Detroit liquor store mixes art and Jamaican food
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Inside Liquor Basket. Photo: Annalise Frank/Axios
The east side's Liquor Basket next to the Faygo factory is a triple threat.
What to expect: Shop at the strip-mall liquor store in Detroit for alcohol and snacks, while walking through a gallery's worth of art and waiting on your order of carryout Jamaican food.
State of play: Among the store's shelves, Push Gallery shows and sells local artists, while restaurant vendor Jamaica Mi Hungry 313 started serving jerk chicken, oxtail and more this fall from a walk-up window.
- The Black-owned business — in a city with few Black-owned liquor stores — is focused on community, hosting arts-centric events.
Context: Artist and owner Dominick Lemonious's family opened Liquor Basket in 2020, according to Planet Detroit. Around 2023, the art gallery aspect started to take shape.
Zoom in: Liquor Basket sells the liquor-store usuals, but it also showcases Black-owned wine and liquor brands.
💠Annalise's thought bubble: The booze offerings would probably pair well with Jamaica Mi Hungry 313's jerk chicken meal ($17). I tried the deeply flavored dish with smoky chicken and fresh veggies. The portion is plentiful.
- Fresh juice with mango and strawberry elevated the experience.
What's next: An exhibition called "Family Over Everything" is in the works, with artists reflecting on the people, experiences and past generations that shaped their lives.
- The art submission deadline is Friday.
- Expect more details soon on Push's socials about a late November exhibition event, with wine tasting and a DJ.
If you go: 3643 Gratiot Ave.
- Store hours: 10am-2am daily.
- Carryout: 1-8pm Mondays and Wednesdays.