The Alibi to open next week in new location, followed by The Scapegoat
Sept. 21, 2023
The longtime east-side bar and grill The Alibi will move just a little to the north and west beginning next week — to a new building shared with another restaurant and a casino.
This will be the last weekend for The Alibi at 7605 E. Arrowhead Parkway. On Monday, it will reopen at 7400 E. Oak Grove Trail, which is east of The Willows apartments along Arrowhead Parkway near Six Mile Road.
The building is owned by Justin and Chrissy Johnson and is wrapping up its phased construction.
Silver Dollar Casino already is open and has 40 machines split among four rooms.
Attached to it is The Alibi, which will keep the same menu of customer favorites — featuring burgers, sandwiches and appetizers — and nearly triple in size with a capacity of up to 200, general manager Todd Burns said.
“The current Alibi is more of a neighborhood dive feel and dive bar, the building has been around for decades, and we wanted to elevate The Alibi,” he said. “To keep it a warm, homey feel, that’s why it’s a little darker with the natural woods, but we wanted to keep it cozy and also increase the size.”
There’s also an area that could be more private seating or could feature entertainment.
Hours will stay the same: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.
The Alibi has a large patio that will connect to a patio for its attached sister restaurant, The Scapegoat.
Both restaurants also will be accessible by a path designed for golf carts that connects to the adjacent neighborhood, which isn’t far from Willow Run Golf Course.
While The Alibi is for customers 21 and older, The Scapegoat will be family-friendly and feature a menu of artisan 12-inch Neapolitan-style pizzas.
There also will be salads on the menu and a few appetizers made in the pizza oven.
“You can order beverages from the bar or wines here in the restaurant,” Burns said.
The plan is to open before the end of October, he said. The former Alibi building likely will be repurposed into a different food and beverage concept at some point, he added.
While hiring has gone well, “I could use some kitchen staff,” Burns said. “We’re always looking but definitely for individuals on The Scapegoat side. I want to find people that like to create and have a passion for food.”
