While Ford Motor Co. gears up its massive renovation project for Michigan Central Station, the wheels have also been turning at a new restaurant in its shadow.

Cork & Gabel, a new fusion restaurant Detroit's Corktown neighborhood, is scheduled to open Dec. 19, Matt McGrail, executive chef and co-founder, told Crain's on Monday in an email. The business has been in the works since October 2017 and fell into a whirlwind of good fortune when Ford announced in June that it bought the dilapidated train station and would be renovating it and building a tech campus in the surrounding area.

The restaurant is opening at 2415 Michigan Ave. in a 4,450-square-foot space next to Two James Spirits. The dining room, arranged in a communal style, will accommodate about 50 people, while the bar will seat 20 and the outdoor patio will have room for 50-60. The restaurant will employ 30-40 full- and part-time workers.

Cork & Gabel will serve Irish, Italian and German food with full bar service. It plans to source seasonal produce and sausages locally for a menu that creates "a mixture of comfort food that everyone can enjoy, but also reaches gourmet quality." Dishes include Guinness stew with braised beef short rib and Dubliner mac and cheese. For dessert, diners can dig into the Irish waffle bomb, featuring Baileys vanilla ice cream and Jameson caramel sauce. Prices will range from $7 for an appetizer to $25-$30 for an entrée.

Initial hours will be 4 p.m.-midnight Monday-Saturday, with the kitchen closing at 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Sunday hours are 4-9 p.m. Brunch, which will start in the new year, will be served 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Lunch will also be added early next year.

Co-owner Joe Mifsud owns the building in which the restaurant will be opening, along with several other properties in the area.

Investment in the restaurant was not disclosed. Design was handled by Clinton Township-based Polyarch Inc.

Cork & Gable is also scheduled to be featured on a new Food Network show called "Opening Night," which focuses on restaurants that are preparing to open, Eater Detroit reported.