Oralandar Brand-Williams

The Detroit News

Woodpile BBQ Shack is the latest newcomer to Detroit’s already sizzling-hot restaurant scene, the restaurant confirmed Sunday.

The Clawson-based restaurant announced it will open a second location, joining Detroit’s New Center area near the Fisher building. The new eatery and bar is expected to open early next year. It will be located in a 2,000 square ground floor space at 6402 Woodward.

“We love Detroit, and we love great barbecue, so this is an opportunity to pair those two passions together,” said Zac Idzikowski, one of four partners in the project, according to a news release. “With all that’s going on in Detroit, how can you not want to be part of the rebirth of this great city?”

Construction is expected to start next month. Woodpile opened its Clawson restaurant in December 2015, featuring award-winning BBQ-er Steve ‘Bubba’ Coddington’s fresh smoked meats.

“Our meats are smoked fresh over night using only wood smoke and time,” its Clawson website says. “Our sides remind us of what Mom makes and our custom ice creams are made from scratch each week.”

The restaurant offers Texas-style brisket in a fast and casual dining atmosphere. Most of its food orders are ready in five minutes, according to the restaurant’s owners. The restaurant will be part of the new Baltimore Station Development project by Detroit-based real estate developer The Platform, a major developer in the New Center area.

The Baltimore Station project will also include renovation of two historic buildings, which have stood empty for some time. The project will bring about 8,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floors in addition to 23 apartments on the buildings’ second and third floors. According to The Platform’s website, there will be “adaptive re-use” of some properties and new construction of others for retail and restaurant space along the M-1 Rail, between the Midtown and New Center areas.

The project came about during a graduate class at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, which was being taught by Ann Arbor developer Peter Allen. Three students, Dang Duong, Clarke Lewis and Myles Hamby, were hired as development managers for the Baltimore Station project and will be able to put their ideas to work.

“Baltimore Station is a great project, but the story behind it is just flat out amazing,” said Peter Cummings, a co-principal of The Platform. “To help take what had been a class project for these guys, to take their vision and make it a reality, it’s just inspiring for not only the future of Detroit, but for the careers of these three brilliant young men.”

The Platform partnered with BE Partners LLC, whose members are Peter and his son, Doug Allen, as well as the former students.

bwilliams@detroitnews.com

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