Spot Lite and UFO Bar have announced their permanent closure. Both the longtime favorite locations will close their doors by the end of June 2026. Owners of the establishments shared the closure news on social media.
Spot Lite and UFO Bar Are Preparing for Final Nights
Spot Lite, owned by Roula David and Jesse Cory, is located on Beaufait Street in Detroit’s Islandview neighborhood. The bar is situated inside a repurposed warehouse and operates as a multipurpose space. It functions as a bar, gallery, record store, coworking space, and a coffee shop, Cairo Coffee.
David took over UFO Bar, located at 2110 Trumbull in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood, in 2024. The 16-year-old bar was originally known as UFO Factory.
The owners announced the closures in a social media post. They wrote, “With a lot of thought and consideration, we have decided to close this chapter in our lives and move away from nightlife. At the end of the month, we will be closing Spot Lite and UFO Bar.”
Spot Lite’s final day of business will be June 28, while UFO Bar is scheduled to close on June 30.
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Reflecting on Spot Lite’s history, David wrote, “Spot Lite has been the most meaningful project of my life for the past 5 years. As an Arab-American woman, I have always seen joy as a form of resistance.”
“UFO Bar is a special place that lived a big life before we took it over. For the past two years, we have tried our best to honor the legacy and add our own spin to it,” they added. “The team there has been dedicated to doing so, and we are grateful to them for their work and dedication to the community that they have built.”
The bar owners thanked the community and staff for their support. In the official announcement post, the owner did not share any specific reason for the closure.
Community Responses on Social Media
Following the announcement, customers shared messages of support and disappointment on social media. One of the fans commented, “Sad to see another music venue gone in the city. Sending lots of love.”
In the post, the owners added that the UFO Bar will return as Detroit Vinyl Bar. “UFO Bar will close as it is now, but will re-open as Detroit Vinyl Bar. A new record store and cocktail bar in this location. It will be taken over by a very talented team,” said the owner. Details about the new concept will be shared soon.
According to the announcement, Cairo Coffee will continue operating at 2905 Beaufait while transitioning to a new permanent location.
