Detroit's Historic Caucus Club To Close

DETROIT (WWJ) In the midst of celebrating its 60th anniversary, the storied Caucus Club in Detroit suddenly announced Thursday it's closing.

A stalwart in the Penobscot Building, the dark and clubby spot is where the legendary Barbra Streisand launched her career in 1961.

It's long been a place for Detroit movers and shakers to meet for business lunches and dinners.

But owner Mary Belloni said she can't afford rising building rent prices anymore, and is closing at the end of October.

"There's a lot of people that want that high-end lunch, not even necessarily high-end lunch, that quiet, what- goes-on-here, what-we-say-between-these-four-walls-stays-here (atmosphere)," said owner Mary Belloni, who bought it out of bankruptcy in 1993.

The restaurant serves standards including oysters, escargot, London broil, veal piccata,  fettucini primavera, and numerous traditional fish dishes. Prices hover around $20 per entree.

Caucus Club is participating in Detroit's Restaurant Week, and was giving no previous hints about their imminent demise.

"We've had a great turnout for Detroit Restaurant Week so far and our Citrus & Rocket Salmon has been a huge hit! There are five days left, don't forget to make a reservation!" was posted Wednesday on the restaurant's Facebook page.

The Caucus Club was long considered a little sister to Detroit's London Chop House, which shuttered, then re-opened with fanfare this summer.

"It almost felt to me like it's own living, breathing thing and I was just the caretaker of it," Belloni said about the Caucus Club.