Fire at Traffic Jam & Snug Restaurant

[Pam]

Traffic Jam & Snug in Detroit's Midtown likely a total loss after massive blaze [[fox2detroit.com)

A popular brewpub and longtime restaurant of Midtown Detroitcaught fire Friday morning, where flames could be seen shooting into the sky during the blaze.

[Packman41]

Not looking good. Will have to cancel lunch plans for today.
Menu from 1970. My twin brother was a bartender there from the late 1960s to early 1970s.

[Kathleen]

Sad news, for sure! Have many fun memories of meals enjoyed there!! Hoping that they will have the resources and the stamina to rebuild!

[Lowell]

Picture from Crain's email notice. Sad. That and Marios around the corner have anchored that block since the 1960's at least, through all the dark years until the block became the hottest property in Midtown.

[Danny]

Used to be Marios Italian Restuarant long ago. It's total loss. The owners will determine rebuild that area. At least the microbrewery is spared.

[Zacha341]

^ Um, isn't that next door?

[Rocket]

^ Um, isn't that next door?

Yes, TJ&S is on Canfield, and Mario's is around the corner, to the right in that pic on Second Ave.


I used to live on that street back in the day. It was a LOT rougher then. Now it's a place I take visitors from out of town [never to The Snug, but rather to the brewery / pizza joint across the street, and to Third Man Records, and Shinola.

In about 1998 TJ&S was serving the best beer I've ever tasted. They called it 'Cole Porter' [A porter of course]. Bit of a coffee flavor. Amazing.

TJ&S was the first milk jug brewery? [Not sure how that went, something about how Michigan relaxed its laws in the early 90's to allow small brewerys, and they started doing their own beer.]

It was actually always made by some German brewmeister across the street at the Motor City Brewery, and they'd haul it across the street to TJ's to ferment in large metal milk jugs. But either way, some amazing beers.

[Zacha341]

That's right. I ate there a few times over the last few years but was underwhelmed. Know wish I would have tried to beer as you described. Drove by there last night. Incredible the whole connecting block did not go up in flames as well -- taking out Shinola, that Jolly Pumpkin or whatever it is called bar etc.

Truly a sad situation. It will be soon revealed possibly how the fire started.

Yes, TJ&S is on Canfield, and Mario's is around the corner, to the right in that pic on Second Ave.

[248lurker]

This is unfortunate. Years ago, when the DIA had the Rembrandt exhibit, the group I saw it with had lunch at TJ&S. It was a nice little place and it was sad to hear what happened.

Sad news, for sure! Have many fun memories of meals enjoyed there!! Hoping that they will have the resources and the stamina to rebuild!

Agreed!

[Meddle]

I think I was there once ... late 70s, early 80s. Was told to look for the place with no signs, only an unmarked door. Don't remember what I had. Quirky, non descript, low key college place then.

[Henry Whalley]

IIRC in the ungentrified corridor there was a large parking lot on the north side of Canfield across from TJ&S. You could park for free at night and if you could get inside the front door without being mugged then a good time was had by all. Is the parking lot till there?

[Zacha341]

^ Yes. The lot is still there with a sign that says parking is free courtesy of TJ&S. I drove up onto the lot yesterday evening to take a look across at the burned building and noticed the sign. That was at about 10:30 PM or so.

[easycomeeasygo]

Can someone, a news article, anyone please address the red gas can lying out front in the picture?

[Dumpling]

Can someone, a news article, anyone please address the red gas can lying out front in the picture?

Yes what's up with that gas can. I heard on the news yesterday, in the wake of the rekindling, arson investigators were on that site. There was a closed restaurant in my neighborhood that recently had a red gas can next to an open boarded up window. That was prior to the TJ&S fire and was reported. So there may be some arsonist free lancing out there leaving plastic gas cans as calling cards. But the investigators would know if that is the case and will work to solve the problem.

[Gistok]

I've never been there [not a bar person]. But can someone say something about the interior? Maybe the outer masonry is salvageable, and the place can be rebuilt. But I was wondering if the interior was nondescript, or something fancy?

[Pam]

I've never been there [not a bar person]. But can someone say something about the interior? Maybe the outer masonry is salvageable, and the place can be rebuilt. But I was wondering if the interior was nondescript, or something fancy?

A lot of wood, a lot of knick knacks. Here are some videos.

https://youtu.be/y4k1gDDBSks

https://youtu.be/CjWxAXuht7M

[jcole]

I ate there once a few years ago before going to Sister's Christmas Catechism. It was nice inside, but definitely not fance. I would go with brick rustic. Food was excellent. It had style in a kitschy way. I didn't get to try their bakery or house made cheese, but my daughter said it was superb. A fun kind of place but not like your standard college bar.

I've never been there [not a bar person]. But can someone say something about the interior? Maybe the outer masonry is salvageable, and the place can be rebuilt. But I was wondering if the interior was nondescript, or something fancy?

[Gistok]

I ate there once a few years ago before going to Sister's Christmas Catechism. It was nice inside, but definitely not fance. I would go with brick rustic. Food was excellent. It had style in a kitschy way. I didn't get to try their bakery or house made cheese, but my daughter said it was superb. A fun kind of place but not like your standard college bar.

Thanks jcole! It looks like it could be re-built within the brick walls [[hope they had plenty of insurance)... but the kitsch on the inside went up in smoke.

If they do rebuild... maybe we can start a "kitsch donation" plan... I know I have a few garish items I would be willing to donate to a worthy cause!

Somebody has to have an Elvis on Velvet, or some Tiki torches they would sacrifice!

[jcole]

I might be able to part with a pink flamingo...

Thanks jcole! It looks like it could be re-built within the brick walls [[hope they had plenty of insurance)... but the kitsch on the inside went up in smoke.

If they do rebuild... maybe we can start a "kitsch donation" plan... I know I have a few garish items I would be willing to donate to a worthy cause!

Somebody has to have an Elvis on Velvet, or some Tiki torches they would sacrifice!

[Zacha341]

^ It was not overly bar-like. And certainly not 'sports-bar' like. It was more like a walk-thru connections of cubby like seating areas and rooms for dining. I think the bar was in the front you could walk past if not interested.

[canuck]

^ It was not overly bar-like. And certainly not 'sports-bar' like. It was more like a walk-thru connections of cubby like seating areas and rooms for dining. I think the bar was in the front you could walk past if not interested.

Probably where the word snug in the restaurant’s name came from. In Ireland, whenever a pub is partitioned to host families or friends for more privacy, they are called snugs.

[Zacha341]

^ Indeed! There was a semi-private 'snug' room in the back to the left that was a favorite for several dinner parties and bdays I attended back in the day! So sad this fire...

[ptero]

Canuck, you might be right about the derivation of the word. In the 60s, the Snug had its own entrance located in the corner of the building where Second and Canfield meet. It was mainly an Ice Cream parlor, non--alcoholic. For the public it was separate from TJs [[though same owners). Staff likely moved between the two. Great place for high school kids and families.

Probably where the word snug in the restaurant’s name came from. In Ireland, whenever a pub is partitioned to host families or friends for more privacy, they are called snugs.

[Wesley Mouch]

As a barely-able-to-enter-a-bar-at-18 youth, I entered TJ&S. My memory could be mistaken, but I recall a raucous, dark, packed with students place that scared my innocent self just a bit. Am I crazy [[about this)?

[[Many good memories since then of TJ&S, with almost universal affection for the people and place. Sad to see. Also many thanks to them for breaking the absurd liquor trusts down and getting microbrewing going when the winds were against.

[Zacha341]

^ Yep, rather rustic and dark [dimly lit] with a great deal of authentic memorabilia.

The food had gone down IMO, but it was a very distinct place style-wise.

Thanks for the vids.