The little white porcelain-tiled stand that housed Hunter House Hamburgers for decades is glowing again, this time under different hands. Neighbors and commuters have spotted the vintage Woodward Avenue storefront slinging sliders this week, a twist few expected after months of chatter that the corner was headed for full-on redevelopment.
New Operators Take Over the Classic Stand
According to Crain's Detroit Business, the original Hunter House building at Woodward and Hamilton Row is back in action with new operators serving short-order sliders out of the same retro facade. Crain's reports the switch appears to have happened quietly while longer-term plans for the property remain unresolved.
Hunter House Made Its Move Last Fall
Hunter House Hamburgers itself shifted roughly a mile south on November 1, relocating to the former KFC at 33900 Woodward after more than 70 years at the original corner, as reported by WXYZ. That move capped a yearslong dispute between the burger institution and the property owner, and CBS Detroit has noted that the developer and city officials are still working through paperwork tied to a future rebuild of the site.
Locals Spot the Comeback
Neighborhood social feeds lit up with photos of the building sporting fresh block letters that simply read “HAMBURGERS.” A local Reddit thread captured snapshots of the reopened stand along with early reactions from people driving or walking by. The general vibe so far is a mix of relief that the tiny landmark is still flipping patties and curiosity about whether this setup is a short-term play while the bigger project inches forward.
How Long Will the Sliders Last Here?
The parcel has been targeted for a multistory mixed-use project for several years, and Birmingham’s planning director told CBS Detroit that the developer is “working through the creation of construction documents” that must be filed before any building can start. That timeline suggests the classic structure could stick around for a while longer as plans are finalized and permits are pulled.
In the meantime, burger fans get an extra stop on Woodward. Hunter House continues serving out of its new 33900 Woodward location, according to reporting from Patch, while the fresh-faced slider joint at the old corner tests whether it is a temporary understudy or the next long-term act for one of Birmingham’s most recognizable little buildings.
