Downtown Detroit Restaurants & Bars- 1970

[rutlev]

Cary, I believe the Italian Restaurant you refer to was Luigi's and if you
read the post on 30 Clifford, I've been asking for some confirmation.

[takascar]

Jacoby's for sure.

Anyone remember Sindbads on St. Clair. It seems to still
have a web presence, but the website doesn't respond.

Went there all of the time for family gatherings as a kid and used to like to walk out on the dock and look at the boats after dinner

[MidTownMs]

Jacoby's for sure.

Anyone remember Sindbads on St. Clair. It seems to still
have a web presence, but the website doesn't respond.

Went there all of the time for family gatherings as a kid and used to like to walk out on the dock and look at the boats after dinner

Sindbad's was still there when I left Michigan in April. But it is definately not the Sindbad's that it was in the 70's. The food is at best mediocre and the service is worst. The only thing that went up is the prices everything else took a nosedive.

[EastsideAl]

Sindbad's is still open for lunch and dinner every day, and is still owned by the Blancke family. It is also [[imo) still a very pleasant place to have lunch on a sunny spring, summer, or fall day, with its views of nearby marinas. Like pretty much every place else around here though, especially here on the east side, they are really struggling to hold on under current conditions.

[sumas]

This is a trip down memory lane. Have been to most of the places mentioned. Could add a few more but haven't had my morning coffee yet.

[jwillie49]

Lindell, Athens, Porterstreet,

[BRAZZMAN]

Leandies behind Lindell A.C. for great lunchtime fish & chips. Torn down for people mover. Full of Detroit Damon Runyan characters.
Chin Tiki for the Korean spare ribs and a dish of white rice with a pat of butter, salt and pepper melting thru.
The Brass Rail on Michigan Ave across from the coney islands.
Bush's Bar on Woodward where I think Foran's is now.
Jack Brokensha's restaurant on Grand Blvd near the Fisher Bldg.

[douglasm]

I know it isn't "downtown", but people keep mentioning resturants in the New Center area. In my mind's ear, I seem to remember a string of resturants on Lothrop between Woodward and 2nd. Would these have been there to feed people working in the GM building? I assume they didn't eat at the Toddle House.

[BRAZZMAN]

I know it isn't "downtown", but people keep mentioning resturants in the New Center area. In my mind's ear, I seem to remember a string of resturants on Lothrop between Woodward and 2nd. Would these have been there to feed people working in the GM building? I assume they didn't eat at the Toddle House.

Yeah, I meant Jack Brokensha's on Lothrop. He was a local jazz musician. Played vibes.

[Bobl]

In the Wayne State area: The Bronx Bar. I lived across the street. Del Rio Bar. Worked next door at Henry's Drugs, and stopped in at lunch once in a while. The stories from the old patrons were amazing. They played "Those Were The Days" constantly, but I stayed for the stories. Vernes. Alvin's. Cobb's Corner, a little bit later. More great stories and great live music. Closer to downtown, Jacoby's.

[rutlev]

I remember the Anchor also known as the No Name Bar being
on 3rd or 4th S. of Fort St. and was closed for the xway. There was a big FBI bust for illegal gambling involving quite a few patrons who worked for WWJ and the News.

[ptero]

The Normandie, Verne's, the Bronx back when, Traffic Jam when it had pool tables and fights!, the non-alcoholic Snug on the corner for ice cream after high school events, Gus' Coney [[NONE better) on the East side of Woodward around the corner from the Greyhound station, Palombo's out on 8 mile, south side, now one of those strip joints, Forbidden City for dinner before seeing something at the Masonic.

[douglasm]

Do you mean across the lobby from the Fisher Theatre? There was a little bar there, but the only other resturants I remember were the row on Lothrop Street between Woodward and 2nd.

[Chinman]

hi folks,
don't know alot about the old bars...but do know that the Lindel AC closed well after the people mover and only closed because of ownership issues and now we have the bus station there.

[Chinman]

again.. the Anchor Bar was not ever on 3rd or 4th.
i asked my dad who grew up in Detroit in the 30's and 40' about it's history.
started in the basement of Shelby and Congress in the the 40's. then moved to Shelby between Congress and Fort. After things happened in the 60's, they the moved to Fort street where they are now. It is still good though. they and we have the belief for Detroit. I LOVE the Anchor Bar as so many have!!!!

[ptero]

The Normandie was across Grand Blvd from the Fisher, at the southwest corner of G.B. and Second. The main entrance was around on Second, with a lesser entry from the parking lot in back. It was Detroit's version of Sardi's in New York. I knew it throughout the 70's, . The walls were plastered with signed pictures of stars largely from shows that came through the Fisher. Some were headshots, some were of the stars in the place in booths or posing with others. Great place for a drink after a show, but they also had great food. Burgers and steak. A search found this:

http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthr...ight=Normandie

Also great was Carl's Chop House at Grand River and the Lodge. Unfortunately, Carl's went through many years of decline with fading looks and quality before it finally closed. It was fading as early as the 70's.

[DetroitPlanner]

again.. the Anchor Bar was not ever on 3rd or 4th.
i asked my dad who grew up in Detroit in the 30's and 40' about it's history.
started in the basement of Shelby and Congress in the the 40's. then moved to Shelby between Congress and Fort. After things happened in the 60's, they the moved to Fort street where they are now. It is still good though. they and we have the belief for Detroit. I LOVE the Anchor Bar as so many have!!!!

The Anchor was the only tennant in the Fort Shelby hotel until about 1990 when it moved to the home of the former Hannon's Flowers where it now is.

[EastsideAl]

The Anchor was the only tennant in the Fort Shelby hotel until about 1990 when it moved to the home of the former Hannon's Flowers where it now is.

There have been, I believe, 4 Anchor Bars in total. The first one began as an illegal drinking [[and betting) backroom operated by Leo Derderian at his family's grocery store on [[I think) Third near Lafayette. This establishment eventually became entirely a barroom, with no sign on the outside save for an USMC anchor insignia for Leo's time in the Marines.

It's not clear if the bar was ever properly licensed, but since its regular patrons included the city's most well-known newspapermen, broadcasters, and politicians, upper echelons of the police department, and one of the most prominent members of the Catholic clergy, Monsignor Clement Kern, no one really cared. That is, until the FBI raided the place for illegal gambling and transmitting gambling information across state lines and international borders [[someone apparently took some calls from Windsor and Toledo). Reportedly, part of the reason for the FBI action to stop their agents from drinking there during their working hours, since the FBI office in Detroit was very nearby.

Once that situation was resolved, the Anchor reopened as a legitimate bar - with a sign and everything - near Lafayette and Second, which put it smack dab in between the Free Press, the News, and WWJ TV and radio, allowing it to keep its traditional media clientele.

When that building was torn down as part of Detroit's usual cycle of urban non-renewal, Leo picked up and moved across the street into the old Fort Shelby Hotel. And the bar operated in that otherwise abandoned and increasingly dilapidated hotel for many years. Those who went there will never forget the rather spooky trip to the restrooms across the darkened dusty lobby of the empty hotel.

Eventually, the utilities were shut off in the old hotel, and the Anchor was forced to move again, to its present location on Fort St.

The Lindell AC had a somewhat similar history, which seems to be often confused or confounded with that of the Anchor. It too began as a marginally legal bar, in the basement of the Lindell Hotel on Fourth. It too was patronized by a lot of media and political types [[and, of course, sports figures). It too was raided for gambling activities, and was forced to relocate by urban "renewal" efforts.

[IrishSpartan]

There have been, I believe, 4 Anchor Bars in total. The first one began as an illegal drinking [[and betting) backroom operated by Leo Derderian at his family's grocery store on [[I think) Third near Lafayette. This establishment eventually became entirely a barroom, with no sign on the outside save for an USMC anchor insignia for Leo's time in the Marines.

It's not clear if the bar was ever properly licensed, but since its regular patrons included the city's most well-known newspapermen, broadcasters, and politicians, upper echelons of the police department, and one of the most prominent members of the Catholic clergy, Monsignor Clement Kern, no one really cared. That is, until the FBI raided the place for illegal gambling and transmitting gambling information across state lines and international borders [[someone apparently took some calls from Windsor and Toledo). Reportedly, part of the reason for the FBI action to stop their agents from drinking there during their working hours, since the FBI office in Detroit was very nearby.

Once that situation was resolved, the Anchor reopened as a legitimate bar - with a sign and everything - near Lafayette and Second, which put it smack dab in between the Free Press, the News, and WWJ TV and radio, allowing it to keep its traditional media clientele.

When that building was torn down as part of Detroit's usual cycle of urban non-renewal, Leo picked up and moved across the street into the old Fort Shelby Hotel. And the bar operated in that otherwise abandoned and increasingly dilapidated hotel for many years. Those who went there will never forget the rather spooky trip to the restrooms across the darkened dusty lobby of the empty hotel.

Eventually, the utilities were shut off in the old hotel, and the Anchor was forced to move again, to its present location on Fort St.

The Lindell AC had a somewhat similar history, which seems to be often confused or confounded with that of the Anchor. It too began as a marginally legal bar, in the basement of the Lindell Hotel on Fourth. It too was patronized by a lot of media and political types [[and, of course, sports figures). It too was raided for gambling activities, and was forced to relocate by urban "renewal" efforts.

The Lindell Hotel Bar was not on Fouth, but rather located at Cass & Bagley [[1519 Cass). The bar moved to Michigan & Cass in April 1963, with Alex Karras as the third partner. Jimmy & Johnny were not exactly disappointed when the city condemned the hotel. The Michigan & Cass location was better and with less headaches. Certain media types patronized the Lindell, but nothing to the extent of the Anchor. Otherwise, the jocks would have stayed away from the Lindell. Please elaborate on what you mean by raids regarding gambling activities. I know they had a couple of issues with Michigan LCC regarding gambling devices on the premises, and in the 1962-63 the FBI were asking questions concerning Alex Karras and the fact certain underworld types were known to frequent the place. However, never heard anything about raids. As Ray pointed out before, Jimmy & Johnny had a cousin with DPD. At one point Edwin J. Anderson tried to make the Lindell off limits for Detroit Lions players, and that policy failed miserably. The funny thing is Jim Campbell of all people never gave a damn about Detroit Tigers players [[especially Norm Cash) being regulars at the Lindell.

[kenp]

I was just a kid so my venue's were limited. I remember lunch at Hudson, mom always got Maurice Salad. Liked Jims Garage and Carls on special occasions. But what sticks out for me was when we got to go to Top of the Flame. As a little kid thats was so cool. I recall a lot of Mothers days and birthdays their. I also remember my dad taking us to some Hungarian place but cant recall the name.

[lester wild]

I was just a kid so my venue's were limited. I remember lunch at Hudson, mom always got Maurice Salad. Liked Jims Garage and Carls on special occasions. But what sticks out for me was when we got to go to Top of the Flame. As a little kid thats was so cool. I recall a lot of Mothers days and birthdays their. I also remember my dad taking us to some Hungarian place but cant recall the name.

Do you remember The Money Tree? it was an upscale restaurant - very nice It was there in the early 80's. Don't know about the 70's though

[Meddle]

Do you remember The Money Tree? it was an upscale restaurant - very nice It was there in the early 80's. Don't know about the 70's though

I had lunch there a few times when I worked in the area in the mid-90s. I wouldn't call it 'upscale', at least not during lunch hour.

[softailrider]

Mayfield Chop House, pretty sure it was on Clifford. Can’t believe it wasn’t mentioned, the food there was terrific.

[IrishSpartan]

Mayfield Chop House, pretty sure it was on Clifford. Can’t believe it wasn’t mentioned, the food there was terrific.

The Mayfield Chop House was on Griswold, in the block between Grand River and Clifford.

[pjbear05]

What, four pages and no mention of Carl's Chop House? Mmm steaks and hashbrowns.