The Rattlesnake Club is permanently closed: That’s why
Detroit’s long-standing and highly regarded restaurant Rattlesnake Club has permanently closed.
The Rattlesnake Club’s vice president and CFO announced in a press release that the restaurant, open for 36 years, had its last day of operation on June 28.
According to the new press release, employees were notified Saturday and offered severance pay. Tuttle said the restaurant employs fewer than 20 people and staff were notified in person. The Rattlesnake Club’s website has also been taken down.
“Since the Covid pandemic, changing dining habits, office occupancy and traffic have negatively impacted revenue,” Tuttle wrote in the press release. “Private events, which have always been a pillar of the business, have not recovered.”
In 1988, renowned, award-winning chef Jimmy Schmidt opened the Rattlesnake Club on Stroh River Place. The Rattlesnake Club has long been known for its fine dining, fine wines, outstanding service and outdoor patio overlooking the Detroit River.
Not long after opening, Schmidt won a coveted James Beard Award in 1993, the city’s first. The Rattlesnake Club was a staple on the Detroit Free Press’ list of the best restaurants in Detroit from 2001 to 2005. The list includes establishments with characteristics that make for a memorable special occasion dinner and outstanding food.
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Sylvia Rector, the late restaurant critic for the Detroit Free Press, praised the Rattlesnake Club for its food and its chef.
“Newcomers may steal the spotlight from time to time, but when it comes to food – fabulous flavors, beautiful dishes and fresh ideas – it’s still chef-owner Jimmy Schmidt’s Rattlesnake Club that sets the standard for downtown Detroit dining,” Rector wrote in 2005.
According to Free Press reports, Schmidt sold his interest in the Rattlesnake Club to the Stroh Companies in 2010. “We are grateful for the support of our loyal customers over the years,” Tuttle wrote. “Most importantly, we are grateful for the loyal service of our dedicated employees.”
Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky with food and restaurant news at [email protected]. Follow @SusanMariecooks on X (formerly Twitter). Support local journalism and become a digital subscriber to the Free Press.
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