Ferndale, MI — For some, the start of a new year often yields new resolutions or goals. For Dana Taucher, Owner of Syndicate Ferndale, 2025 is starting off with a new seasonal menu and business venture!
I’ve been an enthusiastic patron of Syndicate since it opened in downtown Ferndale in September 2023 in the former space of the Ferndale City Glass Co. Tucked away about a stone’s throw east of Woodward along Vester Avenue, Dana and her team opened Syndicate restaurant with the goal of serving higher-end cocktails and elevated food. Back then, my friends and I were all pretty excited to check out the new establishment and have another great spot for food and drinks in Ferndale!
Sure enough, I can still recall my first visit a couple of weeks after Syndicate had opened, and my friends and I that went all had an exceptional experience; big fans of the art and ambiance, vibes, and cocktails (the house old-fashioned is one of my favorites around!). Fast forward roughly 70 weeks (and plenty of enjoyed visits) later, Dana is celebrating the new year with the announcement of a new business endeavor.
After seeing Syndicate’s announcement about the new concept on Instagram just a few days before Christmas, I felt compelled to reach out after the holidays to coordinate an interview with Dana so I could share her exciting news with my readers. What’s cool about Dana’s subsequent establishment is it’s only about 128 feet down Vester Avenue from Syndicate! Dana’s new concept will be in the former space of Scout, a bar that was quite wonderful but sadly only in business for about five months before closing its doors in early December. Dana said she aims to launch her new concept sometime in the Spring.
After messaging Dana through Instagram, I was all set to pop in Wednesday afternoon when Dana and her team would also be conducting a photo shoot for their latest seasonal menu, which just debuted on January 2nd.
The interview and photoshoot were set for 1 p.m., which gave me some time before I had to head to work for the day. I parked nearby on Vester and walked down to Syndicate, walking in promptly at 1 p.m. on the dot. I was greeted by Dana, who led me back to Syndicate’s lounge area to set up for our interview.
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Unbeknownst, up until this very moment, as I was setting up my gear, I realized my lav set would no longer work since I recently upgraded my phone to the new iPhone 16 Pro. I forgot the USB-C port aspect, not realizing the mic adapter wouldn’t be compatible! Alas, I was going to have to go lav-free and rely on the audio pickup of my phone the old-fashioned way. Nonetheless, I set up what gear I could just as Dana returned from checking on a few things for the photo shoot in the front bar area of Syndicate.
I started the interview by asking Dana about her initial inception for Syndicate back in the day and what influenced the Ferndale restaurant.
“I moved to Ferndale in 2019. Loved the city, knew it was vibrant and knew it was up and coming. Syndicate was an idea I developed while working in the industry. I’d worked in the industry for about 15 years, and I had opened 17 restaurants for my previous boss. I realized in the midst of Covid that if I was going to open a restaurant, it would be now, which didn’t really make much sense to anybody else but myself,” Dana explained. “So, I applied for a small business loan. The location for Syndicate was actually vacant, and I did an entire build-out. They originally declined my loan because it was in the midst of Covid, and they said I was crazy that I wanted to open a restaurant, but at the end of it, they came back with a 2% interest rate, and I said, all right, sign me up!”
As you’ve probably noticed from either the video feature at the top of the article or in some of the pictures, the vibes for Syndicate Ferndale’s back lounge are vibrant, cozy, and immaculate. Local art pieces hang colorfully throughout the room, with a fun billiards table in the middle to pull it all together with an iconic social game. I proceeded to ask Dana what inspired the tones and design for Syndicate Ferndale.
“I actually grew up working in a tavern-style atmosphere in the restaurant industry. As much as I love the fast pace of that atmosphere, I started to become kind of a foodie myself and like the higher-end craft cocktails and started traveling out to Detroit and testing at all these different spots and realized that I had a passion for cocktails and elevated food. I kind of developed more of this sophisticated style and basically designed this place made out of all the things I love: art, music, craft cocktails, and food. So, it just kind of developed along the journey, elevating into what I wanted to bring if I were to create my own establishment,” said Dana.
I followed up by asking Dana what it’s been like to have watched her vision come to life and share in the joy of her patrons and staff with the community she’s created at Syndicate Ferndale.
“It’s a very weird feeling because most days I don’t see it from that perspective. I like to work, so I’m here usually working, bussing tables, doing all that stuff, and I just feel like a team player. Our team and the culture that we’ve created here is really beautiful. Even after a year, it’s hard for me to sit back and be like, wow, I created this. It’s very cool and beautiful to see it come to life and I’m just happy to experience it with the people that I’m working with and the community around us,” said Dana.
Over the past year-and-a-half, Syndicate has established itself as a beloved spot in Ferndale for artfully curated cocktails, delicious small bites, and an array of seasonal entrées. While I’ve tragically yet to try any food items, based on reviews from friends and those online, I can attest there’s enough evidence that this food is worth an adventure.
I’ve noticed bottles from local vodka and spirit makers the last couple of times I’ve sat at the bar. I smiled when I spotted a fifth of Valentine Vodka during the photo shoot. Valentine Distillery is a cocktail bar essentially right across the street from Syndicate and is another sensational destination for consuming adult beverages. I realized at that moment Dana and other establishment owners work together to supply and support each other wholeheartedly in their business endeavors. I asked Dana what that level of support meant to her, on top of being a woman-led business and a young budding entrepreneur already witnessing an expanse of operations.
“It’s just a very sacred role; there are a few other female entrepreneurs in the city, and I think that we work together as a community and bounce ideas off of each other. I love being friendly with all of my neighbors and getting to know different business owners. I think that it brings a unique spin to a table full of colleagues when you know there are ideas for the development of the city and what’s to come,” Dana said. “You know, just on Vester, Vester is going to be a huge development here in the next year or two. So just being able to be one of those voices at the table that can kind of go back and forth with some of the other big-time leaders in this community and able to have a different voice of a younger generation.”
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Finally, I wrapped up the interview by inquiring about Dana’s new concept for the former Scout Vester location down the street. I was curious if there would be any similarities or shared designs from Syndicate Ferndale.
“So it’s actually going to be completely different. It’s not going to be anything like Syndicate. I don’t know how much I want to reveal just yet, but we’re going totally down a completely different path. Totally different style of food, definitely a different vibe,” Dana explained. “People get at me because they say that I always say that I want to bring something new to the city, something that it doesn’t have. This endeavor 100% is something that we don’t have in the city yet or haven’t in a while. And I think that it’s going to be very exciting when that gets released.”
After the interview, I gathered some video and photos from the back lounge, then made my way to the front to collect the remaining b-roll and shots of some of the new (and returning) seasonal menu items. For this adventure, I only captured images and videos of the food. But after seeing some of the prepared dishes and smelling the range of emanating aromas, I’m certainly motivated to go into Syndicate hungry my next couple of visits!
I’ve always been a fan of soup and eat it quite regularly. I loved Syndicate’s presentation of their soups, served in an oversized cup with a side of French bread. The Minestrone was a hearty broth packed with vegetable chunks, while the Creamy Tuscan had a thicker consistency and appeared to have traditional ingredients like kale and sun-dried tomatoes. I’d definitely give both of these soups a try!
You know that saying, “Like a moth to a flame?” Well, in the name of all things food, like a Jeff to a charcuterie board! Whenever I encounter a charcuterie, I’m immediately drawn to it like any true foodie should be. In reality, I’m overwhelmed with joy by the organized presentation (thanks, OCD) of assorted snacks and finger food. Syndicate is no different in this case; my gaze was locked on the board as Dana walked past to set it down at the bar. The board was quite full, with every ingredient portioned and presented nicely. This would be a great appetizer to split between two or three people. Although if you’re splitting with me, be warned, I always go for the cheese first!
For any Michigander who grew up in Metro Detroit, what’s not to love about pierogi? The popular Polish dish has a longstanding history with the City of Hamtramck, and I’ve been a longstanding fan of this delicious (and often cheesy) Eastern European delicacy. Coincidentally, I just so happen to LOVE sweet potato! So, without a doubt, my next visit to Syndicate in Ferndale will include trying their sweet take on this beloved dumpling.
My introduction to calamari admittedly came way too late in life, with my first experience occurring nearly four years ago during my early days as the Arizona’s Family Foodie at my last news station. Nonetheless, I’ve made quite an attempt in recent years to make up for all that lost time, and I find myself to be quite the avid squid consumer now. When Dana held out the dish for me to snap a picture, I knew this was another dish I would have to come back and try as soon as possible. The kitchen staff perfectly breaded the squid, producing a fantastic golden brown finish. I could already picture hearing the crunch in my mind during my next visit, upon which this calamari will definitely be enjoyed!
By this point, quite a few delectable dishes were spread across the bar for the photo shoot as I walked out after capturing everything I needed inside. I said my goodbyes to Dana and her staff and walked outside to get the remaining exterior b-roll footage before heading off to work. I must say, I think this season’s menu is going to be a huge hit, especially some of the starters, burgers, and entrées. I know I can’t wait to circle back to try a few!
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After sitting down and meeting Dana, I have the utmost faith that her next endeavor and concept will be just as beloved and successful as Syndicate Ferndale! Dana is a real go-getter and really has a handle on fostering a sense of community with her staff and within her restaurant. Since launching this food blog, one of my favorite aspects has become the joy of meeting and getting to know the wonderful owners and staff of some of my favorite destinations around Metro Detroit. Folks like Dana and her staff make places like Syndicate Ferndale feel so welcoming and enjoyable that they quickly become repeat destinations or places you can always count on when you want to go out. I can’t wait to see what Dana unveils next across the street come springtime!
For more information about Syndicate Ferndale or updates regarding Dana’s new project across the street, click here.
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