There is a heated debate over whether restaurant owners in the city should display a colored sign to show they meet food safety regulations. In a July 25 Facebook post and signed by 34 area businesses, the Metro Detroit Black Business Alliance told the Detroit City Council it wanted some time to see how the proposed ordinance would affect small business owners.
According to Dean, president and CEO of the BridgeDetroit MDBBA charity, many members say the proposed ordinance is a “red letter,” citing the many ways restaurants have struggled to bounce back due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Councilman Scott Benson supported the ordinance, saying it would allow customers if the dining establishment meets health code requirements. The City Council is expected to consider approving the ordinance after it reconvenes from summer recess on Sept. 5.
Better half
Downtown Parker’s Alley has a new dining option in Better Half Grilled Cheese, a walk-up window that used to sell pretzels like Twist. According to its Instagram account, Better Half quietly opened about two weeks ago with dishes like grilled mac and cheese, pizza cheese, and bacon with onion jam.
Better Half is Olin’s Sister’s Walk-In Window, which opened in September 2020 in the former Puppet Arts Theater building at 25 E. Grand River Avenue near the Shinola Hotel. In February, Twist’s Facebook page posted an announcement that it was going dormant, and on April 15, it was announced that Better Half would be arriving this summer. Under its previous iteration, Twist offered takeout of soft pretzels, cocktails and ice cream floats. In addition to grilled cheese, Better Med also sells to-go cocktails, boozy popsicles, beer and lemonade.
