More than two years after crews leveled Pasquale’s on Woodward, that prime Royal Oak corner is still nothing more than a scraped lot with graded dirt and temporary fencing. Big Boy Restaurant Group insists it still plans to build there, but with no foundation poured and no visible construction activity, the long-promised flagship feels stuck in neutral for drivers and neighbors who pass the empty parcel every day.
Pasquale’s shut its doors on April 7, 2019 after 65 years on Woodward as a family-run Italian staple that many locals grew up with, as reported by WXYZ. Big Boy Restaurant Group later signed a long-term ground lease for the more-than-acre site, as reported by Deadline Detroit. That agreement set up a redevelopment plan featuring a standalone Big Boy and a separate retail building, but the schedule has slipped so many times that the only thing moving quickly is local speculation.
Demolition and Stalled Build-out
Crews finally tore down the Pasquale’s building in February 2024, clearing the corner at 31555 Woodward Ave and opening up the high-visibility lot, according to DBusiness. At that point Big Boy executives were talking up the site as ideal and floated potential features such as a buffet and at least beer and wine service, but they stopped short of giving a firm construction timetable. More than two years later, there is still no framing, no visible utility work and no sign of a full contractor staging area.
Permits, Planning and the Hold-up
Royal Oak planning commission minutes show a unanimous June 8, 2021 approval for a special land-use permit and site plan for a 4,503-square-foot Big Boy with a drive-through, plus a 5,818-square-foot commercial building on the former Pasquale’s parcel, according to the Royal Oak planning minutes. The sign-off came with conditions covering landscaping, setbacks and utility easements that are still on file with the city. Even so, a local spokesperson for Big Boy told Deadline Detroit that the chain “still plans to build” on the site, although the company has not committed to a start date.
What the Community Expects
Big Boy has pitched the corner as a marquee location for the brand and has said it hopes to take advantage of Woodward Dream Cruise traffic, according to DBusiness. The DelGiudice family still holds title to the property, and city records indicate the project remains tied to the planning commission’s original conditions. For longtime diners, the whole situation is complicated: the new development promises jobs and a bigger menu, but the 65-year institution that once occupied the corner is not coming back…