A new wine-inspired restaurant featuring regional cuisine from the Alps called Alpino is slated to open its doors this winter in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood at 1426 Bagley St.
The restaurant location at Bagley and Trumbull is near Ford Motor’s Co.’s emerging mobility innovation campus made up of the former Michigan Central train station, the neighboring Book Depository building, and The Factory. The station is scheduled to open next year with 5,000 employees, half of whom will work for Ford, with the remaining workers made up of suppliers and mobility firms.
The 3,200-square-foot restaurant space on the first floor is being brought back to life by Detroit native and New York hospitality veteran David Richter, who with his family moved back to Michigan last year to begin the project. The two-level building (lower level) offers 6,400 square feet of space.
“I’m thrilled to be back in Detroit, opening a restaurant in the city my heart never left. The culinary scene was being talked about in the cities I was living in, inspiring me to come home and be part of the growth,” says Richter.
The concept of Alpino is rooted in heritage, tradition, and simplicity. Alpino is inspired by the agriculture found in and around mountainous terrain, sourced from hills, rivers, and streams, focused on yearlong diversity be it fresh or preserved.
The restaurant’s menu will weave together traditional dishes from countries along the Alpine Mountains in Europe, including Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. Alpino’s beverage program will offer a unique list of lesser-known, affordable wines from that part of the world along with curated cocktails and European style beers.
Inside, the restaurant’s design will be inspired by European country-side farmhouses and cabins, incorporating natural materials in a simplistic, communal manner.
Originally from Detroit, Richter moved to New York in his twenties to dive into the local restaurant scene. During his two-decade long career, he worked alongside many notable restaurateurs including Joe Bastianich, Cesare Casella, and Michael Dorf of City Winery.
His most recent role was the vice president of operations for City Winery, where he helped them grow the business from one location in New York to eight locations across six states.
Alpino, expected to open this winter, will serve dinner six nights a week. Additional details surrounding key players, hiring, menus, and grand opening details will be announced at a later date.
The restaurant space was formerly Lady of the House, overseen by Chef Kate Williams. It was closed during the pandemic. Prior to that, it was a restaurant called Baile Corcaigh, along with another eatery called St. Cece’s
