Detroit Shipping Company, located in Midtown Detroit at 474 Peterboro Street, began as a casual concept and has grown into one of the city’s most recognizable food halls. Built from repurposed shipping containers, the multi-level venue brings together independently operated restaurants, bars, event spaces, and art installations under one roof. What began as a loosely sketched concept between longtime friends has since become a year-round business that draws a wide mix of customers from across the city and beyond.
Founding partner James Therkalsen did not come from a hospitality background, nor did he originally set out to open a restaurant or food hall. “Jon and I grew up across the street from one another and started a painting company together after college,” Therkalsen tells What Now in an exclusive interview. While his partner, Jonathan Hartzell, moved into development and Therkalsen into a full-time marketing career, the two shared a desire to build something meaningful in Detroit. “We had wanted to build something together, specifically something in Detroit to help contribute to the city’s comeback,” he says. “It was more of a pipe-dream than a plan to own a business.”
The concept for Detroit Shipping Company came together in a familiar way. “This is a classic back-of-the-napkin-sketch-over-beers story,” Therkalsen explains. The original vision was simple: a couple of shipping containers serving as bars, food trucks parked nearby, and picnic tables creating an open-air beer garden. As the idea moved closer to reality, outside forces reshaped it. Zoning requirements, financing limitations, and lender expectations pushed the project toward a fully weatherized, permanent structure. The scope grew quickly, along with the cost and complexity, turning a seasonal idea into a year-round operation…