Red Fox takes over Royal Oak rooftop

It's hard to know if it's the rooftop and the good weather or the soccer games aired from around the world, but the customers are flocking to the month-old Red Fox English Pub in downtown Royal Oak.

The pub, which was mostly in soft open mode since April 17, is located above at 11 Mile and Main, where the once popular Memphis Smoke used to serve up barbecue and music. It's probably the best seat on downtown Royal Oak, and the rooftop bar and patio offers a view onto what's happening below.

Red Fox, which is owned by Ryan Kramer and Kevin Downey, serves mostly British fare. Bangers & Mash, Fish & Chips, Shepherd's Pie and a British classic side dish, Mushy Peas. Kramer is also an proprietor of Rosie O'Grady's and Cantina Diablo.

"Once word got out about the awesome patio and with the weather and everybody wanting to get out," people were flocking to us," says general manager Jennette Breault.

Before that - and no doubt in the future - it was and will be the soccer fans who come for the big screens tuned to their version of football.

"We have a soccer package with all the MLS teams and all the European and other teams," she says. "We get not only American soccer fans, but the Brits are flocking to us as well."

The pub's opening led to the hiring of 40 employees, about half of them full-time, Breault says.

Source: Jennette Breault, general manager, Red Fox English Pub
Writer: Kim North Shine
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