Farm-Theme Restaurant Coming to Detroit's Eastern Market

Last year, after decades of operation, Farmers Restaurant in Eastern Market closed. 

Now, entrepreneur Frank Gjoka plans to open Farmer Frank's at that corner of Market Street and Adelaide. It'll be an all-day brunch restaurant with a farm-themed interior and dishes with meat and produce from market vendors. A spring opening is planned, if all goes well.

Gjoka runs businesses in Eastern Market, including Frank’s Deli & Grill, Frank’s Meat & Produce and Wigleys Wholesale Meats.

Farmers Restaurant shut after its building was sold to landlords Sanford and Linden Nelson, who told Crain's Detroit Business last year that he wanted the owners to continue operating the business, but they wanted to retire.

Another popular market restaurant that closed last year was the Russell Deli, a popular lunch spot that pulled the plug on its operation after getting into a dispute with the Nelsons over the lease. On Monday this week, Eastern Market Seafood Co. announced that Feb. 29 will be its last day after 45 years. The Nelsons bought his Market Street building.