What was the name of the restaurant on East Warren?

**JWH** · November-12-09, 04:30 PM

On East Warren close to Outer Drive there is a restaurant called Wimpy's - what was it called before Wimpy's [[early 70's)?

**pgn421** · November-12-09, 05:26 PM

Wimpys it was, before that Sabre Lancer

**Bobl** · November-12-09, 06:28 PM

Still open?
I enjoyed that place in the early 1990s. One of the few bars where I have seen people reading books!
Great 'burger, too....

**Diehard** · November-12-09, 06:36 PM

Loved Wimpy's. But I think it's been closed for probably five years now. I went there one night and there was a "notice to vacate" sign on the door, and I haven't seen any sign of life since. Too bad.

**pgn421** · November-12-09, 06:48 PM

the last people, didnt pay their taxes

**1KielsonDrive** · November-12-09, 07:04 PM

If it was the Sabre Lancer, I went there many times. The owner was Frank Grzanka, a very good restauranteur and a nice and personable fellow also. Frank owned the Club 500 and at some point, I'm not sure of the details all these years later, he combined the two places. He and a friend, Ken Potenga, owner of Trump's, a kind of dance lounge in St. Clair Shores, were my customers. We've discussed this here in the past, so there may be some archives buried in the bowels of DY.

**1KielsonDrive** · November-12-09, 07:56 PM

There was another nice place over in that neighborhood called, The Opera House. As you might suspect, it was a classical music restaurant. Great brunches and often, live music. The Opera House had a collaboration with the classical music radio station. I think it was WQRS.

**Maof** · November-12-09, 08:11 PM

wasn't trumps on harper? i remember going there when the drinking age was still 18 then they changed it on us. that woman's bathroom was always flooded!

anyone remember the name of the greek resturant that was across from the alger theater?

**sumas** · November-12-09, 08:39 PM

You are talking about my neck of the woods. No recollection of The Opera House, sorry I missed it on my radar. But since people are remembering long gone establishments, what was the name of the bar that is now called Sunrise Sunset. I think it was called The Baby Grand. We were young and the old farts would give us tips on how to foxtrot and waltz. I really liked that place. The juke box was great. The people there were amazingly charming.The floor was uneven and the center support for the roof got me a few times. The dance lessons were free and drinks were cheap. I don't get out to dance too much but the lessons we learned guarantee we will not look foolish at either of our sons weddings.

Hey 1K, do you remember the original Honest John's off Jefferson. They had a piano and good friend played great ragtime music. I remember my first time there with buddies. A look see through a peek hole. I guess we passed mustard cause we got let in. I ordered a wine cooler and got way more wine than cooler.

**EastsideAl** · November-12-09, 10:01 PM

The original owner of the Opera House was an old friend. The original idea was to have opera performed to accompany your meal. That space later became Blue Point.

Wimpy's was a favorite for family get-togethers back in the '80s. My sister lived on one side of Warren and my grandmother on the other with uncles, cousins, etc. nearby in the Grosse Pointes..

**1KielsonDrive** · November-12-09, 10:16 PM

Sumas, yes I remember Dishonest John's. Never liked his place or him. He's a serious example of ego-mania. Too bad, because he had a great clientele and employees before running everone out of the joint.

**1KielsonDrive** · November-12-09, 10:23 PM

EastsideAl, thanks. It's interesting it became the Blue Point because I went in there a number of times and don't recall recognizing the Blue Point as having been the Opera House. I liked the Blue Point. Was the owner ever an employee of Chuck Muer's or his establishments? I remember enjoying the place, the food and ambience. It had a Chuck Muer feel, which was an automatic for me. Is it still there? I lived in that neighborhood in the early 2000's and don't recall seeing it.

**pgn421** · November-13-09, 06:21 AM

1k-you missed Mike Abruzzi? Remember him? He was the lawyer . Potenga, Gryzanka and Abruzzi , the crippled lawyer, always had crutches, all went to Austin , together.

Abruzzi won the lawsuit. From the other two. And took off to Canada, with about 4 mil.
No one has seen him since. That's been about 1978!

**kryptonite** · November-13-09, 08:10 AM

I lived in Morningside until mid-90s and always heard that Wimpy's had been Sabre Lancer prior to Wimpy's. I loved Wimpy's hash browns w/cheese.

Regarding Honest Johns, I used to go there fairly often and sort of know him and his sister on a personal basis. John comes across rough and crude but he is a great person with a big heart. I guess you have to be a bit prickly to run a dive bar in a dive neighborhood. His new place is more upscale but don't tell him that, your drink prices will double.

**Detroitej72** · November-13-09, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by 1KielsonDrive

Was the owner ever an employee of Chuck Muer's or his establishments? I remember enjoying the place, the food and ambience. It had a Chuck Muer feel, which was an automatic for me.

The owner, David Muer is a cousin of Joe and Chuck Muer. David and his brother also own Harvard Grill on Mack. If memory serves correctly, they once owned Pointe Bar-B-Q at the end as well.

Blue Pointe is still open, the Mrs, and I dinned there about a month ago and it is still just as good as it was when I started patronizing it 20 years ago.

**jt1** · November-13-09, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by 1KielsonDrive

Sumas, yes I remember Dishonest John's. Never liked his place or him. He's a serious example of ego-mania. Too bad, because he had a great clientele and employees before running everone out of the joint.

You don't enjoy his unique combination of being ignorant and overly opinionated? How is that not charming?

**kryptonite** · November-13-09, 10:53 AM

Can anyone from that area tell me if Wimpy's is still open? I heard that it closed. I rarely am in my old neighborhood anymore but I do go to Cadieux Cafe once in a while.

**KENSINGTONY** · November-13-09, 11:02 AM

It's been closed for many years.

**tarkus** · November-13-09, 12:53 PM

Ok, the Blue Pointe was never the Opera House. The Opera House was located on E. Warren at, I believe Lakepointe, it was formerly Kopitskis steak house. The Blue Pointe was formerly Lombardis Italian. The Greek place was the Mediterrain, which was BiJou in it's previous life.
Seeing as we are in the neighborhood Tony Rimminelli passed away a few days ago. He had the men's suit store on E. Warren next to the old Cunninghams.

**1KielsonDrive** · November-13-09, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by pgn421

1k-you missed Mike Abruzzi? Remember him? He was the lawyer . Potenga, Gryzanka and Abruzzi , the crippled lawyer, always had crutches, all went to Austin , together.

Abruzzi won the lawsuit. From the other two. And took off to Canada, with about 4 mil.
No one has seen him since. That's been about 1978!

Wow, you blew my mind. I'd completely forgotten Abruzzi. He was almost always with them when I'd see them at my work place and other restaurants and lounges. Thank you. I didn't know, or just don't recall the story behind them and the lawsuit. Anything else you can relate would be cool. It'll go into my 'Bars, Restaurants and Theatres I Remember' file to disappear upon my complete loss of memory or kicking the bucket.

**Maof** · November-13-09, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by tarkus

Ok, the Blue Pointe was never the Opera House. The Opera House was located on E. Warren at, I believe Lakepointe, it was formerly Kopitskis steak house. The Blue Pointe was formerly Lombardis Italian. The Greek place was the Mediterrain, which was BiJou in it's previous life.
Seeing as we are in the neighborhood Tony Rimminelli passed away a few days ago. He had the men's suit store on E. Warren next to the old Cunninghams.

Mediterrain, that was it! Yep, Blue Pointe was Lombardi's which is where my parents had dinner for my baptism...and I'm not sayin' the year

**GPCharles** · November-16-09, 10:05 AM

Who can forget Dominic's Belle Casino on Mack near Alter? I swear there were secret passages in the walls. You'd turn around and suddenly there would be Dominic, big, black bouffant hairdo and all.

**1KielsonDrive** · November-16-09, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by pgn421

1k-you missed Mike Abruzzi? Remember him? He was the lawyer . Potenga, Gryzanka and Abruzzi , the crippled lawyer, always had crutches, all went to Austin , together.

Abruzzi won the lawsuit. From the other two. And took off to Canada, with about 4 mil.
No one has seen him since. That's been about 1978!

Was Mike's last name Abruzzi or was it Abrussizzi or something like that? I'm not sure he was Italian. He may have been Armenian. Help me, pgn421.