Birmingham's Lincoln Yard and Little Yard restaurant complex will close on Wednesday, July 29, ending a two-year run for one of the Rail District's most distinctive dining spots.

Union Joints co-owner Curt Catallo confirmed the closure to multiple outlets on Monday, July 20, blaming the timing of the restaurant's launch rather than its staff or concept.

"We opened Lincoln Yard/little yard when we had to; not when we should have," Catallo told the Detroit Free Press via email.

The complex at 2159 E. Lincoln St. opened in March 2024 inside a converted school bus repair garage. It was a collaboration between Union Joints and Roger Penske Jr. that took more than six years to develop. Lincoln Yard served rotisserie meats, wood-fired pizzas and comfort food in a space with roll-up garage-style doors and retro-meets-contemporary decor. Little Yard, its fast-casual sibling, offered grain bowls, salads, coffee and grab-and-go fare.

The restaurant earned a spot on the 2025 Detroit Free Press/Chevy Detroit Top 10 New Restaurants list at No. 10, praised for its "eclectic offerings and bright, family-friendly atmosphere." But Catallo told Crain's Detroit Business that the operation never gained the momentum it needed. He said the restaurant would have fared differently had it launched with its current team and refined menu rather than opening before it was ready.

All staff members are being offered positions at other Union Joints locations, Catallo confirmed. The Clarkston-based hospitality group operates 10 restaurants across metro Detroit, including Vinsetta Garage, Union Woodshop and Mom's Spaghetti.

The closure marks Union Joints' second restaurant shuttering in 2026. Earlier this year, the group closed Gran Castor in Troy and converted that space into a private event venue.

The 2159 E. Lincoln St. property will be listed for sale by commercial real estate firm CBRE. No asking price has been announced. Catallo told the Free Press he expects the site to "continue to contribute to the unique character of Birmingham's Rail District" under new ownership.