Brix Wine, the Black woman-owned wine bar that turned into a go-to living room for Detroiters, is closing its Franklin Street doors for now. Owner Mikiah Westbrooks announced yesterday that the Rivertown location will temporarily shut down on August 1, as she prepares to relocate the business. The move will put Brix’s regular run of live music, DJ sets, tastings and community events on pause while the team spends “a few months” scouting a new home and locking in partnerships. Regulars are being told not to panic: the plan is to reopen this fall at a new address.
What the owner announced
According to the Michigan Chronicle, Westbrooks took to social media with a heartfelt thank-you note to supporters, writing, “Thank you, Detroit, for the love and support you’ve shown us.” In the same post, she confirmed that the Franklin Street spot will close on Aug. 1 and that Brix will “take several months to relocate,” with more details on a new partnership and space promised in the coming weeks.
Roots and the Rivertown home
Westbrooks first launched Brix in summer 2017 in a former bank at the corner of Van Dyke and Kercheval before moving into a 1,400-square-foot space at 1588 Franklin St. in Rivertown, BridgeDetroit reported. That relocation shifted Brix more firmly into retail and curated events while keeping its identity as a community hub, helped along by Motor City Match support for the new buildout. The blend of retail wine sales with intimate, carefully programmed nights has since made the shop a favorite for milestone celebrations within Detroit’s creative community.
What to expect next
Fans did not take the news quietly. Supporters responded with praise and memories of big life moments toasted at Brix, the Michigan Chronicle noted. While the Franklin Street closure will leave a short-term hole in Rivertown’s evening lineup, Westbrooks has framed the break as a reset and a move toward expansion and partnership, with a reopening targeted for this fall. More details are expected to roll out in the coming weeks.
