Yet another Oxford restaurant closed its doors last week, but this one has plans to reopen under a new name and with a different business plan.
Despite its glossy ads in HOUR Detroit Magazine and attempts to market itself as an upscale dining destination for out-of-towners, JonMarx Steak & Seafood is no more following a decision by its owners to pull the plug March 19.
‘I think the economy had a major role in that right off the bat,? said co-owner John Gjokaj, who opened the posh restaurant with his brother, Marco, in June 2008. ‘I always thought it was overpriced.?
Although Marco will no longer be his partner in the restaurant business, Gjokaj has no intention of abandoning the idea of having an eatery at the 23 S. Washington St. location.
In fact, he’s in the process of obtaining a possible ‘silent partner,? changing the restaurant’s name and reopening with a new concept for the 5,800-square-foot space.
‘I still have not finalized exactly what’s going to transpire,? Gjokaj said on Monday. ‘It will be a bar and grill, I can guarantee you that. It will be something very unique, something very nice.?
‘It will not be a sports bar,? he noted.
Gjokaj said the idea of opening a high-end steakhouse was more his brother’s idea and he ‘really never wanted to go that route.? He originally wanted to open a bar and grill, and now he’s going to try it.
Gjokaj plans to have the new place open by the end of April or beginning of May.
He said it will feature a ‘very elaborate? menu, but with much more moderate prices than JonMarx had. ‘We’ll have something for everyone,? Gjokaj said.
Some remodeling will be done on the inside, but nothing dramatic.
‘There’s not going to be a huge change,? he said. ‘Maybe different colors and seating arrangement.?
Gjokaj’s still working on a new name for the place.