On a hot summer’s day, my boys and I hit up JoJo’s Shake Bar in The District.
George, my 12-year-old son, opens the door, and we are immediately hit by the cool relief of the air conditioning and the popping lyrics of “What is Love?” Haddaway’s 1993 hit.
Quick details
- Address: 88 W. Columbia St., Detroit
- Hours: Open daily from 11 a.m to 9 p.m.
Our eyes dance around the restaurant. Baywatch is playing above the bar, and Mitch Buchannon hands CJ Parker a pair of binoculars. They are scanning the Pacific surf. At the shake bar, a mixer is purring. Nearby, giant black-and-white portraits of Detroit icons Eminem, Madonna, and Aretha Franklin playfully watch over the restaurant.
The hostess takes us to our seat — a booth under Aretha. She tells us that we must try a shake, of course, and then (oddly) recommends using the restroom… just to see the decor (of course!). The restrooms are wallpapered in magazine covers of the ‘80s, ‘90s and early 2000s.
Menu highlights for families
We started our meal with a tower of onion rings and a bowl of mozzarella sticks, both of which I hardly got to know because they were gone before our drinks came out.
For our main course, I ate half of JoJo’s Chopped Salad because it was HUGE, not because it was bad. It was pretty tasty… iceberg lettuce, bacon, and blue cheese with noodles mixed in. George went for the Charleston Wrap. A warm tortilla filled with crunchy chicken smothered in honey mustard. Stephen ordered a burger with fries that looked so good that George and I felt obliged to sneak fries from his plate while he swatted at us with his free hand.
For dessert, we each got a shake.
Stephen got the Rocky IV. It is a banana shake with bits of Reese’s Pieces topped with a white chocolate boxing glove, toffee marshmallow, and peanut butter cookie. It was every bit the deliciousness that it sounded like.
I opted for the Chocolate Nirvana, a chocolate Oreo shake topped with a chocolate donut hole, chocolate-covered marshmallow, and chocolate chip cookie. It was heavenly.
George knew his limits. He went with the classic chocolate shake, topped with whipped cream and a cherry—perfection.
We left feeling Thanksgiving day satiated, longing for a couch, a football game and a nap.
Q&A with Robbie Schloss, owner of JoJo’s Shake Bar
Robbie Schloss, father of four and owner of JoJo’s Shake Bar, spills on the inspo behind this one-of-a-kind restaurant.
Can you share the story behind the name JoJo’s?
Absolutely. We had a great concept and were excited about it, but we wanted a name that spoke to our mission. We were trying to bring a fun, family-friendly place together for the community. My wife and I had just had a baby girl named Jolie, and her nickname was Jojo. She was a 10-pound baby with these big cheeks, and we thought what better way to pay tribute to her than to name it after her. And so it’s named after my 6-year-old Jojo.
What sets JoJo’s apart from the other restaurants in Detroit?
The most important thing is that we appeal to all ages and demographics. It’s just such a fun and exciting place to go. But what’s so unique about us is that we’re a great casual date night location that is also great for families. There are all kinds of fun and exciting things for families. We wanted to create a fun and unique atmosphere where memories could be made.
What can families look forward to at JoJo’s besides the great menu and fun decor?
Yes, so I’m a parent of four children. I know what it is like to bring children to restaurants. It can be stressful for both the adults and the kids. So we do everything in our power to make it fun. So we have activities running year-round. If you go on Open Table, you can see all of these activities that we call “experiences.” From friendship bracelet making to painting bird houses. We call it “Camp JoJo’s.” It’s not just great food and great fun, but there are also activities and even a little bit of education.
Follow Metro Parent on Instagram.
