Ray's Hometown Bar opened its fourth location in Detroit on September 1, marking the first partnership between New York-based Authentic Hospitality and NoHo Hospitality Group.

Authentic Hospitality founders Carlos Quirarte, Matt Kliegman and Matthew Charles created the Ray's concept, which launched in 2019 on Manhattan's Lower East Side and has since expanded to Brooklyn and Miami. The ownership group counts actors Justin Theroux and Nicholas Braun among its partners.

The Detroit opening pairs that growth playbook with a local operator. NoHo Hospitality Group, founded by chef Andrew Carmellini, Josh Pickard and Luke Ostrom, has run concepts in Detroit since 2018. For both companies, the collaboration extends existing strategies: Authentic Hospitality scales the Ray's brand while NoHo deepens its Detroit footprint.

Rather than replicate a template across markets, the partners tailor each Ray's to its surroundings. Detroit native Taavo Somer designed the new space, drawing on his own memories of the city and its culture and history. The room includes booths and banquettes, intimate corners, a private dining room, a photo booth, and Detroit-specific artwork and memorabilia.

Quirarte framed the operating philosophy around the fundamentals of a neighborhood bar rather than a destination concept.

"Warm service, familiar faces, an approachable food and beverage program, and a room where guests feel equally comfortable stopping in for a quick drink or spending the evening with friends," he said. "We want to earn regulars over time and become part of Detroit's everyday rhythm."

The relationship between the two ownership groups predates the deal.

"We are old friends, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for how they operate," Quirarte said. "I truly hope this is the beginning of us collaborating on a lot more."

The menu takes an elevated approach to classic bar food: a burger, an all-beef hot dog, a fried chicken sandwich, mozzarella sticks and fries, plus a salad topped with honey harissa chicken and warm cake doughnuts for dessert. The format keeps the build lean — high-frequency bar staples rather than an expansive kitchen program.

The beverage program balances quality and approachability, spanning Martinis and other classics, frozen drinks, simple beers and whiskeys. A list of original cocktails named after famous people named Ray — Liotta, Charles — gives the bar a signature, repeatable menu item that can travel to future locations.

Pricing leans on happy hour as a traffic driver, with a burger-and-beer combo priced at $12.

With four Ray's locations now in the portfolio, Authentic Hospitality is weighing additional markets, though the group says it is too early to name them.

"We would love to bring Ray's to more cities, and we're definitely in talks about it," Quirarte said. "Every city deserves a Ray's."