Crafting Magical Experiences

For centuries, people who worked with herbs, spirits, and transformation were often called witches.

Long before the word “cocktail” existed, mixtures of plants, tinctures, and distilled spirits were created as tonics, potions, and remedies.

These early traditions blended the physical and the metaphysical. Flavor, medicine, ritual, and intention existed together in the same craft.

At The Black Salt, we draw inspiration from this long lineage of transformation.

Here, the art of the cocktail meets the practice of intention. Carefully designed drinks are paired with simple spell rituals that invite you to slow down, focus, and participate in a moment of personal power.

Discover what happens when a cocktail becomes something more.

In traditional witchcraft, black salt is used for protection. It represents the act of creating a boundary. A small but powerful gesture of intention.

That symbolism became the foundation for the bar.

Every cocktail on the menu is designed alongside a small spell process. The ingredients in the drink are researched for their historical, herbal, and metaphysical associations. The spells include simple elements such as herbs, candles, crystals, paper, and more specific items sometimes foraged, sometimes sourced.

The goal is not to perform magic for someone. You cast your own magical powers of intention while enjoying a carefully crafted drink to amplify the energy of the spell.

A Bar In Hamtramck

When people walk into The Black Salt, one of the first things they notice is that the room does not look like most modern craft cocktail bars.

The wood behind the bar is worn smooth, the space feels lived in, and the layout still reflects the kind of neighborhood tavern that used to exist on nearly every corner. That character is not something we designed. It is something the building earned over time.

This corner has been serving drinks for more than a century.

When Prohibition arrived in 1920, bars across the country were forced to close. In Hamtramck many simply adapted. What had once been taverns registered as other types of businesses on paper while quietly continuing to serve their regulars. This building began as a grocery and later operated under a real estate license during that era, a practical arrangement in a neighborhood that never really abandoned its bar culture.

After Prohibition ended, the taverns returned openly and in great numbers. By the 1950s more than two hundred bars were operating within just a few square miles of Hamtramck. Over the decades the space at this corner changed names many times, reflecting the generations that passed through it. It was Joseph Kent Tavern in the 50’s, Club Florian in the 60’s and 70’s, Michael G’s through the 80’s and 90’s, and Doc Z’s at the turn of the century. In the early 00’s it became Mephisto’s, a goth and industrial nightclub that was part of Hamtramck’s music scene.

Each era left its mark on the room. When the bar was restored, traces of those earlier lives appeared beneath later renovations. Even the vintage sign outside still carries the faint ghost of the name Club Florian beneath the paint.

Today only about 25 to 30 of Hamtramck’s historic bars are still operating. Many cities lost their corner taverns long ago, but a handful remain here, quietly carrying forward a tradition that stretches back more than a hundred years.

The Black Salt is simply the latest chapter in that story.

The Witch Who Owns A Bar

The Black Salt was created by Zoey Ashwood, whose path to opening a cocktail bar was anything but typical.

Before entering the hospitality world, Zoey spent years working in the fine arts. Her background included managing galleries, exhibiting her own work as an artist, and working in intellectual property rights law supporting creative professionals. Alongside that career, she also maintained a long standing personal practice studying tarot, metaphysics, and offering psychic advising.

Cocktail culture had always been a passion as well. The ritual of the bar, the creativity of building drinks, and the culture surrounding craft cocktails felt deeply connected to the creative worlds she had already been part of.

In her mid thirties, Zoey made a decision that surprised many people around her. She stepped away from her previous career and purchased a historic building in Hamtramck with the intention of creating a place where she could live and build something entirely her own.

What she did not anticipate was becoming pregnant with her first child at nearly the same time, or that the bar she imagined would grow into something so special.

The concept that emerged was simple but unlike anything else: a cocktail bar where the craft of mixology would exist alongside the practice of spell work. Drinks designed with the same care and precision found in modern cocktail culture, paired with small rituals that invite guests to set an intention of their own.

To our knowledge, it is the only bar in the world built around that idea.

The Black Salt was not created by a hospitality group or outside investors. Nearly every detail of the space was shaped by Zoey herself, from the atmosphere of the room to the structure of the menu and the spell practices that accompany each drink.

Today the bar is supported by a small team of talented people who care deeply about what happens within these walls. Every night they help create an experience that blends craft cocktails, creativity, and a sense of genuine hospitality.

The presence of family is woven into the space as well. Becoming a mother while building the bar changed Zoey’s relationship to the work in ways she did not expect. The instinct to protect, nurture, and care for the people around her now shapes the culture of the bar itself.

There is a quiet sense of guardianship here. The team protects the space, the guests who enter it, and the history of the building that has been standing on this corner for more than a century.

The Black Salt is the result of a lifetime of art, ritual, and hospitality meeting in one small corner bar. It was built slowly, with care, by the people who stand behind it. We practice our craft every night. Join us.

  • Spell cocktails are unique to The Black Salt. We pair the metaphysical properties of ingredients with a ritual or “spell” process for the purpose of manifesting certain desired energies into reality. A lot of research and preparation goes into creating and serving a spell cocktail.

    First, we decide the purpose of a spell. Finances, Love, Health, the list of reasons to perform a spell is long. We focus on spells that are commonly useful, or widely applicable.

    Next, we research two things: ingredients that are used for that purpose, and spells that have been successfully used over time for that purpose. The resources we use for research are extensive, ranging from a large library of books to online publications and even the experiences of other practicing witches. We then compile our research and begin the process of creating our own cocktail and accompanying spell.

    Then, we test and edit until we find just the right combination of elements to make a tasty cocktail and approachable spell process. One of the biggest challenges is formatting a spell that can be served in the bar. A lot of spell work traditionally involves a lengthy process, or is better suited for private practice. We work hard to simplify the process while making sure the spell is powerful.

    Finally, we present the spell cocktail to guests for a trial run and receive feedback. If any additional changes need to be made, we test, edit, and try again until we get it right! We are so proud of every spell cocktail and are excited to make more. They are the result of a lot of passion and hard work.

  • Short answer: No.

    Long Answer: You can choose to identify as many things, or not. Words have powerful meaning and often historical context associated with them. Not everyone who practices consciousness or magick identifies as a witch. The term “Witch,” for many centuries, had a negative connotation. A history on this matter has been the subject of many publications, so I will not divulge the specifics here. What is important is that in contemporary terms, many of those who choose to identify as a witch are rewriting the narrative and and context of its meaning in a more positive, holistic, and normalized manner.

    Not everyone who works in the bar identifies as a witch. We do practice forms of occultism that are sometimes termed as “witchcraft,” however, there are many different forms of self-identification when it comes to defining oneself and one’s beliefs. You are welcome to ask any staff member about their knowledge or experience of occultism to learn more about this wide range of experiences.

  • Spelled with a “k,” Magick refers to the ritualization of one's intentions. This spelling differentiates the meaning from Magic, which more commonly refers to the art of producing illusions or supernatural effects through the use of tricks or other techniques for entertainment purposes.

    Magick is typically seen as a way of accessing and manipulating unseen forces or energies in order to bring about desired changes in the world.

    Magick may involve the use of ritual, symbolism, and other techniques to harness and direct these energies, and is often seen as a way of aligning oneself with the natural rhythms and patterns of the universe.

  • Casting a spell involves setting an intention.

    First, it is important to cleans and purify. The best way to do this in the bar is mentally rid yourself of any negative thoughts or doubts. Take a moment to calm your mind and body, however you feel is best.

    Next, review the spell you are going to perform a few times, so you are familiar with the process. You don’t need to memorize it, but it is helpful to be familiar so the spell goes smoothly.

    Then, call upon any divine energies you wish to support your casting. This may involve a personal process. If you do not have any higher energies you connect with, think about being connected to the energies of the universe, like a network of tree roots, or a nervous system.

    Now you are ready to begin casting the spell. Focus is a key component of spell work. Block out as much distractions as possible and focus your mind on what it is you are intending to manifest. The more you are able to clearly focus on your intention, the more powerful the spell work.

    As you perform the actions of the spell, feel a deep sense of belief that these processes have real meaning. The universe aligns to our actions and thoughts. The spell is a way to communicate with the universe what it is you desire.

    Once you are done, it is helpful to give thanks to any energies you called upon, and ground yourself. The best way to ground your energy is to visualize it flowing into the earth.

    Finally, it is important to detach your focus. The spell has been cast, now focus on other things. Be proactive in following through with any actions you need to take for the spell to work (like answering your phone if you want an opportunity to come through) but do not hyper focus on the result, or it may escape you. Having faith that your manifestation will appear is important. It requires letting go of control and allowing the universe to do its work to bring you what you desire.

  • No.

    That is not how our spell processes work.

    Everyone has free will. The best way to get results with spell work is to focus on what you want or what you are in control of manifesting.

    Casting a spell on another person can backfire in big or small ways. You are the one casting the spell, so the universe is listening to your energy, and giving you back what you are putting out into the universe.

    For example, instead of casting a love spell where you want to attract a specific person, it is far more powerful to focus on the love you want to attract. By opening up to the bigger picture of true love and how that feels, you are more clearly connected with your desire. This helps you manifest a result that aligns with your deeper feelings and needs.

    Please be aware of anyone who says they can cast a spell for you, or casts a spell without your consent. It may not be a safe situation. You always need to consent to any spell process in which you are involved, and spells are more powerful if you are the one casting the spell, especially if it is for your benefit.

  • Yes, it really works. BUT the result is directly correlated to your power of intention. This means, the stronger your belief and deeper your focus while performing the spell, the more likely it is to have an effect.

    This brings about an important point. The spells we offer in the bar are compact and performed in a public space often times with lots of distractions. They absolutely can have a powerful effect, however, if you are really looking to delve into spell work, we advise that you start practicing at home or in an intentional space.

    Spell work is complex. There are a lot of different processes that can be long, or short. We like to think that spells can be performed anywhere, and sometimes very powerful spells can be done quite casually. It’s all about the intention behind the process you preform.

    The manifestation of the spell, or result, can come through at any time. Again, this depends on how you perform the spell and other factors. Sometimes the universe needs time to move all the parts to make your manifestation possible. Other times, even though you didn’t perform a spell, you have been doing a lot of work to make the result possible, and the spell can be the final spark that lights the fire! There are so many things that effect the result. The best thing to do is be proactive while you wait and trust the process.

  • Yes. We will serve you any spell kit you like with your cocktail.

    The spell cocktails are created with ingredients that complement the metaphysical energies of the spells, BUT all spells are about focus and intention. As long as you direct your energy according to your desires, the spell will have an effect.

  • Sure! We are all about consent. As long as you and the other person are comfortable sharing energy, there is no harm in sharing a cocktail after the spell is performed.

  • Not at all! The spell is always optional.

    We also have a menu full of traditional cocktails, beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea, and more. We want everyone to be comfortable and have a good time, which is why we have so many options.

  • Hi! My name is Zoey, the owner. I have been a practicing occultist for many years. I am passionate about craft cocktails and consciousness magick. Many times throughout the years, I have combined these two interests with great success.

    Given the opportunity, and with much hard work, I was lucky enough to open a bar and share this process with others. Some may call it a “concept.” I personally feel it is more of a way of life. But to each their own. The one thing this bar is not is a “theme bar.” This is real magick, not theatrics.

    If you are interested in learning more about different metaphysical practices, see our events page. We are excited to share knowledge with everyone.