Sunda New Asian restaurant, the product of Chicago-based hospitality company Rockit Ranch, will be opening in The District Detroit, at 33 W. Columbia St., in the spring of 2025.

The new restaurant will be part of Columbia Street, a pedestrian-friendly walkway located between the Fox Theatre and Little Caesars World Headquarters, and across Woodward Avenue from Comerica Park.

Columbia Street is home to Frita Batidos, JoJo’s ShakeBAR, Sahara Restaurant and Grill, Good Cakes and Bakes, Detroit Vs Everybody, M Den, Union Assembly and Mom’s Spaghetti.

Founded in 2009, Sunda is an award-winning restaurant showcasing modern Asian cuisine from Japan, China, and other southeast Asian countries. It uses upgraded ingredients, cooking techniques, and presentation. The goal is to create a new and memorable hospitality experience that retains the deep-rooted spirit of the originals.

“Beyond the incredible amount of Michigan support we have felt in our original Sunda home in Chicago over the last 15 years, we are in awe of the explosive pride, investment, energy, and growth all happening in Detroit fast and furious, especially The District Detroit’s Columbia Street location where we are proud to call our new home,” says Billy Dec, founder and CEO of Rockit Ranch.

In addition to the Sunda New Asian announcement, Olympia Development of Michigan issued a co-developer Request for Proposal (RFP) today for properties in the district.

“Our Co-Developer Program is at the core of our mission to help improve the lives of people who live and work in Detroit,” says Keith Bradford, president of Olympia Development of Michigan and The District Detroit. “These RFPs invite developers who share our community-minded development approach to partner with us to further enhance The District Detroit.”

The program is designed to create opportunities for Detroit-based, Detroit-headquartered, or Detroit resident-owned development companies. Qualified companies will have the opportunity to pursue the development of up to three Olympia Development properties.

81 W. Columbia St. : Located at the southeast corner of Park Avenue and Columbia Street adjacent to the Fox Theatre, Little Caesars Global Resource Center and at a corner gateway to the fully pedestrianized block of retail shops and dining along Columbia Street. Designed in the transitional style by architectural firm Baxter and O’Dell in 1909 as the Blenheim Apartments, it originally comprised 19 apartments and a speakeasy. The building is four stories tall and covers 17,500 square feet.

475 Peterboro : Located between Cass Avenue and Second Avenue across from the Detroit Shipping Co. collective, these three-story buildings were designed in the Beaux-Arts style by architectural firm Pollmar & Ropes in 1914 as The Woodstock Apartments and originally comprised 71 apartments over two buildings. The buildings comprise 47,500 square feet.

45 & 48 W. Adams : Located on Adams just west of Woodward overlooking Grand Circus Park, the site comprises two parcels covering a total of 0.523 acres. The south parcel also contains the historic seven-story decorative masonry façade of the former Fine Arts Building designed in the Spanish Gothic style by architect Louis Kamper in 1905. The parcels are historically designated within the Grand Circus Park Historic District.

“The Olympia Development Co-Developer Program is a significant example of the diversity and inclusion that is a result of The District Detroit Community Benefits Agreement,” says Chris Jackson, chair of The District Detroit Neighborhood Advisory Committee. “This program will provide immense opportunity to emerging and disadvantaged Detroit-based developers and bring new life to key properties in the city.”

The RFPs will be published sequentially, 90 days apart, after a qualification period, giving developers time to consider the variety of development options and deliver well-prepared development bids. The selected parcels are separate from the 10 renovated historic or new transformational brownfield plan projects.

The program was designed with input from the community and Detroit-based developers and is part of the community benefits agreement with the city of Detroit associated with a $1.5 billion development plan between Olympia Development and Related Cos.

Emerging developers who qualify as disadvantaged businesses or Detroit-based businesses, Detroit-headquartered businesses, and Detroit resident businesses will be able to get information and apply for the qualification phase of the Co-Developer Program at TheDistrictDetroit.com .

The District Detroit is managed by Olympia Development, part of the family of companies of Ilitch Cos.