Kid Rock's Little Caesars Arena restaurant to close; decision follows controversial video

Brian McCollum | Detroit Free Press

One of the signature restaurants at Little Caesars Arena will no longer bear Kid Rock's name.

Ilitch Holdings announced early Wednesday that the musician has "voluntarily decided not to renew" his licensing agreement for Kid Rock's Made in Detroit restaurant, one of four full-service eateries at LCA since the arena's 2017 opening.

A statement attributed to Chris Granger, president of sports and entertainment for Ilitch Holdings, said a new concept will be introduced in the space that "aligns with our community and company values.”

A Detroit activist group, meanwhile, gathered Wednesday along Woodward and called for the space to be transformed into a minority-owned restaurant — though that may not be possible because of existing contractual arrangements at LCA.

The announcement comes days after the emergence of a video in which Kid Rock, onstage at his Nashville restaurant and apparently drunk, directed a graphic rant toward Oprah Winfrey. The Ilitch statement did not directly cite that incident.

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“We have been in contact with Kid Rock," Granger's statement read. "He has voluntarily decided not to renew his licensing agreement for the Kid Rock’s Made in Detroit restaurant which comes up for renewal in April. We are in the business of amazing and inspiring our fans and guests through an incredible array of world-class sporting and live entertainment events. As our venues are open, inviting, inclusive, and respectful to all, we look forward to bringing on an exciting new concept that aligns with our community and company values.”

The Made in Detroit restaurant features rock- and Southern-themed food offerings, along with the array of Kid Rock memorabilia. The concept is an extension of Rock's Made in Detroit merchandise brand, which he purchased in 2005.

The restaurant, which occupies a premium, high-profile spot on LCA's Woodward-facing side, was the target of protests when the arena opened with six Kid Rock concerts in September 2017. Demonstrators led by the Michigan National Action Network (NAN) blasted the selection of Rock as arena opener, citing his past use of the Confederate flag and other controversial conduct.

About a dozen NAN supporters gathered Wednesday across from the restaurant for a previously announced media event to address the recent Kid Rock footage and denounce his disparagement of Winfrey.

The Rev. Charles Williams II, local NAN president, said he was "calling on the Ilitches" to turn the Made in Detroit space into a minority-owned restaurant — "specifically black-owned," he said.

That may not be possible: Restaurants, concessions and other food operations at LCA are contracted to the New York hospitality company Delaware North. Kid Rock has not owned or managed the Made in Detroit restaurant, but simply licensed his name and image rights. He also gave initial input on menu items and loaned memorabilia for the space.

Williams said the group was gathered Wednesday to "send a clear-cut message, and this is: Thank you and see you later, Kid Rock," later adding, "good riddance."

Earlier Wednesday, Rock confirmed the non-renewal of his LCA agreement. Writing on Facebook, he touted his record of financial support for various Detroit groups and declared that "trying to label me racist is a joke."

"I guess the millions of dollars I pumped into that town was not enough," he wrote. "I will let the NAN network and others go ahead and take the wheel now. Good luck."

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Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or bmccollum@freepress.com.