Hellas [[Greektown)

[eno]

For our 6th grade graduation from elementary school at Pitcher [[now closed) Elementary School, our social studies teacher, Mr. Barach, took us on a class trip to Greektown in January, 1964. I don't recall us going into any of the restaurants but we did go into the gift shop. I recall buying a "marble" statue of Zeus and something for my Mom. Years later, friends and I would go down to Greektown for the annual street festival they had. We would buy some retsina or pop wine and get loaded. There would be spontaneous group dancing in the closed off street. It was like a scene from "Hair".

Coincidentally, I landed a job at Detroit General Hospital and would spend my lunch time at one of the Greek social clubs, the Macedonia Club, eating my bag lunch and playing pool. There was another social club across the street, the Peloponessus Club, that wasn't as friendly or welcoming. For a while, I worked the afternoon shift on weekends and would eat a dinner of chicken lemon soup, a wedge of bread and water or a beer at the Hellas. At that time, there was a party store on the corner next to the Hellas where you could buy lunch meat sandwiches, cheese, Greek pastry and beverages. I worked at DGH for nearly 6 years so I got to know the place well. In the early 70s, hip entrepreneurs occupied some of the smaller stores. One store you could get your Zodiac and astrological chart mapped and interpreted. Another store had a guy who worked in leather goods. I believe he also took photos from a camera he had mounted onto a rifle stock. Stella roamed the streets reacting to phantoms and frightening the casual visitors. I'm leaving out the half of it but Greektown was a great place to be around.

[smogboy]

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.

What about functionality for the public? I understand that it houses plenty of working folks but remember trying to get around in that place? How functional was that? It's hardly pedestrian friendly and visually not that exciting.

Given the choice to re-locate a business to new offices? The RenCen is hardly a space I'd want to go to. It has about as much appeal as a cinder block.

[detroitsgwenivere]

I'm just wondering...did anyone else notice how the areas of town that were culturally european or heavily white demographically are being picked apart? Greektown, Corktown, Harmony Park. I'm not trying to be funny, just making an observation.

I cried the day that Hellas closed, like losing a life long friend.

[Mikeg]

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)!

December 7th, 1909, 7:35 PM

Ostsider

Ach! I loved going there mit de frau. Our neighborhood is being picked apart. Things haven't been the same around here since they tore down the Harmonie Club building after the fire and built their new building over on Grand River. But calling our dear parish St. Mary's of Greektown? Never!

BTW rothund, you are wrong about no other close places to eat. There is Alfred and Mina's place on Brush where we can still enjoy some good Wiener Schnitzel zusammen mit Bier.

[Fury13]

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.

I'd still like to know when they're going to repair and cover over the cracks, fissures, holes, and seams in the concrete supports inside. You know, the ones exposed for all to see as you walk around the circulator? There's a lot of awfully rough cement work in there too. Who worked on that, a bunch of 8th-graders? The damn building was never properly finished [[nor properly constructed).

Plus, it's damn ugly and a monstrous blight on the skyline.

[bartock]

I'd still like to know when they're going to repair and cover over the cracks, fissures, holes, and seams in the concrete supports inside. You know, the ones exposed for all to see as you walk around the circulator? There's a lot of awfully rough cement work in there too. Who worked on that, a bunch of 8th-graders? The damn building was never properly finished [[nor properly constructed).

Plus, it's damn ugly and a monstrous blight on the skyline.

Oh, c'mon. The Wintergarden glass and lighted circular walkways inside would make a perfect set for a "Star Wars" remake...

[xD_Brklyn]

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.

You live in a big city like NYC and change occurs on a daily basis. You live with it. My favorite restaurant in Little Italy closed and the neighborhood is now surrounded by Chinese businesses, but practically every building in old and new Little Italy is still there alive and well. In Detroit, things just disappear and an entire corner of city life is nowhere. "Ostsider" and "Rothund" were lucky. They were able to see something replace their old haunts and to experience something resembling normal urban life downtown.

[Detroitnerd]

Oh, yes. But New York has plenty of historic streets. Nobody is proposing knocking out part of Washington Mews, though. Detroit's downtown has had one [[ONE) street that looks like it did historically, and it has drawn crowds for years. One priceless streetwall. That's it. Yeah, you know. Forget it. Cities change. Let's just let that last streetwall go. Some guy in Brooklyn said it's OK.

[andybsg]

Honestly, I never liked Helas. I am willing to wager that the new building will be much nicer. I feel the same way about Tiger Stadium. Was it nice? Yes. Is the new stadium nicer? Yes. So why would I complain? There is so much talk on this site about progress and moving forward, and all any one does is bitch when it happens. Grow up folks, the New Hellas building just wasn't all that special, now somehing better will take it's place.

[Detroitnerd]

Honestly, I never liked Helas. I am willing to wager that the new building will be much nicer. I feel the same way about Tiger Stadium. Was it nice? Yes. Is the new stadium nicer? Yes. So why would I complain? There is so much talk on this site about progress and moving forward, and all any one does is bitch when it happens. Grow up folks, the New Hellas building just wasn't all that special, now somehing better will take it's place.

It's called gestalt: Oh, yes, ONE structure isn't much, but that streetwall has been the attraction: The last place where you can walk down a street that looks much like Detroit did 75 years ago. I suppose the next one to go won't be a big deal either. And the next one. And the next one. Until ... you're left with none of Detroit's old-fashioned streetwalls at all. Now THAT'S progress.

[andybsg]

It's called gestalt: Oh, yes, ONE structure isn't much, but that streetwall has been the attraction: The last place where you can walk down a street that looks much like Detroit did 75 years ago. I suppose the next one to go won't be a big deal either. And the next one. And the next one. Until ... you're left with none of Detroit's old-fashioned streetwalls at all. Now THAT'S progress.

It may in fact be progress.

[kenp]

I loved Hellas, in fact this thread inspired me to try and duplicate the Onion & Chicken dish I always ordered their. Its in the crock pot as I type.
My last trip I had my first shot of Uzo and almost puked on the spot. For some strange reason I got a 2nd.
OPA!!!

[Detroitnerd]

It may in fact be progress.

I always wondered what it felt like to have no idea what I'm talking about. You must tell us all about it sometime.

[andybsg]

All I hear is wailing and gnashing of teeth. "Why can't we preserve our one historic street face?" Waaahhhaahhhahha. It's too late. Detroit is no longer a city with historic street faces, that train has left the station [[hat tip to the MCS demo that is in the works). Trying to save this one block on one street is a silly lost cause. Wait a minute, why don't you start an online petition? That's the ticket.

[RickBeall]

It is amazing how the bankrupt casino is crowding out the old Greektown. It's like a fast reproducing cancer which will grow until the whole city dies. Okay, neighborhood.

[Gsgeorge]

All I hear is wailing and gnashing of teeth. "Why can't we preserve our one historic street face?" Waaahhhaahhhahha. It's too late. Detroit is no longer a city with historic street faces, that train has left the station [[hat tip to the MCS demo that is in the works). Trying to save this one block on one street is a silly lost cause. Wait a minute, why don't you start an online petition? That's the ticket.

C'mon back when you've managed to get yourself out of this rather uncomfortable position:

[downtownguy]

Honestly, I never liked Helas. I am willing to wager that the new building will be much nicer. I feel the same way about Tiger Stadium. Was it nice? Yes. Is the new stadium nicer? Yes. So why would I complain? There is so much talk on this site about progress and moving forward, and all any one does is bitch when it happens. Grow up folks, the New Hellas building just wasn't all that special, now somehing better will take it's place.

Ha! Yes, the CoPa is sooooooooooooooo much nicer than that dump Tiger Stadium. And Northland is sooooooooooooooooo much nicer than downtown Hudson's ever was. In fact, why don't we tear down the rest of those shabby old buildings on Monroe and build a strip mall instead? Now that's moving forward!!

[Fury13]

It may in fact be progress.

You'd be right at home in 1955 Detroit, probably leading the charge to tear down Old City Hall.

[j to the jeremy]

No, downtownguy, don't build anything, it may in fact be progress!!!!!!!!

What's wrong with decreasing density at the urban core, de-funding mass transit, and waiting for the suburbanization of downtown? Hasn't that been working like a charm for years? Oh wait...

[Traveller1]

You live in a big city like NYC and change occurs on a daily basis. You live with it. My favorite restaurant in Little Italy closed and the neighborhood is now surrounded by Chinese businesses, but practically every building in old and new Little Italy is still there alive and well. In Detroit, things just disappear and an entire corner of city life is nowhere. "Ostsider" and "Rothund" were lucky. They were able to see something replace their old haunts and to experience something resembling normal urban life downtown.

I am in New York frequently and go to Little Italy now and again to eat lunch. Which restaurant in Little Italy was your favorite that closed?

My favorites were Paolucci's and Luna's when they were still around.

It is very sad to see New Hellas be torn down. That was the first Greek restaurant I had ever eaten at before. Though I do agree with many of the other posters in saying that Greektown has lost its "Greek Vibe", there are still some real authentic Greek restaurants in downtown Detroit that you can not find anywhere else in metro Detroit or across the country.

[Stosh]

For me, Greektown died when they stopped buying pelts at Trappers Alley...

But, seriously, I agree with the assessment that the Casino killed Greektown.

And the "street wall", for what it's worth, was the big selling point for the area for me. There was a vitality there that wasn't found elsewhere downtown.

There's still some semblance of the area left. Somebody needs to be on that planning board, or go to the meetings to insist that the replacement for Hellas is of the same alighnment and scale to the street, or at least make enough noise to do so.

[andybsg]

Wow, the animosity whenever anyone thinks independently or outside the box. Is this how you plan on building coalitions and lifting Detroit? I don't see how it will work.

[EastsideAl]

Maybe we could start by stopping the destruction of what we have.

Now that would really be some "outside the box" thinking for Detroit, where the prevailing urban planning strategy always seems to be to tear all old stuff down, even it if it means destroying historic structures and neighborhoods, and even if it will be replaced by nothing. Or if that's too expensive, just to leave all old buildings open to the elements and thieves to be slowly destroyed.

[Fury13]

Wow, the animosity whenever anyone thinks independently or outside the box. Is this how you plan on building coalitions and lifting Detroit? I don't see how it will work.

You kind of set yourself up. Being a destructionist on this forum is like pissing into the wind.

[andybsg]

This building was not torn down by DPS or CofD in what some people might see as a dishonest transaction [[a little CYA there). The owners of New Hella tore it down with the intention to build a bigger, hopefully better, building. Yet, everyone here acts like they've been riding in a former news anchor's Ferrari and taking trips to Hawaii while a guy from Flint pays the tab. That's not the situation here, so again, I think that all I am seeing is a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing.