern gastropub" and will be owned by Chef Paul Grosz, the owner of Cuisine Restaurant in Detroit, and John Kelly, the general manager of the Capital Grille at Somerset in Troy.

The new restaurant will have 218 seats, slightly fewer than Zazios' 230 seats.

"This restaurant is going to be nationally known one day," Grosz told the city Monday. "The Birmingham clientele will appreciate this."

"I think it's a win-win for the city," Kelly added. "It puts that corner in a bright spot."

According to the attorney representing Grosz and Kelly, the pair is investing more than $1 million in renovating the space, which will be designed by area architect Victor Saroki, of Victor Saroki & Associates.

"It's amazing that they realized something wasn't working, and they worked to replace it so quickly," said local attorney Kelly Allen, referring to the January announcement that Zazios would be closing. Zazios is still open with a limited menu, but will close this spring.

For more

• New Restaurant Lined Up for Zazios Spot in Greenleaf Trust Building