Detroit’s Rattlesnake Club Has Closed Its Doors: Here’s Why

Detroit’s longtime and much-revered restaurant, the Rattlesnake Club, has closed its doors for good.

Rattlesnake Club Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Mark Tuttle announced in a news release that the restaurant, which has been open for 36 years, will last operate on June 28.

According to the press release, employees were notified Saturday and offered severance. Tuttle said the restaurant employs fewer than 20 people and staff was notified in person. The Rattlesnake Club website has also been taken down.

“Changing dining habits, office occupancy and traffic have negatively impacted revenue since the Covid pandemic,” Tuttle wrote in the press release. “Private events, which have always been a mainstay of the business, have not recovered.”

In 1988, award-winning celebrity chef Jimmy Schmidt opened the Rattlesnake Club at Stroh River Place. The Rattlesnake Club has long been known for its fine dining, fine wines, exceptional service, and outdoor patio overlooking the Detroit River.

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Shortly after opening, Schmidt won the coveted James Beard Award in 1993. It was the city’s first.

The Rattlesnake Club was a constant on the Detroit Free Press’ list of the best restaurants in the Detroit metro area, making the list from 2001-05. The list featured venues with qualities that make for memorable, special-occasion meals and stellar cuisine.

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Sylvia Rector, the late Detroit Free Press food critic, praised the Rattlesnake Club for its food and chef.

“Newcomers may get the attention from time to time, but when it comes to food – fabulous flavors, gorgeous plates and fresh ideas – it’s always chef-owner Jimmy Schmidt’s Rattlesnake Club that sets the standard for dining in downtown Detroit,” Rector said. wrote in 2005.

In 2010, Schmidt sold his stake in the Rattlesnake Club to Stroh Companies, according to Free Press reports. “We are grateful for the support of our loyal customers over these many years,” Tuttle wrote. “Above all, we are grateful for the loyal service of our dedicated employees.”

Contact Detroit Free Press food reporter Susan Selasky and send her your food and dining news to sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on X (formerly Twitter). Support local journalism and become a digital subscriber to the Free Press.