Greekblock shrinks again

**downtownguy** · September-20-09, 06:55 PM

While walking through Greektown today, I was shocked to see Hella's Restaurant had recently been bulldozed. Maybe I've been out of the loop, but this came as a complete surprise. Anybody know what the scoop is? Has the DEGC identified this parcel of land as a new park? [[sarcasm intended) I'm sure that building was probably more than 100 years old. What a shame. What a shame.

**detroitbob** · September-20-09, 07:39 PM

When walking the bridge from the Casino garage last week we noticed that the complete interior had been gutted down to the basement...the floor joists were in place at the 2nd floor level.
Apparently there was a lawsuit in progress several months ago by another GTown resraurant owner about the place being redeveloped as a non-Greek restaurant. Supposedly going with a mediterranean menu was going to destroy Greektown's flavor...duh! go figure that one...where is Greece located? Greek food has a variety to it we don't normally see in the US and frankly IMHO the Hellas had done a pretty poor job in the last few years. The lawsuit sounded like a former business relationship gone sour bitch fight related to who got the property which still is a prime corner. Anyone who opens any restaurant on that corner has better than average odds in my opinion. But if you throw a new building into the mix it turns interesting. Did someone decide the building was beyond repair? At least the plot is too small for major parking. Did the little diner next to the alley hit the dust also?

**downtownguy** · September-21-09, 12:17 PM

I didn't think to look around in back yesterday, so went by again today. The diner is gone, too. Trucks were lined up on St. Antoine to haul away the remains.

I remember hearing about the lawsuit. I figured between that and the economy, it was no surprise that the Mediterranean restaurant hadn't moved ahead. I'm not sure what would be worse on that corner, an empty lot or new construction. I don't know why the old building would be beyond repair, especially since it was occupied relatively recently. Just another example of the tear-it-down mentality in our town. What a shame.

**daddeeo** · September-21-09, 01:17 PM

The actual corner of New Hellas was relatively new compared to the rest of the block. It used to be a market before New Hellas expanded in the 70's.
Any new construction could be made to resemble the old
building with a little care. It all depends on who owns the property and what they want to build there.

**Danny** · September-21-09, 01:19 PM

TOTALLY STUPID! for the owners of the corner historic building where the the old Hellas Restaurant used to stand. Someone should have stand up and save that building for a future Greek retail Greektown must survive against the its own blight and economic recession. Otherwise it would die like Detroit's Chinatown or Asian Village.

Greektown Forever!

**Detroitnerd** · September-21-09, 01:23 PM

I saw that they were very carefully ripping out the wooden joists and timbers from the place. Those must have been very old to have been so carefully salvaged, probably for a new home in Oakland County.

The rip-it-down mentality will eventually destroy Greektown. That is, turn it into some completely interchangeable place with no heritage that tanks when the market turns down. Remember: When that happens, blame the market, not poor urban design.

**detroitbob** · September-21-09, 02:20 PM

It will be interesting to hear the story behind this...I've asked a couple of friends who work in the Gtown hood to dig up the dirt...Something tells me the truth on this one will be interesting. This may have turned into a real Greek spitefest and the untimate act of I'll show you. Wouldn't be the first time something like this has led to the demo of a restaurant.

**Detroitnerd** · September-21-09, 02:26 PM

Sal at Ham Shoppe has had a very hard time. Something about the casinos not letting him accept comps. Casino comp policies are a way to deny business to eateries the casinos don't like. This thing with Hellas was the last straw for Sal. He threw in the towel. With shit like this, can we be sure George Jackson wasn't involved?

**digitalvision** · September-21-09, 03:02 PM

I hope for the love of god they put something back up there fast.

For fucks sake, Greektown is one of the few solid, walkable areas left - and to put more missing teeth THERE? Downtown Detroit has turned into a patchwork of pointless parks and parking lots.

*shakes head* that has been the strongest areas in the downtown, and demo'ing stuff there [[without new plans) seems like a recipe for disaster. But I wouldn't be surprised to see the whole area gated off soon anyway, and street traffic pulled from Monroe. Place is starting to look more and more like Troy every day [[see demo of parking garage at BCBS - also, DTE campus, also large swaths of block-large or longer parking lots. I've lived in urban cities, and Detroit is drifting farther and farther away what they should be doing and what IS their unique proposition every day.

Sorry, I'm just pissed about this. I know it probably wasn't the city government who tore it down, but it's still annoying. I feel like Detroit is busy throwing away the things that make it attractive, that can counterbalance all the bad things.

**detroitbob** · September-21-09, 03:09 PM

I agree with digitalvision, I don't believe this was gov't induced...I also doubt that Monroe Street will be closed...they've already screwed it up by restricting parking...the guys at Cyprus Taverna will take your order for carryout, take your CC number and run it out to your car for pick ups. Now that's service...my only complaint is once a place gets 'casino comp' status they jack the prices up.

**R8RBOB** · September-21-09, 03:53 PM

The mistake here was a casino was allowed to setup shop in a area that is depended on foot traffic for decades. Man, I miss the Athens Bar. The casino killed the businesses on that block. Anyone remember the Trapper's Grill? The Oyster Bar?

**digitalvision** · September-21-09, 03:57 PM

Actually, I'm well aware of a plan to block it off, Detroitbob. I had heard about it before I read it in the paper, but when the Casino changes hands I would guess it would happen. I'd link to the freep article but it's in the paid archives.

**401don** · September-21-09, 03:59 PM

On the south side of Monroe the ugly new strip mall style frontage built by Greektown Casino should never have been allowed. Monroe should have a historic designation that requires new construction pass a minimal standard of matching the surroundings. Is that space [[under the buffet) even for lease?

**Fury13** · September-21-09, 04:31 PM

For such an old city, Detroit has relatively few 19th-century buildings left. Here's another one down. Depressing.

**Detroitnerd** · September-21-09, 04:32 PM

Yeah, the city didn't do it. But somehow, I imagine George Jackson seeing another empty lot and smiling sadly, knowing it could have paid for another lunch at the Rattlesnake Club.

**davewindsor** · September-26-09, 07:33 AM

I'm still waiting for someone to post some online pics. Not everyone here goes to Greektown casino on a daily basis.

**detroitbob** · September-26-09, 07:41 AM

I still doubt Monroe St. will end uo closed due to it being access route to I375/I75 N and for a fire route to access those old, dry timber trussed buildings. The 'hood including Old St. Mary's and the Greek Cathedral would piitch a major hissy fit and the clowncil would be the determining body if it came to this.

EastSider · September-26-09, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by detroitbob

I still doubt Monroe St. will end uo closed due to it being access route to I375/I75 N and for a fire route to access those old, dry timber trussed buildings. The 'hood including Old St. Mary's and the Greek Cathedral would piitch a major hissy fit and the clowncil would be the determining body if it came to this.

Why would Old St. Mary's or the Greek cathedral care if Monroe is closed? Their parking lots are accessible from Lafayette and St. Antoine. The casino, itself, would object to closing Monroe between St. Antoine and the Chrysler, if that's what you're thinking.

**DetroitPlanner** · September-26-09, 09:17 AM

You can close streets to traffic but still allow emergency vehicles on the right of way.

In most places however, pedestrian malls have failed miserably. Its an interesting Idea for this area though.

**DetroitZack** · September-26-09, 12:34 PM

Does anyone have a picture of the building? Not sure which one it was.

EastSider · September-26-09, 02:10 PM

http://www.planet99.com/detroit/rest...llas_cafe.html

**buildingsofdetroit** · September-26-09, 02:18 PM

DETROIT: RESTAURANT CLOSES AFTER 107 YEARS

By ZLATI MEYER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Monday 3/24/2008
Her aunt Shaunda Minley and grandfather Aaron Minley swung by the Monroe Street mainstay on Easter for a last supper of their own: a stack of Styrofoam take-out boxes to take back to Harper Hospital.
Amid the flashing cameras, requests for owner autographs and the final cries of "Opa!" as waiters set saganakis aflame, longtime patrons of 81-year-old Gus Anton's restaurant hunkered down to enjoy their favorite dishes for the final time.
The recipes were the same ones Anton's father, James Antonopulos, brought from Greece and debuted in 1901, when the restaurant was half the size, food was cooked on a coal stove and dishwashers were youngsters from the Old Country.
"Business was way down, " Anton said, explaining why he's retiring 50 years after his dad told him to give the restaurant business a try - and if he didn't like it, quit.
But Anton explained that he doesn't have anyone to take over. His son is ill and one of his grandchildren wants to be a plumber, the other a doctor.
"We sat in this space on our first date 36 years ago, " Geri D'Anna, 62, of Frankenmuth recalled from her perch at the long table against the back wall for Easter dinner.
Anton isn't sure what will happen next. He said he doesn't know who'll buy the building or what he'll do with his free time.

I'm curious as to what the hell is going on with Hella's. Something's fishy. I just assumed the casino bought the land but maybe not. It was a pretty building.

**jackie5275** · September-26-09, 06:22 PM

In the spring there was a sign in the window indicating that an Italian bistro was "coming soon". I had heard that the person who wanted to bring in that bistro was having some kind of development trouble. I think it was financing. The sign was up for several months. I was surprised it was torn down.

**reddog289** · September-27-09, 02:03 AM

With the exception of Trappers Alley and Pizza Papalis, Hellas is one of the few Greektown Resturants that I had been to.I enjoyed it. But no more visits to that building at all. Don't wanna sound old yet I even remember Greektown as Greektown.