Leland Adventure

Friday night some friends and I decided to spend the night in the Leland downtown. I've heard some stories about this place in the past and decided it would be fun to check this less-showy and resilient lodging place at the corner of Bagley and Cass.

I was impressed with the lobby area - much more ornate and intact that I was imagining. It really looks quite nice despite the notion that this really is a budget place to stay/live. The elevator bank was rather old, to say the least, and it appears that only two of them are presently working....and the one we got on would not stop on the our 10th floor. We stopped at 9, but the 10 button would not work. So we went up to 11 and came back down the stairs. And of course it would not stop at 4, which is the un-renovated floor that's rumored to be haunted. We had two rooms, one on the Bagley side right near the corner with Cass, overlooking the AT&T building, the Rosa Parks Bus Station, and the Book Cadillac, and the other on the Cass side but facing west, toward the DTE Building and MGM Casino. Does anyone know why some of the rooms have double-width doors to the hallway? One of our rooms had this feature, as did a few others on our floor. Side note - parking is free if you're spending the night, but you'll need to go back to your car to put the required parking tag inside.

The rooms were about what I was expecting....nothing flashy, but all the essentials. I'm glad I didn't throw my duffel bag on the little table in my room, or it surely would have collapsed. My TV also didn't have a remote or a cable box, and to be honest I'm not even sure it worked. The windows really needed to be cleaned, inside and out. But the pillows were ok, there was plenty of hot water, the curtains really did black out the room, and the view was excellent. After a more or less restful night with the window cracked for some fresh air [[and the lullsome sounds of the People Mover), I awoke to a terrific rain storm in the morning. It was cool to see the other skyscrapers downtown shrouded in a misty morning fog.

I was up before my friends, so I took a little walk around the hotel, spending some more time in the two-story lobby now that it was daylight. I decided to buy a paper to pass the time, but apparently they don't stock the News and Free Press boxes on Saturday's on the lower level of the hotel right near the front doors. So it was off to the only paperbox downtown that I know IS stocked on Saturdays, the pair at on Cass at the corner of Michigan, as the Transit Center. Unfortunately, apparently when it rains heavily, the front entries of the hotel flood, and there was nearly an inch of water in the vestibules and revolving door out to Bagley. Also plugged right up was the stormdrain at the corner of Bagley and Cass, flooding the parallel parking out front. But my paperboxes WERE stocked and so I was able to get a little exercise and get caught up on the news despite the fact the dry, indoor paperboxes in the hotel aren't filled on Saturdays [[although this would seem to be a logical place to actually fill boxes on Saturday....I've heard that the Leland is usually pretty full on Friday nights). I was also nearly eaten by the elevator doors every single time I got in or left one of them...and of course took the "does-not-stop-on-10" car two other times during my stay. Floor 11 looks nice too.....

Check out is at noon and we were squared away on our bill. If you're looking for a cheap place to stay to get a decent view of the city, this place was alright. What are your stories? How's Luci and Ethels? Anyone else have any good adventures there?

A few questions Rocko:
How much did you pay and did you negotiate?
What percentage of the hotel is occupied by weekly/monthly renters?
Did you come across any "horrified" out-of-towners?

Glad you enjoyed your stay and I admire your sense of adventure but I think I'd be afraid there might be bedbugs plus you can always get the former Holiday Inn Express for about 50 bucks on hotwire.

Darn, I thought this thread was going to be about Leland, MI. Sigh.

Ive told this story before so forgive me if you've read it.

Back when Luci and Ethels was called Dagwoods back in the late 80s we were eating there about 3 in the morning after a night at City Club and Bookies. While waiting for our burgers we all hear a loud series of cracks. I thought they were firecrackers until I noticed everyone ducking behind the counters but by that time some kid outside our window had been shot in the back. He laid on the pavement and passed off his little gun to someone so the cops wouldnt find it on him. We all sat back down and waited for our burgers while the ambulance came and took him away.

Me and my old GF stayed at the Leeland one night after our house caught fire. I was fine with the room but my girl wasn't havin it. We found better diggs the next day.They were dog friendly, that was cool/

Don't think I'd adventure there, but I have always been curious. Are there still clubs in the Leland?
I do enjoy Luci and Ethels though.

I wonder what the market would be for a good, clean, inexpensive hotel downtown? My wife and I spent more time than we'd have liked to in Seattle last year for medical reasons, and stayed in a little hotel run by the hospital. The rooms weren't "modern" by any stretch of the imagination, and the bathroom tiny, but it was clean, the beds themselves were excellent, and the staff friendly and helpful, and at $88 a night, we couldn't beat the price with a stick, not with downtown rooms costing $150+ at other places.

I lived with a friend on the 7th floor for a few months years ago and we used to go on adventures through the building. You should have explored the basements. The stairwell takes you all the way down. City Club is still open. I am not sure if the Lab/Studio 54 is open. I highly don't recommend eating at Lucil and Ethel's unless you are drunk. Let's just say the kitchen is not the cleanest.

I didn't know it was called Luci & Ethels now. It was called Dagwoods at one point, and City Bites at another time.

I lived at the Leland/Ramada 1992-1996. My two bedroom/two bathroom furnished apartment only cost $475 a month; utilities [[heat/water) included. Three of us lived there and divided the $475 rent. It was cheap living to say the least. Plus, free admission to City Club for those who live there. Sure, it was gross and violent and all that, saw a few incidents, heard guns, got mugged once. But it was inexpensive and I was in my 20s, so it was all right.

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Originally Posted by Mr. Houdini

Sure, it was gross and violent and all that, saw a few incidents, heard guns, got mugged once. But it was inexpensive and I was in my 20s, so it was all right.

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Haha. A true ringing endorsement. I've actually had all good experiences at the Leland and at City Club. The lobby of the hotel is beautiful but the rooms are only so-so.

We did go to the City Club and because of that got a discount on the rate of our room. I'm not sure what the discount was as the room wasn't in my name. And I'm going to see how long it takes for my friend to remember I owe him some money....

I did not find any horrified out of towners. Everyone who was there certainly seemed to expect everything they saw. I was probably the only one checking out the architecture and decorations. I'm not sure what percentage of the building is renters vs. lodging. I know some areas of the hotel are not renovated and not open.

I looked for bedbugs and didn't find any. I was ok with that.

Even if you're not spending the night there, the lobby and elevators are worth a look around. Much more historic and intact than I was imagining.

I wonder how the quality of the rooms compares to someplace like the Milner?

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Originally Posted by Ray1936

Darn, I thought this thread was going to be about Leland, MI. Sigh.

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Fishtown! Always a day stop when I vacation at Torch Lake. It's great up there!

Rocko.....
......that's my basic question. From my understanding, The Milner isn't a "bad" place, it's just not the Holiday Inn experience most people are expecting now a days, and I wonder if there's a market for what The Milner used to call "A bed and a bath for a buck and a half" type of place. Clean, resonably comfortable, and not $175 a night.

Last I heard, the Labyrinth has been closed for a while due to problematic flooding issues that were too messy to warrant spending the money to clean it up. It ain't going to reopen for the foreseeable future.

My off-topic question for this thread: If any place were going to have bedbugs, I would've thunk it would be the Leland. How does one check hotel beds & sheets for bedbugs anyways? They're not much bigger than the head of a pin and they love to hide.

The Leland is a dump.They could wash their dirty windows. Or maybe wash the sheets in the rooms so I don't have a "pube" in my bed[[true story).. The TV's are out of the 80's[[which is decent for this place but still). The owners are a bunch of bums. I'm sorry but I thought this was one of the most disgusting hotels I've EVER stayed at. I was leery of even sitting on the bed to begin with after I saw it. This place has to of had bedbugs at some point. I find their rates to be laughable as well.You might as well spend a little extra money and avoid this flea-bag. I wanted to stay there once like you Rocko, now I want to stay the fuck out forever!
I advise anybody wanting to stay in Downtown Detroit to go with the four-star Top Secret room rate on www.Travelocity.com for $99. They don't tell you which hotel they have selected for you until after you've paid for your room on your credit card. I was given a room at the Book-Cadillac on Jan,2, 2011 for $127 after taxes.You are guaranteed to get one of the nicer hotels downtown at a fair price with this promotion...

My grandpa told me the first auto shows were held in the lobby of the Leland [[like back when there were only one or two car models made). Can anyone here verify that?

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Originally Posted by Mr. Houdini

My grandpa told me the first auto shows were held in the lobby of the Leland [[like back when there were only one or two car models made). Can anyone here verify that?

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Doesn't seem likely. The Leland, at least the building that's there now, wasn't built until the mid/late twenties.

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Originally Posted by Mr. Houdini

My grandpa told me the first auto shows were held in the lobby of the Leland [[like back when there were only one or two car models made). Can anyone here verify that?

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From Crain's 2007 on the 100th anniversary of the 1st Detroit Auto show.

'Before Cobo, dozens of city venues hosted the auto show. Among those were the Detroit Light Guard Armory, Wayne Gardens Pavilion on the Detroit River, the Ford Branch building at Woodward and Grand Boulevard, the Arena Gardens at Woodward and Hendrie, the Convention Hall at Woodward and Forest, the Michigan State Fair Grounds and the Detroit Artillery Armory on Eight Mile Road."

The Leland was built around the same time as the Michigan Building/Theatre... and by the same architects.... Cornelius W. & George L. Rapp... otherwise known as Rapp & Rapp. They were mainly movie palace architects, which may explain why the lobby areas [[and building exteriors) of the Leland are so attractive. Their specialty was theatres designed in the Italian and French Renaissance styles.

Their most famous surviving commission is the Chicago Theatre.

Ironically... the last commission ever by Rapp & Rapp [[after the founding brothers were long dead)... was the 1961 rebuilding of the Fisher Theatre, when the Nederlander organization got enough of the old members of the disbanded firm back together for one final theatre design.

So who owns this place now? I dropped off a friend this evening... It took me a minute to realize this was the same place that had "Ramada Inn" signage at one point, however many years back.. at the time I assumed it had become a flophouse situation.. I had no idea about the dance parties.. [[how much to get in?).. the residential areas are on the upper levels, I presume? They are 'true' apartments?

Nice thread resurrection! I'm 99% certain the owner today is the same as it's been for years: Mr. Higgins [[or whatever organization he fronts).

Thanks for the bump actually. Unlike Mr. Magnesia, who seems to be a Leland expert, I have attended City Club and have often wondered about this building/hotel but have not had the opportunity to do any research. Thanks!

Whenever I see people put this place on blast it just makes me love it even more. Just click your red ruby slippers together and say "There's no place like the burbs, there's no place like the burbs.."

I often stay at the Milner and was curious about the Leland as a spot to spend a night. Based on what Rocko said I would think they are comparable.
For me if your in the city for a show or a game and you dont want to drive home these are two great spots. Its not like your spending any time there except to sleep.
THe Milner isnt a palace but it has a cerain charm, I assume the Leland is the same. But the bottom line is they are both cheap.

There are only 4 Milner Hotels left in the country... Detroit, Boston, LA and Charlotte NC. The Detroit Milner is the city's oldest continuously operating hotel...
http://milner-hotels.com/

They also own the Park Apartments on W. Adams [[2nd building west of Park Ave.). This building was once the entrance to the former Downtown RKO Theatre [[auditorium along W. Adams demolished in 1953 for parking lot, former lobby within the Apt. tower is used as storage space).

The Milner folks are very friendly and accommodating. Their Detroit hotel rooms may not be spacious but they are clean and the place is well maintained.... and for convenience to nearby venues... they can't be beat.

Also, every August during the Preservation Wayne Downtown Theatre Tours, the Detroit Milner folks open up the former lobby space [[at the Milner's Park Apartments) of the Downtown RKO [[1927-30 it was known as the Oriental Theatre) for part of the tour.

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Originally Posted by KJ5

Whenever I see people put this place on blast it just makes me love it even more. Just click your red ruby slippers together and say "There's no place like the burbs, there's no place like the burbs.."

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You also? LOL.