Union Assembly Restaurant to Open Later this Year in The District Detroit

Union Joints proudly announced that Union Assembly, the flagship restaurant and bar at Columbia Street and Woodward Avenue in The District Detroit, is opening later this year.

The newest Union Joint spans two stories and features a second-floor lounge, indoor/outdoor bar and a three-season terrace that overlooks Woodward Avenue and Comerica Park. Guests can also enjoy seasonal street-side patio dining on Columbia Street.

Union Assembly has recruited District Chef Mara Jaffe and Chef de Cuisine Philip Vernier to return to Michigan to lead Union Joints’ latest culinary endeavors. Chef Jaffe, a Roeper and Cornell hospitality program grad, is coming home after stints in Dubai, Nantucket and California. Chef Vernier is returning to Michigan after hitting Portland for culinary school and overseeing a myriad of highly-respected kitchens in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

As is the case with every Union Joint, co-owner Ann Stevenson designed the space. Royal Oak-based von Staden Architects handled the multi-level architectural duties. The inviting space features exuberant and lively multi-tiered activations that allow for everything from cozy nook moments to large-scale private dining in a dedicated room with terrace access. As principal of ann stevenson studio, Stevenson integrated items uniquely procured and destined for this new joint on Woodward.

Chefs Jaffe and Vernier have built Union Assembly’s menu around an evolved comfort food with inventive and elevated ingredients. Whether for full-tilt dinner or quick game day snacks, diners will enjoy new American offerings alongside longstanding group staples (like the Most-Macked Mac & Cheese and deck-fired Detroit style pies) that use local provisions and ingredients. The always unpretentious, slightly throwback and honest homey cooking that Joints is known for is elevated a few notches—and influenced with fresh vegetarian and gluten free options—under the direction of Chefs Jaffe and Vernier.

The beverage program has been developed by Jeremy Bazely, who returned to the Union Joints family after two decades away with stints in Madison, Austin and Brooklyn.  The cocktail program will be both inventive and approachable and will serve as a natural extension of the canned cocktails Joints launched over the past year. Union Assembly is under the purview of District Manager Shane Collier. Besides bringing all he’s learned in his 26 year career with Joints, Collier is also bringing the talented Jessica Birdsey from Honcho in Clarkston to serve as UA’s General Manager.

Owned by the duo of Curt Catallo and Ann Stevenson along with managing partner Erich Lines, Union Joints is a 26-year-old independent restaurant group that owns and operates the Clarkston Union, Union General, Union Woodshop, Vinsetta Garage (with partner KC Crain), Fenton Fire Hall, Pumphouse Custard, Honcho (with outposts at DTE Energy Music Theatre and Ford Field), Gran Castor and Bunkhouse Burgers.

Union Joints is currently hiring for every position. Visit joinjoints.com for more information.