Royal Oak’s longtime neighborhood watering hole at 917 N. Main St. is getting a saltwater makeover. For The Wise, a seafood-forward concept from the team behind nearby Beppe, is taking over the former Inn Place Bar & Grill space next to Crispelli’s bakery and is slated to open this month. The menu is set to revolve around wood-grilled seafood, skewers and artisan flatbreads, turning a familiar Main Street bar into a sit-down spot built for lingering over dinner.
City sign-off cleared the way
The Royal Oak City Commission signed off on For The Wise’s plan of operation in November 2025, paving the way for the lease and liquor-license transfer, according to the Royal Oak City Commission. The approval came with conditions on parking and day-to-day operations discussed at a public hearing, setting the ground rules the new restaurant will follow as it opens.
Who’s behind the concept
City filings list Dominic Morelli as the sole member behind For The Wise. Morelli is also a partner in Beppe on North Main, and local coverage has linked the seafood project to that same team. Plate & Press has profiled Morelli’s work in Royal Oak, while Crain's Detroit Business first reported that For The Wise is taking over the former Inn Place address on Main Street.
Menu, hours and the buildout
On its own “Coming Soon” page, For The Wise lists a July 2026 opening and describes itself as a seafood bar centered on fresh, wood-grilled dishes. A memo from the police department included in the city’s packet details the operational plan, including table service with a full bar and proposed hours of Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. That filing also outlines the projected renovation investment and the liquor-license transfer, according to the Royal Oak Police Department.
Where it fits on Main Street
The restaurant will operate at 917 N. Main St., directly beside Crispelli’s Bakery at 931 N. Main St., whose ownership group controls several properties on that block. Local listings note that the address previously housed the Inn Place Bar & Grill, and city records show that For The Wise will lease the site from Crispelli’s real estate arm.
What’s next
As construction wraps up, the team is hiring both front- and back-of-house staff in preparation for welcoming dinner crowds later this month, according to local job postings and the restaurant’s website. Once the doors open, For The Wise will add a seafood-heavy option to downtown Royal Oak’s mix of bakeries, bars and casual spots, positioning itself as one of the more closely watched entrants in Main Street’s summer dining shuffle.
