Peabody's Restaurant Demolition Ends Era In Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, MI — An era officially came to a close in Birmingham Tuesday when demolition began on Peabody’s Restaurant, a fixture in the community since 1975. A Southfield developer plans to transform the property into a five-story mixed-use development with two floors dedicated to residential units, office and retail space, and two floors of underground parking. The Birmingham City Commission approved a $1.3 million brownfield plan for the development last year.

Peabody’s closed July 30, 2016. Sisters Nancy Peabody, Susan Peabody and Barbara Peabody Jerome ran the restaurant their dad, Jim, started until it closed.

“It has been a grand venture and adventure for us all,” the sisters said in a statement shortly before the restaurant closed last July. “It has been an honor to serve our friends, local customers and the community for many years.”

A grocery store was housed in the building at 34965 Woodward Avenue for 29 years, and the restaurant for 41. Crain’s Detroit Business reported that Southfield-based Alden Development Group will bring plans to Birmingham’s City Commission within 90 days for the site.

Demolition of Peabody’s should be complete within a few weeks. The development is expected to be in the $30 million range, Crain's reported.