Checker Bar and Grill getting new owner/management

[eastland]

According to 1976 phone book, Checker Bar was at 725 Bates.

There is a listing for Checker Bar-b-q Suburban at 26076 Greenfield in Oak Park.

[Honky Tonk]

According to 1976 phone book, Checker Bar was at 725 Bates.

There is a listing for Checker Bar-b-q Suburban at 26076 Greenfield in Oak Park.

They were two different enterprises.

[detroitbob]

The old Bates St. location was the building that was a morgue/mortuary...I remember being given a look at the basement with old vaults intact before the closing of the old place. And yes, the "new" current location was one of the 2 Big Boy's.

The Greyhound Station was relocated after the old art moderne 1930's station at the corner of Washington Blvd and Grand River was deemed too small and the land more valuable for parking. The "new" station was on the site of the old Ste. Anne deDetroit Church and graveyard [[untll 1886) and featured a large mosiac wall deign depicting the life and work of Fr. Gabriel Richard. The mural was supposed saved when the building was demo'd but I have never heard mention of it since.

[DetroitPlanner]

The old Bates St. location was the building that was a morgue/mortuary...I remember being given a look at the basement with old vaults intact before the closing of the old place. And yes, the "new" current location was one of the 2 Big Boy's.

The Greyhound Station was relocated after the old art moderne 1930's station at the corner of Washington Blvd and Grand River was deemed too small and the land more valuable for parking. The "new" station was on the site of the old Ste. Anne deDetroit Church and graveyard [[untll 1886) and featured a large mosiac wall deign depicting the life and work of Fr. Gabriel Richard. The mural was supposed saved when the building was demo'd but I have never heard mention of it since.

Do you remember the motel they had in there that ran down Larned IN the Greyhound station? I used to think it was hilarious when I was drunk teen to bang on the windows and scream fire. I was such a @$$hole pr!ck then. I am glad I have graduated to an ignoramous!

[jaytheory]

Back when I worked at the City-County Building in the early-mid '80s the Checker would fill up at lunchtime with city and county employees. Also, a lot of people from the law offices in the First National Building and Cadillac Tower, as well as folks from the Water Board and the Old County Building.

A few things happened though. One was that, shall we say, the "mix" of employees downtown was changing, and in my observation some folks were probably made to feel a bit more welcome at the Checker than others. The big one, however, was when the edict came down during the Archer administration banning drinking alcohol at lunch. In fact, following the general social trend, most offices and companies made similar rules around the same time.

Up to then it was commonplace in the Detroit area [[and elsewhere I suppose) for workers to go out for a beer or two at lunchtime [[I have trouble convincing younger people of this, but I'm sure the oldsters here will back me up). Many bars around the city would do big lunch business, and this change in practices hurt a lot of them very badly.

we havnt given up on drinking in advertsing

[downtownguy]

The old Bates St. location was the building that was a morgue/mortuary...I remember being given a look at the basement with old vaults intact before the closing of the old place. And yes, the "new" current location was one of the 2 Big Boy's.

The Greyhound Station was relocated after the old art moderne 1930's station at the corner of Washington Blvd and Grand River was deemed too small and the land more valuable for parking. The "new" station was on the site of the old Ste. Anne deDetroit Church and graveyard [[untll 1886) and featured a large mosiac wall deign depicting the life and work of Fr. Gabriel Richard. The mural was supposed saved when the building was demo'd but I have never heard mention of it since.

detroitbob, I keep hearing that Bates site being referred to as a morgue. That would have put it about two blocks away from the old Wayne County Morgue. Was the Bates location akin to a funeral home, or was someone other than the county in the "morgue" business back then?

[detroitbob]

The old Bates St. location predated the now demolished Wayne County Morgue builing. I would imagine the old Bates building dated from the 1880/1890 era. Bates and Farmer streets became a saloon district before, during and after prohibition especially when the south side of Monroe from the Campus Martius to Randolph stretch became the strip for the first movie nickelodeons and vaudeville houses started opening c1910 and slowly gravitated to burlesque. By the end of the 1960's the few remainng bars were gay oriented, save for the Checker. The 1011 [[Farmer St.) and LaRosa's were the two names I've heard the most about. The annual drag parade on Halloween down Monroe St. was famous in its day.

[downtownguy]

Thanks detroitbob. I didn't realize the Bates property went that far back. From what I remember of the Wayne County Morgue, it probably dated from the 20s or so.

[beanietek]

I have to give the Munro sisters credit for hanging on as long as they did tryng to make a go of the place. They stayed in the city in good times and bad and I hope they got a good price for the Checker and can relax and enjoy the years ahead.

[raptor56]

I'm tingling with a little excitement at the thought of being able to hang out at the Checker Bar again!

After two separate experiences of lack luster food [[after all the stories, the Burger was a big disappointment) and the ever depressing and annoying Munro Sisters [[Shut up. I don't care. LET ME EAT IN PEACE), I had given up on the place.

[downtownguy]

The legal work and financing finally wrapped up and the Checker [[officially) has new owners. For now, they're just opening quietly on weekend nights and will save the Grand Opening for when they get the kinks worked out. Likely will be open on Fireworks night, also [[June 23). Drinks only, no food just yet.

[Spartan]

The legal work and financing finally wrapped up and the Checker [[officially) has new owners. For now, they're just opening quietly on weekend nights and will save the Grand Opening for when they get the kinks worked out. Likely will be open on Fireworks night, also [[June 23). Drinks only, no food just yet.

cool, I'll definitely have to check[[er) it out. Is it still Checker Bar?

[piczka]

Referring to an earlier reply I can recall two great BBQ's. Checker BBQ on John R and Tasty BBQ on E. Milwaukee and Woodward where Popeyes is located. A lot of cops would eat there. The ribs were delicious, served dry so that you could sauce them up as you like.

[Detroitnerd]

Referring to an earlier reply I can recall two great BBQ's. Checker BBQ on John R and Tasty BBQ on E. Milwaukee and Woodward where Popeyes is located. A lot of cops would eat there. The ribs were delicious, served dry so that you could sauce them up as you like.

Yeah, my dad mentioned Checker on John R too.

[downtownguy]

cool, I'll definitely have to check[[er) it out. Is it still Checker Bar?

Still Checker. They say they are going to change the food a bit [[when they open the kitchen). Nothing fancy or drastic, but maybe adding pizza to the menu, and stuff like that.