"Old" Westside neighborhood bars, bakery's and more

[JMarx]

Used to be lots of bars along McGraw between Livernois-Wyoming, none left now.

I think the bar on NE corner of McGraw/Springwells was the John Wayne, it was open till 90's, and the building had two parts, the bar and dance hall, so it could have been converted into 2 storefronts..

Not sure if it helps, but this is the bar I was referring to at McGraw/Springwells. [[obviously it is no longer a bar) Back in the day it was just red brick and didn't have those lower windows...

Is this the John Wayne??

Attachment 5213

[econ expat]

I don't think this building was the John Wayne.
Looks like a true 'corner bar' though.
As I recall, the John Wayne had 2 doors facing McGraw,
but did not have a 'corner' door.

[shirleytemple]

Great thread...have family that grew up in that immediate area...

Does anyone happen to remember the bar that was located at McGraw/Springwells? It was located on the northeast corner and directly across the street from the now LaRosita restaurant [[see post #20 in the thread from DonPablo). I know the building is now painted gray and is a hair salon or something...any pics/history/info would be awesome...

Also, anymore info/history/pics on the polish restaurant that is now LaRosita...? I remember something about a big fire there back in the early 80's...

The restaurant was called Golden Rooster owned by Stan's of Stans Whip and Whirl on the corner of Central and Mcgraw.

[Downriver Gal]

I gotta say that the Aloha Bar looks killer. I would have loved to ante up in a place like that based on the outside alone. I'd love to see the inside.

I'm trying to recall the name of a bar I went to a few years back [[6+). It closed shortly afterwards and was on Michigan [[I think the north side but I forget the cross streets). It was very Rat Packesque on the inside with lots of red, velour and Spanish-style topless paintings from the 60's. They played old vocal standards [[completely appropriate) and was a great spot. I never had an opportunity to go back before they closed and am still kicking myself for it. Does this hodgepodge of info jog anyone's memory?

Sounds like you're talking about the Kress Lounge. Apparently now it's a parking lot.

[Enduro]

That was it, DG, thanks! Too bad. I'd like to know when these places auction off their wares, I'd hate to know some of this stuff is rotting where it's going unappreciated, or worse in a fill.

[reddog289]

The Kress Lounge, Or as my Gramps put it "The Old Folks Bar"

[Downriver Gal]

That was it, DG, thanks! Too bad. I'd like to know when these places auction off their wares, I'd hate to know some of this stuff is rotting where it's going unappreciated, or worse in a fill.

They did have an auction shortly after the bar closed. I wonder where that nice neon sign ended up.

[stan300]

Sounds like you're talking about the Kress Lounge. Apparently now it's a parking lot.

My Aunt Helen was a longtime barmaid there.

[Guideboat]

Reibert's [[sp?) Bakery on Vernor had the best bread with an insanely chewy crust. We always picked up a loaf or two whenever we visited my Grandma's place on Carson. There was also an ice cream shop [[I think) on Vernor that had a cool band organ with drums and cymbals along with piano.

[A2Mike]

Reibert's [[sp?) Bakery on Vernor had the best bread with an insanely chewy crust. We always picked up a loaf or two whenever we visited my Grandma's place on Carson. There was also an ice cream shop [[I think) on Vernor that had a cool band organ with drums and cymbals along with piano.

Rebert's was the best bakery in the Vernor area. Their pecan caramel coffee cakes were a treat with the Sunday Free Press. There was an OK bakery on Springwells called Cousins, and the Chamberlain Bakery was a neighborhood institution. There were two quite different, but both great, ice cream shops on Vernor: the Paradise, right at Springwells, with its 1910 atmosphere - high dark booths, lazy fans and pressed tin ceiling - and Wilson's Dairy, near Stair, which was pure 50's - a central island fountain with a counter up front for carry-outs. Along the walls on either side were those "blond oak" booths with turquoise upholstery. The walls, again pure 50's, were flamingo, and the counter and booths all had those little juke box selectors. A banana split or a hut fudge sundae there, with the great music nonstop, remains a priceless memory.

[Trumpeteer]

Rebert's was the best bakery in the Vernor area. Thier pecan caramel coffee cakes were a treat with the Sunday Free Press. There was an OK bakery on Springwells called Cousins, and the Chamberlain Bakery was a neighborhood institution. There were two quite different, but both great, ice cream shops on Vernor: the Paradise, right at Springwells, with its 1910 atmosphere - high dark booths, lazy fans and pressed tin ceiling - and Wilson's Dairy, near Stair, which was pure 50's - a central island fountain with a counter up front for carry-outs. Along the walls on either side were those "blond oak" booths with turquoise upholstery. The walls, again pure 50's, were flamingo, and the counter and booths all had those little juke box selectors. A banana split or a hut fudge sundae there, with the great music nonstop, remains a priceless memory.

Used to go to Paradise all the time after school in the 60's!

[A2Mike]

Used to go to Paradise all the time after school in the 60's!

I went to St. Gabe's [[class of '63) and liked an occasional stop there. They made their own candy and, I think, their own ice cream too. I remember them open several years into the 70's before I moved.

[9606 Prest]

Does anyone remember "People's Restaurant" located on Michigan Ave. just west of Livernois?

[Trumpeteer]

I went to St. Gabe's [[class of '63) and liked an occasional stop there. They made their own candy and, I think, their own ice cream too. I remember them open several years into the 70's before I moved.

St. Gabe's 1970, Paradise made both their own candy and ice cream.

[szla]

Lived on Tarnow till I was 7 or 8 but went back almost every Saturday for bread, meat, haircuts etc. Most of family still lived in area. Some still do. There were an immense number of bars in the neighborhood. However many of the bars were [[I hate to use the term) family friendly. There were many fascinating businesses. One of my favorites was Tony's confectionary [[Michigan south side, east of Cecil). It had phosphates, a collection of penny candy unrivaled and seem to be a place where lots of people picked up their racing form. There was breakfast/lunch place on Junction in the basement of a house just north of Dom Polski called Steve's Lunch? Their specialty was potato pancakes. There were about 5-6 tables. It seemed like most of their cliental was old guys. Markowycz's kielbasa always struck me as being very large. It almost seemed like they used cow intestine rather than pig. I liked it but my mom always thought it tasted like krakowska.

[caspermi]

Thanks for reminding me of Tony's Confectionary, I completely forgot about the store. The store was located on Michigan just east of Larkins right next door to the Banner Supermarket. My brother and I used to go in there for candy and comic books. I do recall to hardcore gamblers coming in to buy the Racing Form and the football tip sheets.

[56packman]

My friend's parents owned the Main bar on Michigan, just south of Livernois. It was a shot-and-beer place. Her grandparents lived in the apartment above the bar, we moved them out in 1991, they had lived there since 1941, and had amassed a lot of stuff. We found a case of liquor under the steps that dated back to the mid-1930s, just after prohibition had been repealed. We askes Gramps, he said that he started hiding liquor after prohabition was lifted, he thought they might change their mind and he wouldn't have any booze to sell. He had run a speakeasy in the 20s, so he knew the drill. We cracked open some of that after the move was done, very smooth! I got a lot of glasswear, some furniture from the apartment.

[reddog289]

I had forgot about the Main Bar. Good story about the hidden liquor.

[sumas]

My husband grew up on Junction. There was a bar on every corner. On Halloween the kids would hit up the bars because the patrons gave them cash. With that money, kids could buy the candy they liked!

A few illegal stills in the neighborhood too.

[reddog289]

When I used to visit my buddy who I call "GRAMPS", We would go driving around his neighborhood which happened to be the one in this thread. I was amazed at the the number of bars, like said on every corner. He showed me a lot or an empty corner building. Can't remember cause there were so many. He told me that was where Larry's Bar was. His favorite watering hole. Which at one time was a hang out for Lucky Frye and Dawn Spenz? Who were convicted of the murder of a Dr Canty I belive. There was a book about that a while back.
Had another friend called Old Man Bob who lived two doors down from the Aloha Lounge. Thought to myself 20yrs ago that must have been the place back in the day.

[Downriver Gal]

There's a feature on Red's Park-Inn in the Metro Times this week:

http://www.metrotimes.com/culture/story.asp?id=15003

[mikefmich]

Years ago while working for MichCon I used to hit a bar at 32nd & Buchanan for lunch.
I think it was Fridays special was hotdogs steamed in beer were 10 cents, and beer was cheap too.
Anyone know the name of the place? This would've been in the early to mid 1970's.

[wilderness]

Years ago while working for MichCon I used to hit a bar at 32nd & Buchanan for lunch.
I think it was Fridays special was hotdogs steamed in beer were 10 cents, and beer was cheap too.
Anyone know the name of the place? This would've been in the early to mid 1970's.

Don't recall the name, however I can see the building in my memory. There was an enclosed [[nice cement structure) patio in the back during the 50's and 60's.

[ALPOE]

Here you go the history of the Kress lounge, yes the painting of the naked women over the middle of the bar was indeed Irene.

http://www.filmthreat.com/reviews/5588/

[kathy2trips]

Irene worked for Sanders in the 1920s.