Mike Ilitch has died

**Maof** · February-10-17, 06:31 PM

just seeing this on the news.

"Mike Ilitch rose from a humble west-side neighborhood to assemble a food, sports and entertainment empire that enabled him to return the Stanley Cup to Hockeytown, build both a new arena and a ballpark with a Ferris wheel, restore the grandeur of downtown’s iconic Fox Theatre and introduce metro Detroit to the concepts of “pizza-pizza” and an $8 cup of beer.

From his first Little Caesars outlet in Garden City strip mall in 1959 — where a pizza cost $2.39 — Ilitch, aided at every step by Marian, his wife of 61 years, became a major metro Detroit personality and a key figure in the revival of downtown Detroit. In addition to founding the Little Caesars pizza chain, he owned the Red Wings, Tigers and the Fox Theatre, and operated city-owned Joe Louis, Cobo, and Little Caesars arenas, among other smaller businesses, teams and restaurant"

http://www.freep.com/story/money/bus...rbes/91475642/

**jcole** · February-10-17, 06:40 PM

Passed today at age 87 from what I can tell.

**SyGolden48236** · February-10-17, 06:44 PM

Such a sad loss of a great man who did many wonderful things for his community.

Baruch Dayan Emet!

I hope that people on this forum will refrain from posting nasty and negative comments about Mr. Ilitch as a small number of folks do when one who attained the success that he has passes on.

**Dan** · February-10-17, 06:50 PM

People have differing opinions, but much respect is due. RIP Mr. I.

**SyGolden48236** · February-10-17, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by Dan

People have differing opinions, but much respect is due. RIP Mr. I.

Absolutely they do. And people are certainly entitled to their opinions. However it is extremely poor form and patently disrespectful to denigrate a good man at the time of his passing.

**Dan** · February-10-17, 07:45 PM

Yep. I agree, I hope my post was clear.

**Wesley Mouch** · February-10-17, 08:09 PM

Mike was the first significant businessperson to invest in Downtown Detroit -- between the Red Wings, and the Fox Theatre & new LC Headquarters. Nobody was moving downtown then. And it was a long time before anyone followed.

I knew him personally -- as well as many family members. They may not be perfect, but they are good people. Mr. I was the best. He was a great man.

Best to his family.

**Junjie** · February-10-17, 08:23 PM

Four Stanley Cups, two pennants, the Fox, Comerica, and soon the new HQ building and the WSU School of Business... all major contributions to the city. But personally my earliest [[and very fond) memories of Detroit are of chowing down on Little Caesars at Tiger Stadium with my family, not all of whom are still around these days. So, thanks for the memories, Mr. Ilitch.

Requiescat in pace.

**Lowell** · February-10-17, 06:53 PM

Mike Ilitch was a titan of the Detroit business scene, a remarkable boot-strapper and a huge part of our Detroit story and comeback. And he is a son of immigrants. My condolences to his family.

I know he is controversial to some and I have had my reservations but today I focus on the pluses which to my estimation far outweigh the others.

Top among those was that he was the first to seriously reverse the outflow of business from Downtown Detroit. When everyone else was running for the doors he came back, restored the Fox Theater and building and settled in.

Downtown Detroit has risen steadily ever since.

**gnome** · February-10-17, 06:57 PM

He and Charlie Jones saved Tom's Tavern from closing after Tom died. That is a kindness that should never be forgotten. RIP

**emu steve** · February-10-17, 07:09 PM

Just saw this while watching the EMU/Akron basketball game.

Sad for all. This certainly will start the transition within the Ilitch family.

He was a titan in sports.

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · February-10-17, 07:28 PM

I am sad on behalf of his family & friends. Sincere condolences to all who knew and loved him.

Aside from those condolences, I am a big believer in celebrating life at the time of death. He accomplished a great deal. Little Caesar's pizza, in addition to directly employing thousands, was/is an easily accessible franchise business that made many people themselves small business owners. His sports businesses need no touting. I just wish he'd lived to see the arena open & the Tigers win the WS. He sure put a lot of money into both. And in terms of helping Detroit, he invested a lot of money, back when it appeared to be throwing good money after bad. Regardless of anyone's opinion of him as a developer, downtown would likely not be where it is today without his years-ago investments in the Wings, Tigers, Fox & moving his HQ downtown.

Thanks, Mr. I, for the lifetime of hard work, success & vision. May your family's pain heal, and your legacy businesses continue to thrive.

**emu steve** · February-10-17, 07:35 PM

Sad he did not live long enough to see the opening of LCA.

**401don** · February-10-17, 08:21 PM

According to the Ilitch Holdings press release, he played AAA and hit .300 one year. I knew he was a Tiger minor leaguer, but didn't know he was that close to making it to the majors. Very impressive. Professional athlete, marine, billionaire businessman and family man. Quite the life.

**softailrider** · February-10-17, 08:52 PM

Really too bad he didn't get a World Series, wasn't because he didn't want to spend money.

**emu steve** · February-11-17, 03:52 AM

Originally Posted by softailrider

Really too bad he didn't get a World Series, wasn't because he didn't want to spend money.

That is one thing I'll never forget: He tried. Oh, did he try.

I was in Detroit [[and at the game) when the Tigers clinched the ALCS [[2012) with their win over the N.Y. Yankees and how Comerica was heaven on earth.

I hope Chris continues what his father had done for Detroit.

**p69rrh51** · February-11-17, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by emu steve

I hope Chris continues what his father had done for Detroit.

Are you kidding? If the children continue what he has done there would be nothing left but one big surface parking lot. I for one hoisted to drink saying good riddance for all the small business he fucked over and will continue to do so even though he is gone.

**Cincinnati_Kid** · February-11-17, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by p69rrh51

Are you kidding? If the children continue what he has done there would be nothing left but one big surface parking lot. I for one hoisted to drink saying good riddance for all the small business he fucked over and will continue to do so even though he is gone.

He's done some good things for Downtown Detroit and was a major part of the city's revival, but Detroit is being rebuilt inside out, instead of outside in. He also "strongarmed" a lot of people as well, like the aforementioned small business and property owners. What I find amazing is all the money put into Midtown, and Downtown, but none of these 3 billionaire owners are investing in the areas that need it the most, the neighborhoods. May he R.I.P.

**emu steve** · February-11-17, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Cincinnati_Kid

He's done some good things for Downtown Detroit and was a major part of the city's revival, but Detroit is being rebuilt inside out, instead of outside in. He also "strongarmed" a lot of people as well, like the aforementioned small business and property owners. What I find amazing is all the money put into Midtown, and Downtown, but none of these 3 billionaire owners are investing in the areas that need it the most, the neighborhoods. May he R.I.P.

I do not believe cities are built from the outside in.

To imply 'outside in' would be to imply that folks come to the neighborhoods, etc. and then business come downtown to employ them [[or a manufacturer builds a plant in say Detroit 'where the people are'.)

I think it is the opposite: Business come downtown, CBD, etc. and then folks make housing and journey to work decisions which lead to the 'inside out' effect esp. in Midtown and Brush Park where residential decision are following what is happening downtown with employment, sports, entertainment, etc.

Isn't the more hypothetical scenario [[assume a recent college grad):

Person A: "I just accepted a job with Quicken Loans downtown"

Person B: "Where are you going to live? Detroit? A suburb? If Detroit, where?"

Person A: "Don't know. I'm still looking at neighborhoods, the commute, parking, etc."

Person B: "Tough decisions."

Person A: "I read on the DetroitYes forum about new apartments on Woodward north of the new arena. I hear they have a streetcar like line opening this year..."

Person B: "Sounds very interesting. Do you like living in the city or in the 'burbs?"

BTW, my whole thesis is that most new jobs in Detroit are probably being created downtown, Midtown, etc. Don't think we are seeing new factories, new grocery stores, medical clinics, etc. being built throughout the city.

**DetBill** · February-11-17, 12:10 PM

??? You should have lived here in 1984 when I started living here,, If it wasnt for Illitch and family the entertainment district wouldnt have happened, as NOBODY wanted to touch Downtown Detroit ,,, finally in subsequent years the likes of Karmanos, and Gilbert appeared who all stated if it wasnt for Ilitch starting this whole thing they probably wouldn't have been involved...I fully realize some people were furious with some parking lot situations and a few older buildings being demolished but I always thought the positives outweighed the negatives materially... This towns downtown was awful, and dangerous and had no hope of return until Mike Ilitch came in with his vision with the Fox and moving Little Ceasers downtown,, it was a long , slow process, but they made money, did some great things , a few questionable decisions and were a catalyst for other investors, finally 33 years later we will have the Detroit District.. I can hardly fault them for making money, they are business people,, who had a vision for renewal and made money at it, and most people I know are very thankful..
Thankyou Mr. Ilitch and family, i raise a glass to you in appreciation for doing something no one else would even consider in 1984 and beyond.

**daddeeo** · February-10-17, 08:56 PM

He was a pioneer in bringing Detroit back from the dead. Like him, love or hate him, Mr. I was a Detroit giant and mover-shaker for years

**Baselinepunk** · February-10-17, 08:59 PM

detnews.com / freep.com headline:

2017 October 21

TIGERS WIN WORLD SERIES!!!!

**emu steve** · February-12-17, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by Baselinepunk

detnews.com / freep.com headline:

2017 October 21

TIGERS WIN WORLD SERIES!!!!

Your date is off a bit [[isn't Oct 21 to early to decide the WS, even a four game sweep?), but if the Tigers win the World Series, I will believe in heavenly miracles.