Rock & Brews, the rock-and-roll restaurant and concert-bar concept co-founded by members of Kiss, is set to crank up the volume in downtown Royal Oak on March 19. The nearly 12,000-square-foot, three-level venue on Fifth Avenue will combine dining, live music and a seasonal rooftop lounge, becoming the brand’s first Michigan location and a sizable new nightlife anchor for the city’s uptown stretch.
Franchise owners have pegged March 19 as the official opening date, according to Crain's Detroit Business. The outlet reports that this will be the company’s 19th location, with a menu built around chicken wings, salads, sandwiches, burgers, tacos and pizza. A larger grand-opening event featuring special guests and local officials is slated for later in the spring, the announcement notes.
What to expect inside
The layout covers three distinct levels: a main dining room on the first floor, a second-floor live-concert stage and bar, and an open-air rooftop sky lounge for the warmer months, as reported by WXYZ. The venue is set to feature dozens of TVs and a 16-foot LED screen for sports and special events. Food service is planned across all three floors, and the entire space will be available for private events and group bookings.
Local team and Detroit ties
Brothers Tony and Danny Yezbick, who also own nearby Fifth Avenue and 526 Main Piano Bar, are the franchisees bringing Rock & Brews to Royal Oak. They have teamed up with Detroit radio personality Drew Lane, ClickOnDetroit reports. Lane has worked with designers to pack the interior with Detroit music memorabilia, including vintage WRIF stickers and Motown posters, in an effort to ground the national brand in local music history. The ownership group says it plans to feature a selection of Michigan craft beers alongside Rock & Brews’ standard tap list.
A churned corner of Fifth
The Fifth Avenue building has seen a steady turnover of restaurant tenants in recent years. An older Woody’s Diner once occupied the corner, HopCat opened there in 2017 and later closed amid landlord disputes in 2020, and Pastaio arrived afterward, according to local reporting. Eater Detroit chronicled HopCat’s 2020 shutdown, while The Detroit News and local licensing records note Pastaio’s run beginning in 2022 before the space fell quiet again. The Rock & Brews buildout is the latest chapter for that corner, reflecting both the churn and the ongoing appetite for nightlife and concept-driven dining in Royal Oak.
The business behind the brand
Industry franchise documents show that opening a Rock & Brews requires a substantial upfront commitment. Summaries of the company’s franchise disclosure indicate total investment ranges that start at around $1.5 million and can climb above $4 million, with prospective franchisees expected to meet significant net-worth and liquid-capital thresholds, according to franchise filings and industry databases. Franchising overviews from FDD Exchange and listings at IFPG detail the financial requirements and fees tied to new locations.
When it opens
Rock & Brews is scheduled to open its doors to the public on March 19, with hiring already underway and local job postings appearing in recent weeks. A follow-up grand-opening celebration with special guests and city leaders is planned, according to the Detroit Free Press, and the company is directing reservation requests and staffing inquiries through its website.
