Jolly Pumpkin Expanding Into Midtown Detroit

By Edward Cardenas

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) - Detroit's bar and restaurant scene will be getting a bit more "spirited" early next year as Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales announced it will be opening a new location in Midtown.

This will be the fourth location for Jolly Pumpkin, and the first in the city of Detroit, for the craft brewery which features open fermentation, oak barrel aging, and bottle conditioning.

"We are very excited to be opening Jolly Pumpkin Detroit and becoming part of this incredible neighborhood. Many have helped us develop this project and we are grateful for their support," says Tony Grant, partner with Ron Jeffries at Northern United Brewing Company, said in a release. "Sue Mosey at Midtown has been instrumental, as have Invest Detroit and Comerica Bank."

The 5,000-square-foot Jolly Pumpkin restaurant and tap house will be at 441 Canfield, next to Shinola.  It will serve all the craft beers, distilled spirits and wines including North Peak Beer, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, Civilized Spirits and Bonafide Wines, as well as an eclectic pub fare menu.

"Midtown Detroit, Inc. is thrilled to welcome Jolly Pumpkin into the neighborhood," says Executive Director Sue Mosey, in a release. "Their investment and strong brand will draw in more people to Midtown's burgeoning retail and restaurant district. Their future location, in the historic Willys Complex, compliments other strong businesses such as Shinola, Willys Detroit, RUNdetroit and the Fellow Barber, creating a walkable block of quality commercial storefronts."

In addition to locating in Detroit, Jolly Pumpkin will be locally sourcing menu items. Among the area businesses who will be partnering with Jolly Pumpkin include Avalon Bakery, McClures Pickles and Calder Dairy.

The menu will feature eclectic pub fare, according to Grant, which will include Jolly Pumpkin pizza, truffle fries along with a full tap house and tasting room beverages of all the Northern United Brewing brands.

Jolly Pumpkin, which has locations in Ann Arbor, Traverse City and Dexter, is part of Northern United Brewing Co., which also includes the Grizzly Peak and North Peak Beer Co. craft beer brands, as well as Civilized Spirits and Bonafide Wines.