Lincoln Yard and Little Yard to close

Birmingham’s Lincoln Yard and its casual takeout restaurant, Little Yard, will close July 29 after a little more than two years in business. The restaurant is owned and operated by Union Joints Restaurant Group, which also operates nine Metro Detroit restaurants: Clarkston Union, Union Woodshop, Bunkhouse Burgers, Hon Cho, Union Mac Shack, Vinsetta Garage, Union Assembly, Union Rec, and Mom’s Spaghetti. Lincoln Yard built its reputation on cleaner, greener comfort food, featuring rotisserie meats paired with creative, globally inspired sauces. Little Yard served grab-and-go customers with quick bites, pastries, and coffee. According to co-owner Curt Catallo, the restaurant developed a loyal dinner following but never gained enough traction as a lunchtime destination to sustain the business. Catallo praised the Lincoln Yard staff and said management is working to place affected employees at other Union Joints locations whenever possible. Located in Birmingham’s Rail District in the former Birmingham Public Schools bus depot, Lincoln Yard featured a vibrant, contemporary interior designed by Catallo’s wife and business partner, Ann Stevenson, owner of Ann Stevenson Studio. Catallo said that Union Joints owns the building, which will be listed for sale through CBRE Commercial Real Estate.