Gemmayze brings Beirut to downtown Royal Oak
For Journal Register Newspapers
Gemmayze Lebanese kitchen and lounge is a cultural oasis on Main Street between Third and Fourth Streets in downtown Royal Oak. The name Gemmayze (juh-mays-ee) comes from Beirut’s artistic Bohemian quarter, an old district full of narrow streets and beautiful historic buildings. “The night life is a big part of Gemmayze. It’s very similar to Royal Oak,” said Elias Hajjar, executive chef/partner.
It is well known for its trendy bars and pubs, cafes, restaurants and lounges.
Gemmayze serves authentic Lebanese and Middle Eastern food, made from scratch, prepared by chefs. The owners are Hajjar; his cousin, Nick Aubrey; brother-in-law, Douglas Runyon and family friend, Charles Thomas.
The restaurant is an offspring of the Hajjar family restaurants in Toledo. They were started
If you go
Gemmayze, Lebanese kitchen and lounge, 310 S. Main St., Royal Oak. Call 248-399-4900 or visit gemmayzemichigan.com. Open daily at 4 p.m. in 1977 with The Beirut by Hajjar’s father, Labib Haijar. Gemmayze uses many of the family recipes from The Beirut.
“We would go to Toledo and eat at our family’s restaurant,” said Aubrey, who joked that they were tired of driving all the way down there to get a good meal. “We convinced Elias to bring it up here,” said Aubrey.
“The next logical step for us as a family was to move to metro Detroit. We’d been looking in Royal Oak for about three years,” said Hajjar.
Now, Hajjar drives back and forth to Toledo on a daily basis. He is executive chef at Gemmayze and the Toledo restaurant.
Gemmayze opened in May 2010. It was formerly the eatery, Small Plates. Birmingham architect Ron Rea designed the two-story space, with an upstairs lounge. The exterior of the restaurant is a transformation upon entering the double doors. Although it appears small from outside, it comfortably seats 140.
Gemmayze specialties are Ara-yes Halabi, made of kafta (a ground beef mixture) which is stuffed in bread and toasted. For entrees, their specialties
Aubrey said, “We’re doing well, we’re trying to re-educate people on great Lebanese food.”
They offer a great wine list featuring Lebanese wines from the Bekaa Valley, which has produced wine since biblical times. Bekaa wine is similar to that produced in Bordeaux, France. Gemmayze also offers Lebanese beers and spirits such as Arak liquor.
Hajjar, the executive chef, holds a college degree in hospitality management. He worked at Walt Disney. Having grown up working in his father’s restaurant, it was a natural career path. “I love working in restaurants,” he said.
The restaurant employs 40 kitchen and wait staffers, including Chef Armand Bove.
When asked if it was hard to find good help, Hajjar responded, “If you create an environment that allows people to succeed. We try to have that here. Employees come in and see the owner, and we’re here working, we want it to succeed. That gives employees the extra motivation to do their best.”
Runyon is the full time general manager at the restaurant. He previously worked for MGM and opened Jean-georges Steakhouse in Las Vegas.
“I utilize all my corporate experience to operate this restaurant,” said Runyon.
Aubrey owns a valet service and parking management company in Detroit for several venues. “Charles and I are more of the business managers and investors. Along with the product and Douglas and Elias’s experience, we thought this would be a great restaurant.”
Charles Thomas is an attorney and a money manager for Telemus Capital.
The owners all have a role in the success of the restaurant. Having traveled to the original Gemmayze district, they have set the tone for an escape to Beirut in downtown Royal Oak.