Rookie Detroit restauranteurs send message to New Yorkers

Katoi restaurant to open soon in Corktown

DETROIT – Brad Greenhill and Courtney Henriette are turning a Corktown eyesore into an eatery.

Katoi restaurant will serve southeast Asian food. Why did they choose Corktown?

"It was just sort of coming down here and meeting other young people who were of entrepreneurial spirit and there's is really good energy, and I was attracted to that," said Greenhill.

Greenhill has been a chef for 20 years. The partners began the business with a food truck and served customers at the nearby Two James Spirits distillery.

"Working out of a truck is really cold and hot, and sometimes exhilarating, but sometimes miserable," said Henriette.

In more crowded cities, buying and rehabbing a building is much pricier.

"Detroit's given us many opportunities. The biggest is that we were able -- and I don't know in how many cities in this country you could do this -- to do this with very, very little capital," said Henriette.

They've framed the kitchen and added skylights.

"Once that equipment gets in here then I'll be ready. I'll be chomping at the bit," said Greenhill.

An extra bonus comes from their third partner, who owns a billboard company in New York City. Four new billboards are trumpeting opportunities in a city trying to shed its negative image.

"Someone else who sees that billboard in New York could be inspired to come to Detroit and do something here, whether it's opening another restaurant or a clothing store, or whatever. It's gonna be more fun for all of us," said Henriette.

Henriette first came to Detroit as a student at Wayne State University. Greenhill remembers when his dad brought him to Detroit Tigers games just down the street from Katoi.

They plan to open the restaurant in mid or late spring.