DTE Energy lights up the Detroit restaurant scene with new dining destination

Park attracts long-time suburban restaurateur to the City

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May 11, 2017, 07:00 ET

DETROIT, May 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- DTE Energy today announced it has partnered with acclaimed restaurateurs Norm and Bonnie LePage to operate the restaurant that will anchor the company's new public park, located at Cass Avenue and Grand River, and adjacent to DTE Energy Headquarters. The restaurant, currently under construction, will open this fall.

The restaurant will be the first foray into the Detroit restaurant scene for the LePages who have been operating eateries in Southeast Michigan for more than four decades. It will join the LePage's other signature restaurants – Clubhouse BFD in Rochester Hills (owned by son, Scott LePage), Big Rock Chop House and Griffin Claw in Birmingham.

"We're so pleased that the LePage family is partnering with us on this restaurant," said DTE Energy Chairman and CEO Gerry Anderson. "They bring decades of experience in operating distinctive restaurant concepts in southeastern Michigan. The LePage family's culinary point-of-view will complement the iconic architecture and ambience of this restaurant."

The restaurant features:

Seamless and connected indoor and outdoor dining spaces – sliding glass walls open to offer a flexible floor plan and plentiful outdoor dining.

A grand outdoor staircase will lead to a green rooftop dining space with panoramic views of the park and city skyline.

An expansive ceiling made of Forest Stewardship Council Certified Sapele mahogany wood – ensuring that the wood is sustainably harvested from responsibly managed forests.

Award-winning architectural firm, Touloukian Touloukian, Inc., is leading the construction of the rooftop's green restaurant space; interior and patio design is by Victor Saroki; and Kelly Building Co. is performing the build out of the space.

"There are so many amazing things happening in Detroit right now and we are very excited to be part of it and to bring our restaurant concept to DTE's new public park," said Norm LePage. "It's been an honor to work with DTE on this project to help create the ultimate outdoor entertainment experience, and of course a special focus on quality food and service."

DTE's new park is centrally located between the entertainment district, home of Little Caesar's Arena and Comerica Park, the Central Business District, Cork Town, and MGM Grand Casino. The park, programmed and operated by the Downtown Detroit Partnership, will open for play in July.

About DTE Energy
DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric utility serving 2.2 million customers in Southeastern Michigan and a natural gas utility serving 1.3 million customers in Michigan. The DTE Energy portfolio includes non-utility energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects, natural gas pipelines, gathering and storage, and energy marketing and trading. As one of Michigan's leading corporate citizens, DTE Energy is a force for growth and prosperity in the 450 Michigan communities it serves in a variety of ways, including philanthropy, volunteerism and economic progress. Information about DTE Energy is available at dteenergy.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com.

About Norm and Bonnie LePage
For over four decades, renowned restaurateurs, Norman and Bonnie LePage have welcomed guests into their neighborhood restaurants where the focus has always been on providing quality food and an exceptional dining experience. The family currently oversees operations for Clubhouse BFD in Rochester Hills, a craft beer bar; popular Big Rock Chophouse and Got Rocks Diamond Crown Cigar Lounge, a four star restaurant with an upstairs cigar bar, located in Birmingham's historic train station; The Reserve, an exclusive banquet facility located on the grounds of Big Rock Chophouse; and Griffin Claw Brewing Company in Birmingham, a 12,000-square-foot brewing and distributing facility with a taproom that opened in 2013 and is scheduled to open a second location in Rochester Hills in Fall of 2017.

SOURCE DTE Energy