Greektown "mafia" ?

[ASwede]

When I visited Detroit back in the mid -80s, we often went to Greektown for dinner and I remember it as a very nice area. At the time I was told that it was one of the safest areas in Detroit, as it was controlled by a Greek "mafia" that basically let it be know the "Don't commit any crimes in our area or else..."

Is there any truth in that? I was skeptical back the and I never really heard of it since. Read another post about greektown and it brought back memories...

[Danny]

Yes, there was a Greektown Mafia. in that area long ago. The Peter and Paul, The Vitalli Bros. used to own a Greek Restuarant called the Grecian Gardens on Monroe St. in the 1950s. In the 1960s that restaurant was raided by Detroit Police led by Capt. Pisante. The police uncovered a the Vitalli Bros. gambling "black book" containing the names of politicial officials and mafia and gang members and even law abiding citizens. If they don't pay up their debts. The Vitalli Bros. will make sure their customers will sleep with the fishes.

[scooter]

I came to Detroit and visited Greetown back in 1984 back then it was one of the dangeros spots in Detroit, crime and drug dealers especially by Trappers Alley
n fact that night I visitged, someone pulled out a gun and almost shot us, because thet were doing a drug deal right outside of Trappers Alley. and we hapened just to walk out of the building. gladf its much safer now, but they have cameras all around and many police

[graywater girl]

Back in the '80s, I was part of a production at the old Attic Theater when it burned down. They ruled it arson, and rumor had it that the fire was started by the 'mafia' -- the theater was burnt down to make room for a casino ... I wonder if this was true?

As an aside..the play was "Strider", and in the resilient spirit of theater people, we only missed one or two performances: the entire production was moved to the Fox Theater [[pre-renovation). The stage of the Fox was bigger than the Attic Theater, so we finished off the run with performers and audience on stage surrounded by the blackness of the empty house. A great memory ...

[DetroitPlanner]

Back in the mid-80's I frequented the Bouzuki Supper Club prior to it becoming a nudie bar. The place smelled of mob. But the food was awesome and they had a full band with belly dancers. It never checked ID and was quite the place.

[downtownguy]

Back in the '80s, I was part of a production at the old Attic Theater when it burned down. They ruled it arson, and rumor had it that the fire was started by the 'mafia' -- the theater was burnt down to make room for a casino ... I wonder if this was true?

As an aside..the play was "Strider", and in the resilient spirit of theater people, we only missed one or two performances: the entire production was moved to the Fox Theater [[pre-renovation). The stage of the Fox was bigger than the Attic Theater, so we finished off the run with performers and audience on stage surrounded by the blackness of the empty house. A great memory ...

I was at that performance at the Fox! Sometime during the play [[which I still recall as being fantastic!), I looked over my shoulder at the darkened auditorium, and just loved the irony that, as you said, the entire production and and audience fit on the stage.

As for scooter's comment

I came to Detroit and visited Greetown back in 1984 back then it was one of the dangeros spots in Detroit,

that's nonsense. I would walk over to Greektown frequently -- day or night -- from my apartment on Washington Blvd. I never felt it was dangerous.

[iheartthed]

When I visited Detroit back in the mid -80s, we often went to Greektown for dinner and I remember it as a very nice area. At the time I was told that it was one of the safest areas in Detroit, as it was controlled by a Greek "mafia" that basically let it be know the "Don't commit any crimes in our area or else..."

Is there any truth in that? I was skeptical back the and I never really heard of it since. Read another post about greektown and it brought back memories...

I think it has more to do with Greektown being a cop magnet since it's located a block away from the police headquarters.

[Islandman]

Greektown was definitely safe back then, except for some nonsense during the festivals. Spent many quarters at the 2 "arcades" there. There were two coffee shops with older Greek men that tolerated us. Thinking on it now, it was a very Mafiaesque scene; it was always the same guys drinking coffee.

[EastsideAl]

In the old days in Greektown there was always a little gambling that went on in the coffee shops and in the back rooms of some of the restaurants. This, combined with the fact that restaurants and bars were open a little later there than in most of the rest of the city, the proximity to downtown, and, ironically, the proximity to the police headquarters, made it popular as a hangout for certain "types."

None was more so than the now long-gone Grecian Gardens on the south side of Monroe run by Gus Colacasides [[with secret ownership by Pete Vitale), which served after hours and had almost open gambling in the back. A lot of mafia figures, athletes, local entertainment figures, politicians, and top cops stopped in there regularly.

I think it was in 1962 when an after-hours alcohol investigation [[part of the anti-organized crime "clean-up" campaign of new police commissioner George Edwards - an important and fascinating, though now mostly forgotten, figure, who left a seat on the Michigan Supreme Court to become Detroit Police Commissioner under Jerry Cavanagh) discovered Detroit Lion Wayne Walker playing cards in the back of the Grecian Gardens with a group that included the infamous Giacalone brothers.

It turned out that Colacasides, the Giacalones, Tony Zerilli and others had been sponsoring a "party bus" to take them and some Lions players to out of town games and various fun spots around town. The ensuing investigation resulted in the suspension of Alex Karras from the NFL for a year when it came to light that he was a business partner in another infamous gambling spot, the Lindell AC, and after he had the temerity to try and defend his association with Mr. Butsicaris and his habit of placing 'harmless little bets' on games to Pete Rozelle.

Another Grecian Gardens raid in, I think, 1967, turned up Gus Colacasides "little black book" of amounts paid and gifts given to members of the DPD. One of the people named there was Cavanagh's second Police Commissioner, Ray Girardin. This was one of the things that deeply hurt Cavanagh's popularity, even before the riots that summer pretty much sealed his political fate.

[Honky Tonk]

In the old days in Greektown there was always a little gambling that went on in the coffee shops and in the back rooms of some of the restaurants. This, combined with the fact that restaurants and bars were open a little later there than in most of the rest of the city, the proximity to downtown, and, ironically, the proximity to the police headquarters, made it popular as a hangout for certain "types."

None was more so than the now long-gone Grecian Gardens on the south side of Monroe run by Gus Colacasides [[with secret ownership by Pete Vitale), which served after hours and had almost open gambling in the back. A lot of mafia figures, athletes, local entertainment figures, politicians, and top cops stopped in there regularly.

I think it was in 1962 when an after-hours alcohol investigation [[part of the anti-organized crime "clean-up" campaign of new police commissioner George Edwards - an important and fascinating, though now mostly forgotten, figure, who left a seat on the Michigan Supreme Court to become Detroit Police Commissioner under Jerry Cavanagh) discovered Detroit Lion Wayne Walker playing cards in the back of the Grecian Gardens with a group that included the infamous Giacalone brothers.

It turned out that Colacasides, the Giacalones, Tony Zerilli and others had been sponsoring a "party bus" to take them and some Lions players to out of town games and various fun spots around town. The ensuing investigation resulted in the suspension of Alex Karras from the NFL for a year when it came to light that he was a business partner in another infamous gambling spot, the Lindell AC, and after he had the temerity to try and defend his association with Mr. Butsicaris and his habit of placing 'harmless little bets' on games to Pete Rozelle.

Another Grecian Gardens raid in, I think, 1967, turned up Gus Colacasides "little black book" of amounts paid and gifts given to members of the DPD. One of the people named there was Cavanagh's second Police Commissioner, Ray Girardin. This was one of the things that deeply hurt Cavanagh's popularity, even before the riots that summer pretty much sealed his political fate.

Great post.

[IrishSpartan]

In the old days in Greektown there was always a little gambling that went on in the coffee shops and in the back rooms of some of the restaurants. This, combined with the fact that restaurants and bars were open a little later there than in most of the rest of the city, the proximity to downtown, and, ironically, the proximity to the police headquarters, made it popular as a hangout for certain "types."

None was more so than the now long-gone Grecian Gardens on the south side of Monroe run by Gus Colacasides [[with secret ownership by Pete Vitale), which served after hours and had almost open gambling in the back. A lot of mafia figures, athletes, local entertainment figures, politicians, and top cops stopped in there regularly.

I think it was in 1962 when an after-hours alcohol investigation [[part of the anti-organized crime "clean-up" campaign of new police commissioner George Edwards - an important and fascinating, though now mostly forgotten, figure, who left a seat on the Michigan Supreme Court to become Detroit Police Commissioner under Jerry Cavanagh) discovered Detroit Lion Wayne Walker playing cards in the back of the Grecian Gardens with a group that included the infamous Giacalone brothers.

It turned out that Colacasides, the Giacalones, Tony Zerilli and others had been sponsoring a "party bus" to take them and some Lions players to out of town games and various fun spots around town. The ensuing investigation resulted in the suspension of Alex Karras from the NFL for a year when it came to light that he was a business partner in another infamous gambling spot, the Lindell AC, and after he had the temerity to try and defend his association with Mr. Butsicaris and his habit of placing 'harmless little bets' on games to Pete Rozelle.

Another Grecian Gardens raid in, I think, 1967, turned up Gus Colacasides "little black book" of amounts paid and gifts given to members of the DPD. One of the people named there was Cavanagh's second Police Commissioner, Ray Girardin. This was one of the things that deeply hurt Cavanagh's popularity, even before the riots that summer pretty much sealed his political fate.

Actually, the raid was in 1966. This was when Judge Ed Piggins [[fmr. DPD Commmissioner ) was running his one man grand jury investigation and later George Bowles took over the second grand jury.

Inspector Paul Sheridan was one of the names in the black book. Sheridan was also a friend of Jerry Cavanagh and a regular at the Anchor Bar. As a matter of fact Sheridan's photo hangs in a place of honor there.

The Grecian Gardens was considered the top restaurant in Greektown during that time with the best lamb chops. Alex Karras probably spent as much time there as the Lindell A.C.

[nain rouge]

I'd take that Greektown over today's Greektown, which should be renamed Casinotown.

[EastsideAl]

The Grecian Gardens:



Couldn't find a picture of the outside, only this one showing the sign and its relative location. Also, Greektown the way I remember it from when I was a kid [[and there were actually still Greeks there).

[ismoakrack]

Wow, that is a fascinating pic! What a difference...I like this Greektown much better.

[Honky Tonk]

The Grecian Gardens:



Couldn't find a picture of the outside, only this one showing the sign and its relative location. Also, Greektown the way I remember it from when I was a kid [[and there were actually still Greeks there).

Hi Al, Do you know what year those photos were taken in? I've been trying to recall the name of a place we used to patronize in the mid-60's to mid-70's. It was across the street from the Grecian Gardens, and looked like it might have been an old storefront @ one time. I'm pretty sure that's it under the Coca Cola sign. I remember the owner's name was "Gus". [[probably a million "Gus's" in Greektown back then ). Thanx.

[jcole]

Hi Al, Do you know what year those photos were taken in? I've been trying to recall the name of a place we used to patronize in the mid-60's to mid-70's. It was across the street from the Grecian Gardens, and looked like it might have been an old storefront @ one time. I'm pretty sure that's it under the Coca Cola sign. I remember the owner's name was "Gus". [[probably a million "Gus's" in Greektown back then ). Thanx.

Was it the International? You can just make out the sign below the Laikon sign

[jcole]

Here you go.

[jcole]

Here's the front of the Grecian Gardens.

[graywater girl]

If it was the International, that Gus was very cool-not a mafioso but a wonderfully radical thinker.

[graywater girl]

[QUOTE=downtownguy;425742]I was at that performance at the Fox! Sometime during the play [[which I still recall as being fantastic!), I looked over my shoulder at the darkened auditorium, and just loved the irony that, as you said, the entire production and and audience fit on the stage.

You put a smile on my face!
I was one of the musicians and I loved working with that cast and crew...now I recall that there were people at the Fox [[caretakers?) who were so passionate about that building. Between shows, they would take us all over the theater--through a labyrinth of funny rooms backstage, some with costumes still piled high and even let us walk on the catwalks. It was amazing.

[greatlaker]

I remember many good meals at Hellas Café in the early/mid '80's. After an evening session at The Old Shillelagh shooting darts. Used to buy those cigarettes made of cloves in Greektown also.

[Honky Tonk]

If it was the International, that Gus was very cool-not a mafioso but a wonderfully radical thinker.

YES! It was the International! And you're absolutely right about that Gus. One late evening, about 6 of us showed up @ the International and Gus was on the steps, hat and overcoat on, locking the front door. He saw, [[and knew) us and said Hi. "Are you closed?" "Yes" Gus replied. "Ok, Thanx" we replied, and turned down the street. "No, no, no no, no" Gus said in broken English "wait", and he continued locking the door. "Come" he waved, and we all followed him across the street to Grecian Gardens. He exchanged words with the maitre d in greek, walked back over to us. "Food is good here", he said, "you like", nodded and left. The matre d seated us @ one of the tables in the center of the photograph. We did quick financial inventory, [[Grecian Gardens was more upscale and out of high schoolers league) pooled our resources, ordered, and ate. When we asked the waiter for our bill, he told us that our bill was taken care of by Gus! What a guy, class act! I used to love the vibes and food in the International. That big burner stove, with the well used, huge pots cooking. The mimeographed menus, half in Greek, half in English. Every shop, up and down the block in Greektown, seemed mysterious and unique. Thanx everyone for the pix and the memories.

[65memories]

Honky Tonk...what a great story...I love stories like this. That's the Greektown I remember.

[Dumpling]

I can't speak to any knowledge of the Mafia in Greektown, Eastside Al has
that covered, but I have a Greektown story from the early 80's. There was
one Greektown restaurant that my family would go to along with attending
shows at the nearby Attic Theater. In the early 80's I was a Wayne State
student, unemployed, but I had a nice boyfriend who took me to this restaurant back then in about year 1981.
Our waiter was a classmate of mine at Wayne State. He greeted us warmly
and served us a wonderful meal...but, I had to tell my boyfriend that this was
a member of the larger of two "cheating" rings in one class - total being about
half the class - that got zeros on their homework papers for copying from one
another two different wrong answers exactly down to the "least jot and tittle".