We used to hang out there! Fun fact: This Grand Rapids restaurant was owned by the Osterhaven family. If you lived in Flushing and wanted a huge plate of pancakes (mmm chocolate chips) or a slice of heavenly peanut butter pie, you made a trip to the Plush Pony. [WSU Virtual Motor City], The exterior of Ferguson's restaurant circa the 1940s. 6 Responses to "Lost Cultural Venues of Detroit: Naming Names" William McLarney Says: October 4, 2016 at 10:34 pm | Reply. It be terrific to have that gravy/marinade recipe and recreate my Moms favorite meal there. 6. Not surprisingly, the restaurant was known for steak and used the slogan, "America's steak expert.". The restaurant originally served American fare, like burgers and fries. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Whats not to love? Take a look at these places that served up delicious eats and timeless memories. UPSTAIRS???? Whats not to love? Google Reviews/Mary Drayton. The Whitney. Tea-less tea rooms Carhops in fact and fiction Finds of the day: two taverns Dining with a disability The history of the restaurant of the future The food gap All the salad you can eat Find of the day, almost Famous in its day: The Bakery Training department store waitresses Chocolate on the menu Restaurant-ing with the Klan Diet plates Christian restaurant-ing Taste of a decade: 1980s restaurants Higbees Silver Grille Bulgarian restaurants Dining with Diamond Jim Restaurant wear 2016, a recap Holiday banquets for the newsies Multitasking eateries Famous in its day: the Blue Parrot Tea Room A hair in the soup When presidents eat out Spooky restaurants The mysterious Singing Kettle Famous in its day: Aunt Fannys Cabin Faces on the wall Dining for a cause Come as you are The Gables Find of the day: Ifflands Hofbrau-Haus Find of the day: Hancock Tavern menu Cooking with gas Ladies restrooms All you can eat Taste of a decade: 1880s restaurants Anatomy of a corporate restaurant executive Surf n turf Odd restaurant buildings: ducks Dining with the Grahamites Deep fried When coffee was king A fantasy drive-in Farm to table Between courses: masticating with Horace Restaurant-ing with Mildred Pierce Greeting the New Year On the 7th day they feasted Find of the day: Wayside Food Shop Cooking up Thanksgiving Automation, part II: the disappearing kitchen Dining alone Coppas famous walls Image gallery: insulting waitresses Famous in its day: Partridges Find of the day: Mrs. Ks Toll House Tavern Automation, part I: the disappearing server Find of the day: Moodys Diner cookbook To go Pepper mills Little things: butter pats The dining room light and dark Dining at sea Reservations 100 years of quotations Restaurant-ing with Soviet humorists Heroism at lunch Caper sauce at Taylors Shared meals High-volume restaurants: Crook & Duff (etc.) In a fit of food nostalgia, we recently shared memories of restaurants we miss from Michigan's past. Required fields are marked *. HE WOULD LOVE TO CONTACT ANY ONE IN THE FAMILY. Going in there was like you were in little Italy. This fun-filled establishment once operated as a speakeasy during the Prohibition era, offering a gathering place for the Belgian population in the Motor City. somehow Busy bees Eat and run, please! The Ford Motor Company, taken between 1910 and 1920. On the face of it the words linen supply sound completely innocent. 5. I chased him out the door with a broom, she said, adding, I suppose I was too insignificant a client for him to carry out threats of reprisals.. From the store entrances to the checkout experience, we have collected more than 100 photos of grocery stores in the olden days to help you make a little trip back in time. I bowled there a few times with Ted Colo I high school. The must-try diners in each of Michigan's 83 counties. It won Holiday magazine awards repeatedly. This former Saginaw eatery was known as an upscale dining option for local residents. North of 8 Mile West Side of Woodward Ave. in Ferndale. Mi Ranchito was a favorite eatery in in Oshtemo Township for more than 30 years, until the Mexican restaurant closed at the end of 2012. If you really miss this place, you can buy a shirt bearing that iconic logo. If you love Greek cuisine, youve undoubtedly spent time in Detroits Greektown neighborhood. Rather than owning linens a restaurant could, in effect, rent them from a service that would bring fresh supplies every time they picked up dirty laundry. Also sorely missed are the perch and coleslaw. Other location was across from Northland Shopping Center near 8 Mile- when Greenfields closed, I think the Eddy Bauer Sporting Goods bought the building-, Your email address will not be published. Are you a fan of both history and food? Lee Plaza - Artifacts. Memories of every Thanksgiving evening our whole familys annual tradition to get all bundled up for the cold and go down to Hudsons to walk around the entire perimeter of the store and enjoy the wonderful and magical Holiday window decorations and animated scenes while munching and crunching that warm tender sweet buttery caramel corn from Ottos across the street! The national chain was founded in 1962 and the end of the chain came in 1996. Loved the Little Cafe. Does anyone remember bowling at Little Cafe? You provided us with a delicious deluge of dining options that are sadly no longer available to hungry Michigan residents. I do remember seeing newsreels there in the early 60's at a very tender ageabout 10years old. It was not the first time the restaurant closed in response to a dispute. Campus Martius Park looks completey different now. I think you are referring to Dougs Body Shop in Ferndale. (Yes, hanger is a combination of hunger and anger.) Yet by the mid 20th century they had acquired a negative tinge thanks to mob infiltration in the business coupled with widely publicized congressional hearings, particularly the U.S. Senates McClellan committee which investigated organized crime in the late 1950s and early 1960s. and head back to your car. It closed in 1985 before its reopening and refurbishment in 2006 -- and today, guests can enjoy drinks and food while listening to some of the top live music in Detroit. This unassuming, unfussy restaurant is open 24 hours and has satisfied hungry visitors since the early 1920s. the Shirley Eder was a slab of cream cheese with tomatoes on white bread. Located along Park Avenue in Detroit, this marvelous jazz club and restaurant first opened its doors in 1935. Mencottis Restaurant at 7113 Puritan Street during the 1960s, with murals of Venice. Ohio + Tahiti = Kahiki Find of the day: the Redwood Room Behind the kitchen door Before Horn & Hardart: European automats Distinguished dining awards Restaurant as fun house: Shambargers Dressing for dinner Dining on the border: Tijuana Postscript: beefsteak dinners Three hours for lunch Light-fingered diners Mind your manners: restaurant etiquette Celebrity restaurateurs: Pat Boone Diary of an unhappy restaurateur Basic fare: bread Busboys Greek-American restaurants Roadside attractions: Totos Zeppelin 2012, a recap Christmas dinner in a restaurant, again? Favorites on the menu here include mouthwatering gyros, flavorful kabobs, and an incredible flaming cheese dish. Get more stories like this one delivered right to your email. Did you grab a harburger and Coke here in the 50s and 60s? You'll receive your first newsletter soon! I am trying to remember a restaurant in the Detroit area that featured cars as booths. Located in downtown Grand Rapids, the Butter Wagon was a neighbor to the Majestic Theatre, which was in the building that now houses the Civic Theatre. Youll want to hang out here all night long. In 1958 New Jersey linen supply corporations charged with violation of anti-trust laws were said to control 85% of business in that state. And some fan favoriteslike Burger Chef, G.D. Ritzy's, and Howard Johnson'sfell by the wayside. My mom and aunt worked there in 1963. Also, when my Mom and Granny would take a street car to Hudsons downtown, there were special treats we looked forward to wonderful corned beef on rye sandwiches from Lefkovskis at Broadway Market with their aromatic dill pickles and a big glass of Loganberry juice from the fresh stand right near by! The Grubers were adept at flattering the male ego. Steve's Lunch was known for Korean cuisine, especially the bibimbap. Are you sure that you are remembering that correctly? While Detroiters disagree on which locale offers the best coney dog in Detroit, we can all agree that ketchup doesnt belong on a coney. Cregar's was a popular place for breakfast for Rosedale Park residents and at one time during the 70's was the site for an undercover FBI sting aimed at some . With around-the-clock service, a no-frills atmosphere, and a no-nonsense menu offering burgers, chili dogs . Known for its authentic Mexican cuisine, the establishment closed its doors in 1994. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. This upscale restaurant, located in the northern Lower Peninsula village of Ellsworth, was open seasonally during Michigan's warm weather months. Originally, Rosie's Diner was a New Jersey institution. If we couldnt make it to Broadway Market, a good alternative wa sto take the stairs or escalator downstairs at Cunninghams Drug Store where they had that old fashioned soda counter with those round stools. Lines would go out to the street but we managed to move up. The London Chop House, Detroit's 21 Club, enjoyed a ranking as one of the country's top restaurants in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Chicken fans flocked to Fingers Restaurant in Grand Rapids for 51 years. Besides Hudson's, Northland opened with a number of other local retailers including: Hughes & Hatcher, Max Green's, Kosins, The Wild Pair, Barna-Bee Children's Shops, Cunningham Drug, Baker's Shoes, Chandler's Shoes, Big Boy restaurant, Himelhoch's, Winkelman's, Albert's, S.S. Kresge Corporation, Robinson Furniture, Raimi's Curtains, Better Made It's also one of the Blackest, Depending on who you ask, they might say love and romance are not words used to properly describe Detroits dating scene. The eatery and its accompanying biergarten make for an authentic German experience right here in the Motor City, offering an assortment of classic dishes alongside refreshing drafts and brews. Have you had the opportunity to dine at any of these unique and longstanding spots in the Motor City during previous family outings? Why the change? When a guest made a reservation, he would arrive to find his table with books of matches and a reserved sign all imprinted with his name, as well as a card with a coin in a slot reimbursing him for his phone call. This beloved eatery, which will take you on a virtual journey to Greece, has served up some of the tastiest dishes in town since the 1970s. Those with a big appetite for dessert would order the Pig's Dinner, a huge banana split. James Beard named it as one of the ten best restaurants nationwide in 1961, the same year it won a Darnell Survey award as one of America's Favorites. If you miss this place, you might appreciate this recipe for Steer Haus blue cheese dressing, published in The Grand Rapids Press in 2002: -- 8 ounces crumbled Danish blue cheese in mixing bowl, combine sour cream, buttermilk, mayonnaise, Tabasco sauce, garlic powder and onion powder, blending well. Former regulars might remember the antique decor of the restaurant or the Greek nights held inside the restaurant, complete with music and dancing. Alpha types jostled for table #1, while regulars glowed with the knowledge that their suavely jacketed waiter had remembered how many ice cubes they liked in their highballs. the company began to open restaurants in cities including Detroit, Pittsburgh, and New York, attracting diners with crowd-pleasing dishes like baked pork chops and hot butterscotch sundaes. Wop salad? . Fortunes cookies Famous in its day: Dutchland Farms Toothpicks An annotated menu Anatomy of a restaurateur: Kate Munra Putting patrons at ease Anatomy of a chef: Joseph E. Gancel Taking the din out of dining The power of publicity: Maders Modernizing Main Street restaurants Adult restaurants Taste of a decade: 1820s restaurants Find of the day: the Stork Club Cool culinaria is hot Restaurant booth controversies Ice cream parlors Banquet-ing menus Image gallery: stands Restaurant-ing on Sunday Odd restaurant food That night at Maxims Famous in its day: the Parkmoor Frank E. Buttolph, menu collector extraordinaire Lunch Hour NYC Restaurants and artists: Normandy House Conferencing: global gateways Peas on the menu Famous in its day: Richards Treat Cafeteria Maxims three of NYC Service with a smile . Our family would go there after Mass at the Shrine of the Little Flower & feast on th with lacy e most delicious crispy fried chicken ever! While you can't visit either of these eateries anymore, the family grandson is a restaurateurwith a number of Michigan restaurants you can visit. Start off with a meal at the Rattlesnake Club, which sits just a stones throw from the lovely shores of the Detroit River. Duly's Place (5458 Vernor Hwy.) I think it had. Saying goodbye can be tough. Trying to find the name of a luncheonette /ice cream parlor near my grandmothers house at the corner of grand river and joy road in the 1960s. I want a Coney island right now!!! Youve undoubtedly stopped in at Lafayette or American Coney Island when youre craving some classic Detroit fare, but have you ever visited Duly Place? University of Detroit Mercy Memorial Tower - Photos. Im looking for the name of a restaurant on Woodward and Normandy. The Whitney takes "stepping into history" to an entirely new level, and youll be charmed as soon as you arrive. That tune would get stuck in my mind and repeat over & over the rest of the day! AtDetroit LLC 2000 - 2023 unless otherwise specified. Theres always something fun happening at Cadieux Cafe, whether youre stopping by to try your hand at feather bowling, enjoying a live musical performance, or simply meeting with friends for dinner and drinks. If You Havent Eaten These 9 Foods, You Havent Lived In Detroit Long Enough, One Of The Best Restaurants Near Detroit Can Be Found Inside This Historic Bank, These 8 Amazing Detroit Restaurants Are Loaded With Local History, These 7 Old Restaurants In Detroit Have Stood The Test Of Time, The Mom & Pop Restaurant Near Detroit That Serves The Most Mouthwatering Home Cooked Meals, If You Grew Up In Detroit, You Definitely Love These 10 Classic Dishes, 9 Legendary Family-Owned Restaurants In Detroit You Have To Try, The Oldest Restaurant In Detroit Has A Truly Incredible History. The Whitney, 4421 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. The old Top Hat slider hamburger stands were great for cheap dinner when I was in school. You dont have to boast Polish heritage to enjoy a meal at Ivanhoe Cafe, which serves everything from kielbasa to pierogies to tasty scallops. just a few blocks west of Greenfield. With roots dating back to 1933, the Dakota Inn Rathskeller brings a taste of Germany right here to the Motor City. -- Dressing may be tossed with fresh greens for a salad or used as a dip with fresh vegetables. My husband and family owned The Little Cafe. Either way, these dining destinations forever hold a place in our hearts and stomachs. is a free service that relies on revenue from ad display [regrettably] and donations. Restaurant owners, on the other hand, experience higher operating costs. To keep up with escalating demand, in 1952 the Grubers opened a second place across the street, the Caucus Club. Miss this eatery of yesteryear? Dakota Inn, 17324 John R St, Detroit, MI 48203, USA. Its attractions were many, including evening entertainment, a fine wine list, and fantastic concoctions from the bar. This unassuming little eatery has served classic diner food to Detroiters since 1921, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Good eaters: Andy Warhol Birth of the theme restaurant Restaurant-ing with royalty Righting civil wrongs in restaurants Theme restaurants: barns Men only Taste of a decade: restaurants, 1900-1910 Celebrating restaurant cuisine Decor: glass ceilings Between courses: dont sniff the food In the kitchen with Mme Early: black women in restaurants Burger bloat On the menu for 2010 Christmas feasting Todays specials: books on restaurants With haute cuisine for all: Longchamps Restaurant-ing on Thanksgiving High-volume restaurants: Smith & McNells Anatomy of a restaurateur: Dario Toffenetti Between courses: rate this menu You want cheese with that? MY FAMILY IN THE 1950s used to really enjoy delicious roast beef dinners at Teysens WIGWAM RESTAURANT on Woodward I believe in Royal Oak. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Registration is free and required for posting. I AM LOOKING FOR ANY INFORMATION ABOUT STAFFORDS RESTAURANT IN DETROIT. Located on the corner of South Dort and East Court for about 35 years, Shorthorn was known for Clyde's ribs, steak and seafood. There aren't many restaurants with this kind of character. Revolving restaurants II: the Merry-Go-Round Basic fare: shrimp We never close Tablecloths checkered past Famous in its day: Tip Top Inn Find of the day: J.B.G.s French restaurant Dont play with the candles Interview: whos cooking? The restaurant originally served American fare, like burgers and fries. Jims Garage Saloon at 300 W. Larned Street from the 1970s to mid-80s. It wasnt upstairs but a person would set the pins. You wont find glitz or glamour when you make a stop at Dulys, but you will find mouthwatering diner food that will keep your taste buds happy. From Italian staples, hole-in-the-wall diners, and trendy eateries, here are some of metro Detroit's restaurants that left too soon (and for some, not soon enough.)