The two Morries close

The Morrie had two locations, one in Royal Oak and one in Birmingham, and both have closed.  Both locations have transitioned to new ownership as Aaron F. Belen, owner of AFB Hospitality Group, moves on to focus on his real estate development business.  The Birmingham City Commission approved The Morrie’s ownership change at 260 N. Old Woodward Avenue during a commission meeting in August. The new owner is Randy Foumia of Old Woodward, STA LLC. The name of the new restaurant is Terra Kitchen + Cocktails. The concept will be quite different from The Morrie, offering a more family-friendly atmosphere. No opening date has been announced. The Morrie’s Royal Oak location at 511 S. Main Street will become the new home of a modern Latin and sushi infusion restaurant named Blind Owl. In a statement, Belen said, “The Morrie has been very popular since opening in 2016, but we’re now ready to pass the torch to Blind Owl’s Nicolas Andreasson. Since purchasing the building in 2015, Blind Owl will be my first tenant in the space, and I look forward to supporting their success.” Andreasson, who was born in Romania and moved to Michigan in 1996, specializes in international fusion cuisine. The varied menu includes street tacos, shawarma nachos, lamb braised Birria, a huge selection of sushi and rolls along with American comfort foods like chicken wings, boom shakalaka cheeseburgers and grilled cheese sandwiches. Blind Owl will offer a full bar, including cocktails, wine options, along with a wide selection of draft beers. A mid-September opening is planned.