National Hospitality Group debuts in Detroit
Union Square Hospitality Group’s (USHG) portfolio includes the full dining experience, from quick-service and fast-casual concepts to Michelin-starred and James Beard award-winning restaurants.
Between those spectrums is a variety of restaurants that each offer their own distinctive style and cuisine. While each location brings a unique identity, the thread that weaves them all together is a commitment to provide Enlightened Hospitality.
At its core, Enlightened Hospitality is the belief that taking care of employees first will shape the way the company does business, creating a virtuous cycle that benefits all stakeholders. It is the company’s guiding principle behind each decision, opening, and every interaction.
That ethos has landed in the heart of Detroit with the opening of Pine Hall, a rooftop bar that recently opened on June 11th inside the newly rebuilt Hudson’s Building. The Pine Hall name pays homage to The Pine Room, the restaurant once housed in the original building, the historic J.L. Hudson Department Store. Pine Hall is the newest opening for the restaurant group and its first location in the city, state, and Midwest region.
“The overall mission of Pine Hall... is equal parts going out and coming home,” said Emma Oros, senior talent manager, USHG. "We want to have a space where it feels elevated and kind of special, but also really down to earth and warm at the same time.”
"The culinary scene in Detroit has just taken off in the last five to 10 years. And we're really excited to be part of that community,” said Oros.
Currently, USHG operates 10 restaurant concepts, after launching in New York City in 1985. Since, it has expanded along the east coast in D.C., Boston and most recently Detroit.
“Whenever we enter a new market, we want to make sure that we're not taking a New York brand and just simply transplanting it into a new neighborhood or city,” Emma shared. “We want to be thoughtful about how we enter new communities.” This includes prioritizing the hiring of residents within the communities where USHG operates.
"Whenever we open a new restaurant, we want to look at who the key nonprofit and university partnerships are that are providing great opportunities to folks,” Emma added. "Naturally, Detroit at Work’s name came up.”
Detroit at Work provided USHG with direct access to a vetted talent pool by seamlessly connecting them to candidates actively seeking employment.
After sharing the hiring criteria with Detroit at Work, USHG received hundreds of applications from jobseekers applying for its open positions. Emma credits this rapid response to Detroit at Work’s strong community connections.
Detroit at Work also organized multiple career fairs, including a three-day custom hiring event and provided onsite support, logistics and hosting, ensuring jobseekers and employers were supported in every step of the way.
The outcome was a testament to community, quality engagement and collaboration coming together to connect Detroit residents to valuable opportunities.
“It was special to have an organization open to doing the heavy lifting of the hiring process,” Oros said. “No job was too big or small. Detroit at Work was able to connect us with 300 candidates and also help check everyone in. That was incredible.”
For USHG, hiring managers and team members who embody the local culture is all part of its Enlightened Hospitality ethos. Pine Hall opened on June 11, 2026. To learn more visit, PineHall.com.