The neon-tinged, retro-inspired dive bar flair of Ray’s Bar is rolling into the Motor City, Maxim can share, as famous faces like Succession star Nicholas Braun teams with Authentic Hospitality to bring a new hometown favorite to Detroit.
Originally opened in the fall of 2023 to buzzed-about fanfare in New York’s Lower East Side, stars like Braun and actor/screenwriter Justin Theroux quickly became partners and IRL champions of the ’70s-tinged haunt packed with neon beer signs, a lively hipster crowd and plenty of ice-cold beer (and espresso martinis).
From there, Authentic Hospitality took Ray’s to Williamsburg and Miami, with the Motor City proving the perfect landing spot for the hometown concept, Braun said. A partner of Detroit-based Shinola and the director of a recent Shinola commercial campaign, the Zola star told Maxim that Ray’s should embody the spirit of the city, as each Ray’s location takes inspiration from the surrounding area.
For Ray’s, that means nodding to a rich automotive history while also resting just steps away from the Shinola Hotel. “I’m so excited to bring Ray’s to Detroit. We’ve always had it on our wish list and we’re so glad the city has embraced us,” Braun told Maxim exclusively. “I spent some time there recently to work with Shinola and was able to check out a bunch of other bars around downtown, and Ray’s is clearly in great company.”
Ray’s brings with it plenty of stylish pedigree: Brands like Buffalo Trace and Wrangler have used its original New York City space for on-trend collaborative events, with a line regularly stretching down the block at the Lower East Side location many nights of the week.
Authentic Hospitality is at the helm of trendy watering holes across the Big Apple and well beyond, including Pebble Bar, Jac’s On Bond and Miami’s original Broken Shaker. “Detroit is near and dear to me and the love here is so palpable,” Authentic Hospitality co-founder Carlos Quirarte told Maxim in a statement. “This Ray’s was a long time in the making and we are beyond excited to finally be here. Every city deserves a Ray’s.”
Designed by Detroit native Taavo Sommer, Motor City artwork, collectibles and memorabilia line the walls of the space, which also nods to Michigan’s outdoor heritage. Cozy booths and a private dining room, plus a photo booth and an array of nostalgic, warm materials should remind and immerse visitors in the city and the state at large. The emphasis on Detroit runs deeper than that: The space marks the first partnership between Authentic Hospitality and NoHo Hospitality Group, the masterminds behind the exceptional food and beverage offerings at the likes of the Shinola Hotel.
In keeping with the down-home, neighborhood watering hole vibe of Ray’s locations across the country, the food menu will focus on bar staples done better, like signature hot dogs, chicken wings and shareable bites. A “perfectly poured Guinness” is among offerings on tap, while the cocktail menu gains some Michigan flair by using Faygo root beer in a “Ray-Go Fashioned.”
Quirarte hopes that the space will become a familiar Detroit institution for visitors and regulars alike. “We wanted Ray’s to feel like it’s always been part of Detroit, somewhere people return to because they’re always welcomed like a regular,” he said in a press release. To get a taste of Ray’s the next time you find yourself in “The D,” venture to 19 East Grand River Avenue or find out more online.