Hellas [[Greektown)

**EastsideQT** · December-06-09, 01:11 AM

I went to the Greektown Casino today...I noticed that the building that housed Hellas is totally gone...does anybody know when that happened...for a long time there was a big sign about a new resturant opening but I didn't know they were tearing the building down...what a shame...

**lalynch** · December-06-09, 01:56 AM

Sad that Hellas closed up and sad that the building was torn down.

Chuck_MI · December-06-09, 02:06 AM

It closed some time in the spring or early summer. The owner retired, if I remember correctly. Local media covered it's closure.

**reddog289** · December-06-09, 03:39 AM

There was a thread a while back, Yep it is gone. The one and only Greektown place I ever ate at.

**daddeeo** · December-06-09, 11:53 AM

Back in the 70's it was always my place to take first dates. Nice atmosphere. I especially enjoyed it after they expanded out to the market on the corner.
No more waiting outside in the snow on a busy weekend night.

**cman710** · December-06-09, 12:02 PM

The building was demolished roughly in early to mid September, I believe. I recall that it was definitely gone by September 17th or so.

**smogboy** · December-06-09, 02:24 PM

Sad. It really was one of those relatively inexpensive places one could take a date or a place where a bunch of us could go eat on a budget.

**Bobl** · December-06-09, 03:03 PM

Greektown no longer exists. Ruined, and replaced, by the Casino.
What's left is OK, and worth visiting, but the genuine European vibe is long gone.

Too bad.

**Aluminum** · December-06-09, 03:35 PM

I heard there were structural problems with the old building that would not support the planned use for the site, so a decision was made to replace the building.

**DetroitPlanner** · December-06-09, 09:17 PM

I hear its going to be a McDonalds with a drive thru. The police department is fighting it because they want it to be a donut shop.

**English** · December-06-09, 10:55 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

I hear its going to be a McDonalds with a drive thru. The police department is fighting it because they want it to be a donut shop.

I can't tell if you're serious or kidding, DP. Since you *are* DP, I'm inclined to think you're serious... so I shuddered at whoever is responsible for this travashamockery.

Things like the loss of the Hellas Cafe has been the hardest part of choosing to go away to graduate school. When I was working and living downtown, I had my ear to the ground and knew when things were going to go, so I could prepare. But I think it's more disorienting when you go away and come back... and things are gone. I was so traumatized after the Tiger Stadium demo [[my late dad worked at the Fort Street Post Office for many years until he died, so I've known that neighborhood since I was darn near a baby) until it took me 20 minutes to find Slow's for my U of M friends. At one point, I think I was shaking so hard that someone said, "Um, do you want me to drive?"

I first saw the Hellas demolition after my friend and I attended a special screening of Michael Moore's *Capitalism: A Love Story*. I told my buddy, who is a grad student from California, that we needed to go to Greektown for dinner. I knew Hellas was closed, but I talked about it as I parked.

And then I saw the wreckage. We ended up eating at Cyprus Taverna just so that we could talk to the wait staff about what had happened. They said they'd had no warning either. They came to work one day and the building was gone. They're assuming that some pockets were padded to get rid of a historic structure [[wasn't the building on the register? Maybe not). And they said they didn't know that their second story had windows on the side of the building.

They also told me that they didn't know how long they'd remain open, either.

**Gistok** · December-07-09, 01:25 AM

I highly doubt it's going to be a McDonalds drive-thru... just the logistics of a drive-thru at the intersection of those 2 crowded one-way streets would be unrealistic.

**reddog289** · December-07-09, 02:33 AM

My earliest memories of Greektown go back to when they had the bike races down there before Trappers Alley. We would park in the old parking deck across from Hellas.. Never ate there till 3 yrs ago. Spent alot of time with family at Trappers Alley. Seemed to always ending up eating Pizza.Spent at least an hour every Saturday afternoon during the summer of 2007, Wandering Greektown, and riding the people mover when my Girlfriends daughter was at the Youth Home.
In my over 25 years of going to Greektown for one thing or another, I see the place slipping away as I knew it. Its kinda sad , But to some it's progress.

**mallory** · December-07-09, 09:21 AM

Hardly even a reason to call it Greektown anymore.

**One Shot** · December-07-09, 01:42 PM

Used to be my families favorite spot and I was in there a couple times on dates. Too bad.

**redvetred** · December-07-09, 01:45 PM

Greektown hasn't been since the Grecian Gardens closed.

**EastsideAl** · December-07-09, 01:46 PM

Anyone who thinks that casinos are somehow the answer to our problems, will help neighboring businesses, or are actually an improvement to our urban fabric, need to take a hard look at what's happened in Greektown. The most healthy and lively part of our central city has had the life sucked out of it by the monster casino across the street. Casinos are inherently anti-urban and kill cities.

**Detroitnerd** · December-07-09, 01:49 PM

Oh, yeah, they were going to renovate that building. My ass. After they cut the deal, they had salvage crews in right away to remove the old timbers. [[Worth $$$) BS.

**downtownguy** · December-07-09, 02:11 PM

Here's the previous thread about the demolition:

http://detroityes.com/mb/showthread.php?t=2682

**downtownguy** · December-07-09, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by EastsideAl

Anyone who thinks that casinos are somehow the answer to our problems, will help neighboring businesses, or are actually an improvement to our urban fabric, need to take a hard look at what's happened in Greektown. The most healthy and lively part of our central city has had the life sucked out of it by the monster casino across the street. Casinos are inherently anti-urban and kill cities.

Yes, and also let's not forget it was the promise of the casinos together with Archer's dumb decision to locate them on the riverfront that ruined Detroit's second most lively entertainment district. Gone are Rhinoceros, Soup Kitchen Saloon, Woodbridge Tavern and others.

**daddeeo** · December-07-09, 08:01 PM

The way things are going, you'll live to see the Recen get torn down.

**smogboy** · December-07-09, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by daddeeo

The way things are going, you'll live to see the Recen get torn down.

I'm hoping we do get to see the RenCen torn down. Architecturally and functionality, it's an eyesore. I'd much rather see that thing come down and have some more interesting buildings take up the Detroit skyline.

But getting back to the Hella's thread, I thought things really started to change for the area after the rise & fall of Trappers Alley.

**wolverine** · December-07-09, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by smogboy

I'm hoping we do get to see the RenCen torn down. Architecturally and functionality, it's an eyesore.

It seems to be functioning just fine. You know...with actual offices and people inside. Last time I checked there were some non-functioning office space scattered across the city....some even without plumbing or wiring.

**xD_Brklyn** · December-07-09, 09:45 PM

From the City of Detroit website, it looks like Greektown was or still is a historical district:

http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/historic.../greektown.pdf

Enjoyed the Hellas and Greektown back in the day. One of my first loves I encountered downtown. Sadly, for a historical district it is now more history than historical.

**Mikeg** · December-07-09, 10:17 PM

DetroitJA Forums > Discuss Detroit > Geo. Gies [[on Monroe)
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December 7th, 1909, 7:05 PM

Ostsider

I left the Rhinegold Hall the other night and I noticed that George Gies' Restaurant und Cafe was not open. Vat happened? I hope maybe Herr Gies und his frau just took a quick trip back to the heimat.

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December 7th, 1909, 7:20 PM

rothund

There was a sign on the door the other day. Some Griechischer Einwanderer bought his place. You can't find gute deutsche Kuche any more within a mile of St. Mary's. Before you know it, they vill be calling it St. Mary's [[Greektown)!