Bandit Tavern & Hideaway Closes After Less Than a Year

The Southern-style restaurant in Royal Oak announced the closure on Facebook on Monday.
149
Photograph courtesy of Bandit Tavern & Hideaway/Mission Restaurant Group

After just 8 months in business, Bandit Tavern & Hideaway in Royal Oak announced that it has closed due to “current market conditions” on Facebook Monday afternoon. Its last day of operations was Sunday.

“Dear friends, we have officially closed our doors,” the post read. “Thank you for letting us be part of the Royal Oak community. We’ll miss you!”

Owned by Mission Restaurant Group, which owns several other restaurants in Metro Detroit including Avalon Café and Bakery, Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery, Grizzly Peak Brewing Company, Jolly Pumpkin, and others, Bandit Tavern & Hideaway featured both Midwest and Southern comfort food dishes such as hot chicken sandwiches, and shrimp and grits, along with craft beers and more, served on the restaurant’s upper floor tavern.

It also hosted seasonal pop-ups, VIP rooms, and private parties in its downstairs “hideaway.”

“We are proud to have served the Royal Oak community for two decades, employed thousands of people, introduced 11 unique restaurant concepts, and made lifelong friends,” David Ritchie, the president of Mission Restaurant Group said in a statement shared with Hour Detroit.

“Unfortunately, current market conditions have forced us to focus our attention and resources in other areas. We are working with staff to place as many people as possible at other locations within our group. We sincerely appreciate the support we received over the years and will miss operating in Royal Oak.”

Bandit Tavern & Hideaway opened in November of last year in the former location of Jolly Pumpkin at 419 S. Main St.  The announcement of its closure comes about six weeks after Mission Restaurant Group announced it would turn Vigilante Kitchen + Bar into Nain Rouge Kitchen, according to the Detroit Free Press.

For more Metro Detroit food news, visit hourdetroit.com.