Every closed-up fast food place in Detroit

[TenPoundHammer]

I've been working for years now on a list of every closed-up fast food place and chain restaurant in Michigan. You can view the list here: http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/forgott...er/former.html

I'd like to know if I've missed anything so far, especially with the more prominent chains like Burger King, McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, etc., and the chains that had a lot of early closures like Rax, A&W, Arthur Treacher's, Hardee's, Jack in the Box, etc. Also sit-down chains like Big Boy.

I'm also looking for confirmation that the St. Clair Shores Tim Hortons was once Hardee's. I know it was a Burger Chef at one point, so I'd assume it was also a Hardee's if it became a Tim Hortons.

Also, some of the mall-based locations would be good to know. For instance, I know that Fairlane Town Center once had an Arby's, and it seems it once had a Ponderosa for a short time, but I don't know where exactly either one was.

Just anything else that needs to be added would be good.

[313WX]

I just thought about it. There are no Taco Bell restaurants on the east side of Detroit, and no Arby's in the city of Detroit.

[JBMcB]

I just thought about it. There are no Taco Bell restaurants on the east side of Detroit, and no Arby's in the city of Detroit.

The first Taco Bell I remember was on 9 mile just west of Kelly. This was an "original" Taco Bell, where there was a separate order and pick-up window inside the restaurant. The building is still there but it's something else now.

There's still one on Harper just north of Vernier.

[Vic01]

I've been working for years now on a list of every closed-up fast food place and chain restaurant in Michigan...

Curious as to the purpose of this list

[Scottathew]

Curious as to the purpose of this list

I would imagine the quest of obtaining and sharing information on topics that are of interest to us!

On a separate note, Angelfire!? That reminds me of the days back when I was using AOL! It's been so long since I've seen someone use that site.

Fascinating list.

[Zacha341]

Just a side note... along E. Jefferson a bit east of Dickerson the Wendy's closed last month then the KFC across the way did two weeks ago. I here there's little traffic for food there in the evenings. Hence the ghost town status of that shopping area at Jefferson at St. Jean....

[313WX]

As far as closed Fast Food restaurant in Detroit, a few come to mind.

*Burger King on Warren just east of Conner [[now Parkside Liquor). It closed sometime in the 90s in favor of the Burger King ExpressWay concept store on Mack and Conner.

*McDonalds on Mack and Conner was originally located across the street at Waveney and Conner. The site it was on is actually a vacant lot now adjacent to the Latter Day Saints church, and it closed in the early 2000s.

*Burger King on Warren just east of Cadieux, closed sometime in the early 2010s [[maybe 2012?) and is now vacant.

*Dairy Queen on McNichols just west of Schoenherr [[Pelkey) closed before the summer of 2012 [[vacant, but apparently purchased by the daycare across the street for their private use).

*Dairy Queen on 7 Mile and Hamburg closed before the summer of 2013 [[now vacant).

*Domino's on Kercheval and Van Dyke closed sometime in the late 2000s [[now vacant).

*Domino's Pizza on Warren and Cadieux that closed before to become Benito's Pizza is now a Domino's again.

*Charley's Steakery in Eastland Center reopened in the new Food Court on the eastern side of the mall. As of 2012, it was still open.

*Cottage Inn Pizza closed in Lafayette Park back in the late 2000s in favor of the location downtown in the Compuware building.

*Cottage Inn Pizza had a short-lived location in Mack-Alter Sqaure [[Mack and Alter) that closed in the late 2000s.

*The Great Steak and Potato Company in Fairlane Town Center is still open.

*KFC on Gratiot and Harper closed in the Summer of 2013.

*The Little Caesars at 14152 Gratiot moved to the shopping center at 8 Mile and Gratiot.

*The Big Kmart on Outer Drive and Sherwood had a Little Caesars Pizza Station. It was shuttered along with the Kmart in the late 1990s.

*The Little Caesars on Mack and Somerset closed in 2011 or 2012.

*The Olga's Kitchen at Macomb Mall in Roseville was shuttered either in the late 2000s or the early 2010s [[last time I went there, it was closed).

*Papa John's on 9 Mile and Kelly in Eastpointe was shuttered in 2013.

*Schlotzsky's Deli [[which I vaguely remember) shuttered their location on Gratiot and Mt. Elliot in the late 1990s or early 2000s, now is home to New D-Town Deli.

*Subway [[the entire block of buildings between Eastwood and Fordham) on Gratiot and 7 Mile is now a vacant lot.

*TCBY Treats in East Brooke Commons [[9 Mile and Gratiot, Eastpointe) is now closed. It is either now home to a Chinese Food place called Panda, or a Big Time Popcorn place that's now vacant.

Wendy's on Warren just east of Alter Road, shuttered sometime in the 80s or 90s. It was home to Saranda's Coney Island, but is now vacant.

*Wendy's on Gratiot just south of 12 Mile was shuttered in the early or mid 2000s and is now home to Noni's Grille.

*Wendy's on I-696 and Groesbeck was shuttered in the early of mid 2000s. It then became home to Omega Coney Island, but recently is vacant.

*Dairy Queen on Warren just east of Dickerson was shuttered in the late 90s, and is vacant [[may have been demolished recently? not sure).

*Dunkin Donuts on 12 Mile and Gratiot in Roseville was shuttered in the mid 2000s, and is now either a cell phone place or vacant. It briefly become Detroit Donuts

*Dunkin Donuts on 13 Mile and Little Mack is now shuttered in the mid 2000s. It became Detroit Donuts but has been vacant recently along with the Gas Station it's attached to.

*Old Country Buffet on 15 Mile and Gratiot in Clinton Township closed in the late 2000s/early 2010s and is now I believe a Chinese/Japanese Buffet.

*Ponderosa Steakhouse on Greenfield and Michigan in Dearborn is closed as of 2013.

*Ponderosa Steakhouse on 8 Mile and Groesbeck [[in Warren) I believe is closed as of 2013.

*Top Hat Hamburger on McClellan and Gratiot in Detroit, now home to a Burger King ExpressWay concept store [[closed sometime in the 80s?).

*Top Hat Hamburgers on 8 Mile and Gratiot, now home to a Gulf Gas Station in Detroit.

[JohnR101]

As far as closed Fast Food restaurant in Detroit, a few come to mind.

*Charley's Steakery in Eastland Center reopened in the new Food Court on the eastern side of the mall. As of 2012, it was still open.

*The Olga's Kitchen at Macomb Mall in Roseville was shuttered either in the late 2000s or the early 2010s [[last time I went there, it was closed).

*Ponderosa Steakhouse on 8 Mile and Groesbeck [[in Warren) I believe is closed as of 2013.

Charley's Grilled Subs [[Steakery) in Eastland is still open, I'm friends with the owner. He also owns Burger Works next door to it.

Olga's Kitchen at Macomb Mall is very much open, and never remember it being closed. I live in the area and my friend works at the mall [[at Charley's)

Unless it closed within the past couple of days, the Ponderosa on 8 Mile & Groesbeck is also still open.

[tgw51]

There was also a Top Hat in the Grand River--Inkster Rd. area on the West Side. I loved those small, cheap [[White Castle-type) burgers. I think that they were 12 cents each when I was a kid. In high school, after a date, we'd [[sort of) brag that we'd taken our girl to the "Top of the Hat" [[a reference to the "Top of the Flame" high-end restaurant at One Woodward Avenue on the upper floor of the Michigan Consolidated Gas Building in Downtown Detroit). It was great growing up in Motown in the 1960s -- especially 1968 when the Tigers ruled!!

[313WX]

More:

*A&W on Hoover and Stephens in Warren closed sometime in the mid 2000s, it and the Citgo Gas Station is was attached to are both vacant.

*Burger King on 8 Mile just east of Kelly [[across from Eastland) in Eastpointe closed in 2011 and is now a used car dealership.

*Arby's on 8 Mile just east of Gratiot in Eastpointe is now a vacant lot.

*Dippin Dots on Mack in Grosse Pointe Woods [[next to Little Caesars) was shuttered in the late 2000s and is now vacant.

*Quizno's on 10 Mile and Gratiot in Eastpointe was shuttered in the mid or late 2000s and is now vacant [[it was the site of a somewhat major murder case).

[Gistok]

Only thing that comes to mind is the Dairy Queen at E. Warren & Marseilles, Detroit, closed about 2000.

Damn those Angelfire popup ads are annoying as Hell....

[TenPoundHammer]

Curious as to the purpose of this list

Extreme boredom + fascination with the topic. My small town had a Domino's and TCBY both close when I was 5, then a town south of me had a Hardee's that sat vacant since 1997.

*Charley's Steakery in Eastland Center reopened in the new Food Court on the eastern side of the mall. As of 2012, it was still open.

I found this one interesting. As my notes say, I was at the mall in 2003, just after the old food court was ripped out but before the new one was put in, and I distinctly remember the old Hot Sam having a "Coming Soon: Charley's Steakery" sign on it.

Damn those Angelfire popup ads are annoying as Hell....

Adblock is your friend.

[313WX]

Also:

*Sign of the Beefcarver on 8 Mile and Kelly in Eastpointe was shuttered and demolished in the late 90s [[now a Walgreens).

*Seafood Bay [[I believe that was the name) on 8 Mile and Kelly in Detroit was shuttered in the late 1990s [[now home to Big 3 Auto Sales?).

*Seafood Bay [[see previous bullet in regards to name) on 8 Mile just west of Mound in Warren, next to the Pizza Hut, was shuttered in the late 1990s or early 2000s [[not sure what replaced it).

*Otto's Crispy Corn in downtown Detroit [[Woodward Avenue, either located IN the Broderick Tower or in the building just next to it) closed either in the 80s or 90s. Building is still vacant as of 2013.

[TenPoundHammer]

^ I thought the Eastland Chester's was in a different spot. An old leasing pamphlet on Jones Lang LaSalle's site lists both Subway and Chester's, but doesn't say where. I have Chester's in suite #719, the space between Subway and Charley's. One lease plan showed a Taco Bell in #719, oddly.

[313WX]

^ I thought the Eastland Chester's was in a different spot. An old leasing pamphlet on Jones Lang LaSalle's site lists both Subway and Chester's, but doesn't say where. I have Chester's in suite #719, the space between Subway and Charley's. One lease plan showed a Taco Bell in #719, oddly.

You may be right. The Chester's may have been next to the Subway or the Charley's Steakery. If that's the case, then nothing's in its spot now [[it's been turned into a wall or another hallway). This was all several years ago though.

[milt721]

Also:

*Sign of the Beefcarver on 8 Mile and Kelly in Eastpointe was shuttered and demolished in the late 90s [[now a Walgreens).


One small correction, this Sign of the Beefcarver was a little further east on 8 Mile and is currently operating as Rex's Deli.
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=42.45...,37.64,,0,2.38

BTW - the old Rex's Deli is now operating as the Bread Basket Deli.
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=42.45...350.85,,0,0.09

[Dave70]

Also:


One small correction, this Sign of the Beefcarver was a little further east on 8 Mile and is currently operating as Rex's Deli.
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=42.45...,37.64,,0,2.38

Not so! The building that Rex's deli is at now, used to be IHoP.

[msamslex]

Taco Bell on Schaefer south of W. Warren, next to the Mobil gas station in Dearborn. Closed earlier this spring/summer? Recently reopened as Location Cafe, a Middle Eastern restuarant.

Rams Horn on Greenfield, Dearborn, between W. Warren and Ford Rd. closed a 1-2 years ago, but has been remodeled and reopened.

[msamslex]

Taco Bell on Schaefer south of W. Warren, next to the Mobil gas station in Dearborn. Closed earlier this spring/summer? Recently reopened as Location Cafe, a Middle Eastern restuarant.

Rams Horn on Greenfield, Dearborn, between W. Warren and Ford Rd. closed a 1-2 years ago, but has been remodeled and reopened.

Update:

The above mentioned closed Taco Bell that was reopened as a middle eastern restaurant a few months ago called Location Cafe appears to be closed. Windows are covered with paper.

[msamslex]

Taco Bell on Schaefer south of W. Warren, next to the Mobil gas station in Dearborn. Closed earlier this spring/summer? Recently reopened as Location Cafe, a Middle Eastern restuarant.

Rams Horn on Greenfield, Dearborn, between W. Warren and Ford Rd. closed 1-2 years ago, but has been remodeled and reopened.

Update:

The Location Cafe that was a Taco Bell closed and will be the Sky Crepe Cafe. It hasn't opened yet but the sign is up and lit. Location Cafe didn't stay open long, less than a year I believe.

[313WX]

Not so! The building that Rex's deli is at now, used to be IHoP.

Correct. I distinctively remember The Sign of the Beefcarver being east of this IHOP. The Midas [[now an independent auto repair shop), the Standard Oil/Amoco Gas Station [[now an Exxon Gas Station) and Burger King [[now a used car dealership) were already there, so The Beefcarver had to be where the Walgreens is.

[milt721]

Correct. I distinctively remember The Sign of the Beefcarver being east of this IHOP. The Midas [[now an independent auto repair shop), the Standard Oil/Amoco Gas Station [[now an Exxon Gas Station) and Burger King [[now a used car dealership) were already there, so The Beefcarver had to be where the Walgreens is.

I have to disagree. I've lived in the area my whole life. It was a Sign of the Beefcarver BEFORE it was an IHOP.

[JohnR101]

Also:

*Seafood Bay [[I believe that was the name) on 8 Mile and Kelly in Detroit was shuttered in the late 1990s [[now home to Big 3 Auto Sales?).

*Seafood Bay [[see previous bullet in regards to name) on 8 Mile just west of Mound in Warren, next to the Pizza Hut, was shuttered in the late 1990s or early 2000s [[not sure what replaced it).

Seafood Bay [[formally Arthur Treacher's) on 8 Mile west of Mound was torn down and a gas station was built. I was the manager of that location when the company filed bankruptcy in 1996.

[313WX]

I found this one interesting. As my notes say, I was at the mall in 2003, just after the old food court was ripped out but before the new one was put in, and I distinctly remember the old Hot Sam having a "Coming Soon: Charley's Steakery" sign on it.

And now that you mention it, I saw your listing for Chester's Fried Chicken locations. Chester's briefly had a location in Eastland's new Food Court when it first opened, but it closed after a year. Subway is now in its place.

I know I added a lot of closings before, but this is something that interests me as well [[for nostalgia as well as record-keeping purposes). Your lists are actually quite extensive and impressive already.

[313WX]

Burger King was also on Gratiot just south of 12 Mile in Roseville, closed and demolished in the late 1990s [[corner of Gratiot and Florence, now a vacant lot).