DETROITDESIGNHOUSE: VICTORIA CHERY
SEOUNG LEE PHOTOGRAPHY
DETROITDESIGNHOUSE: VICTORIA CHERY
advertorial | AFB Hospitality Group
DETROITDESIGNHOUSE: VICTORIA CHERY
Redefi ning
Hospitality
Owner of Bistro 82, the Morrie and
SCL lauds staff for success.
BY MAUREEN MCDONALD
W
Aaron F. Belen
Bistro 82
401 S. Lafayette Ave., Royal Oak
(248) 542-0082
bistro82.com
The Morrie
511 S. Main St., Royal Oak
(248) 216-1112
themorrie.com
SCL
Above Bistro 82
401 S. Lafayette Ave., Royal Oak
C36
celebrate! • 2017
hen it comes
to hospital-
ity, Aaron F.
Belen is out to
define the term in ways that
delight the palate and spark the
imagination. Through his AFB
Hospitality Group, he’s invested
approximately $10 million in
pleasing customers — and the
crowds keep coming to his ven-
ues. He credits the team for this
success.
“We have the advantage of
wonderful talent. Many people
have been with me since our
first restaurant concept opened
three years ago,” says Belen, 34,
the founder and CEO of AFB
Hospitality Group with three
entertainment properties in
downtown Royal Oak. “Our
executive chef, Derik Watson,
helped us land the coveted 2017
Restaurant of the Year from
HOUR Detroit magazine this
year.”
Watson, in HOUR’s April edi-
tion, says, “Everything we’re
doing we try to do better than
the next day. We either try to
change it or do it better.” The
story raves about Bistro 82’s
steak tartare, grand shellfish
tower and foie gras.
jn
AFB Hospitality Group also
operates The Morrie, an eclec-
tic neighborhood roadhouse
with live music selected by
Steve Trudell, son of the long-
standing conductor of the
Johnny Trudell Orchestra and a
musician in his own right.
AFB has also reopened SCL, a
cocktail and nightlife concept,
above Bistro 82 with a proven
formula for high ratings —
innovative drinks and pulsating
music.
With a salute to top talent,
Belen recently hired three new
members to its executive man-
agement team, Ben Robinson
as executive pastry chef for all
properties, Keith Schofield as
Bistro 82’s general manager and
Awsem Zbair as AFB’s director
of nightlife. Two of the three
hail from MGM Grand.
“As each of our venues con-
tinue to expand, we have an
increasing need for talented,
experienced management,”
Belen says. “Ben, Keith and
Awsem are arguably some of the
most talented in their fields and
will elevate every facet of the
experience at our properties.”
Belen credits his grandfather,
Morrie Fenkell, as the inspira-
tion for hiring good staff and
making wise business deci-
sions. His grandfather was a
banker who died of pancreatic
cancer in 2007, but his name
lives on.
Because of his grandfather,
Belen came home to Michigan
from Hartford, Conn., where
he graduated from the Barney
School of Business at the
University of Hartford. He
could have stayed in the east
where many of his friends from
Cranbrook Academy relocated,
but the pull of family brought
him home.
He has pursued a career both
in commercial real estate and
hospitality; he both owns and
operates each of his properties.
“The city of Royal Oak has
been very supportive of our
developments. We are extreme-
ly fortunate to have the city’s
support and know that our
vision for Royal Oak as a culi-
nary destination is their vision
as well,” Belen says. “Our team
is proud to be a trailblazer in
Royal Oak, and we look forward
to additional projects in the
future.”
The vision that has borne out
into a steady supply of happy
customers is offering some-
thing for everybody in the city
of Royal Oak. Belen’s concepts
include upscale dining for
every day of the week, a special
occasion or a celebration on
the weekend. Welcoming hosts
invite people to stop in for a
casual happy hour after work.
Above Bistro 82, the cocktail
lounge SLC offers many options
for a nightcap and a chance to
extend a wonderful evening.
For those seeking a blue jeans
kind of evening, Belen’s recently
opened restaurant, The Morrie,
features eclectic roadhouse
cuisine and great live music
just a couple blocks away from
Bistro 82.
With awards from HOUR
Detroit magazine, the Detroit
Free Press and the Royal Oak
Chamber of Commerce, many
in Metro Detroit get to see
these venues thriving firsthand,
inspired by a proud grandfa-
ther.
For Belen, each of the three
concept spaces are uniquely
different, which balances the
fun of managing the proper-
ties and brings customers
back for more of the great
“AFB hospitality.” ❖