Popular Detroit Dive Bar Closes After Partial Building Collapse

DETROIT — A popular dive bar in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood is closed indefinitely after part of the building collapsed Friday.

Part of the front of Temple Bar, located on Cass Avenue near the Little Caesars Arena, collapsed Friday morning, sending debris down onto the sidewalk.

The debris from the building also damaged part of the overhang that is above the business’s front door.

Officials with the bar said it was not the roof that collapsed, but the limestone facade on the building that fell down. Investigators do not know yet what caused the partial collapse.

Officials did not report any injuries.

The bar had events planned all the holiday weekend, including a party connected to the Movement festival, but canceled those events after the building collapse.

"Temple Bar is closed until the owner can provide us an engineer’s letter saying that it is safe to occupy," said David Bell, Detroit’s Building Safety Engineering Environmental Department director. "The health, safety and welfare of patrons and citizens is our primary focus."

The popular dive bar was founded in 1927 and later became a staple in the downtown area and a symbol of the LGBTQ community.