Detroit's Food Resurgence | Chef Marc Djozlija | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Chef Marc Djozlija discusses his journey from opening 20 restaurants with Wolfgang Puck to his success with Wright & Co in downtown Detroit.

Transcript

[THEME MUSIC] SPEAKER: All right, well, everybody, we are so fortunate today to have Chef Mark Djozlija with us from Wright & Co. So if you could please-- let's give him a huge round of applause and welcome him to Google here in Birmingham. [APPLAUSE] [LAUGHING] MARC DJOZLIJA: Thank you, that's very kind. I was actually surprised at all the picture... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤗 Chef Marc Djozlija's journey from opening restaurants around the country to finding success with Wright & Co in Detroit highlights the city's resurgence.
• 🍽️ Wright & Co aims to create a gathering place in downtown Detroit, providing a unique and approachable dining experience.
• 😀 The challenges faced by Chef Djozlija, such as finding the right location and dealing with the economic downturn, reflect the evolving landscape of Detroit's restaurant scene.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Chef Djozlija end up in Detroit and what led him to open Wright & Co?

Chef Djozlija returned to Detroit in 2005 to open a restaurant at the MGM Grand, but due to the economic downturn, he stayed and opened Wright & Co as a gathering place in downtown Detroit.

Q: What were some challenges Chef Djozlija faced when opening Wright & Co?

Chef Djozlija faced challenges with finding the right location and dealing with the economic downturn, which resulted in him staying in Detroit longer than originally planned.

Q: How did Chef Djozlija come up with the concept for Wright & Co?

Chef Djozlija wanted to create a place where people could go for a drink or meal before or after events in Detroit. He aimed to make it approachable and reasonably priced, with a focus on creating a unique gathering place.

Q: How has Chef Djozlija been involved in the revitalization of downtown Detroit?

Chef Djozlija's establishment, Wright & Co, has been a part of the reinvigoration of downtown Detroit by providing a unique and approachable dining experience.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Chef Marc Djozlija recounts his journey from growing up in Michigan to opening restaurants around the country with Wolfgang Puck.

• He explains how he returned to Detroit in 2005 to open a restaurant at the MGM Grand and ended up staying due to the economic downturn.

• Djozlija discusses how he and his business partner saw an opportunity to create a gathering place in downtown Detroit and decided to open Wright & Co.