The stir-fry sizzles have gone silent in Dearborn, as BD's Mongolian Grill served up its last bowl on Michigan Avenue. Known for its interactive dining experience, where patrons could craft their own culinary creations, the beloved grill closed abruptly this week, ending a chapter of culinary history that started in 1998. FOX 2 reported on Wednesday that the restaurant, which allowed guests to build their own stir-fry bowls, announced the closure and pointed customers to its Canton outpost.
"We want to express our sincere gratitude for your loyal patronage and support over the years," the eatery shared in a statement on its Facebook page, reflecting on the dearth of mouthwatering options now that its doors are closed. The Dearborn location, once part of a much larger chain with several dozen restaurants across the nation, is now a memory along with other Michigan eatery closures in Royal Oak, Novi, and Ann Arbor in recent years.
Not much light was shed on the exact reasoning behind the closure, but the string of closures started appearing on the grill's map since 2019, hinting at a pattern of retrenchment within the company. The Royal Oak, Novi, and Ann Arbor outposts have all shut down in a similar sudden fashion, according to information obtained by Patch. Staff at the Dearborn location were informed of the shutdown only a day before closing, leaving little time for long goodbyes.
What began with flair and flavor in the early '90s grew into a national enterprise. BD's Mongolian Barbecue and Grill was founded by restaurant impresario Billy Downs in 1992; after which he expanded the chain to include over 30 locations not just in several states, but with one as far-flung as Mongolia. In 2008, the chain was sold to a private equity firm and since 2017, has been under the wing of Dallas-based Mongolian Concepts, as reported by the Detroit Free Press. Regrettably, the corporate offices have not been responsive to emails regarding the Dearborn location's closure.
While the wok fires are doused in Dearborn, stir-fry aficionados aren't left entirely in the cold, with BD's still operating locations in Michigan including Sterling Heights, Flint, and Canton. There are also establishments standing in Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio. But for many Dearborn locals, the closure marks the end of a go-to spot for a personalized taste of Asia.
