Cyprus Taverna in Greektown closing

**Traveller1** · April-28-10, 03:05 PM

http://detnews.com/article/20100428/...hanging-tastes

Very sad to hear! Was one of my favorite restaurants in Detroit, especially whats left of the "old Greektown".

What's interesting is that the owner of the restaurant says he hasn't made money in three years. Three years ago is exactly when New Hellas closed.

It's probably doubtful that a new Greek restaurant will open up in it's place. My guess is that they will continue the demolition that they began at New Hellas last September.

**Bobl** · April-28-10, 03:19 PM

Sad, but predictable. That has been our favorite Greektown restaurant, for years. Vassos usually greets us by name when we arrive, and the vibe is good, particularly in the late evening.
"Greektown" is a misnomer, and has been replaced by a generic casino district, which we call "greedtown". A quaint treasure has been allowed to fade.
Thank you, Vassos, for years of good food and service.

**Downriver Gal** · April-28-10, 03:35 PM

Looking at the diagram of places left down there on the detnews.com site, it looks like there isn't much of a reason to go down there at all now.

On second thought I see the Golden Fleece is still open. Is it still good?

**Traveller1** · April-28-10, 03:40 PM

The detnews article also says that Laikon Cafe just changed ownership.

**R8RBOB** · April-28-10, 04:09 PM

Sad to see Greektown fade slowly away. When Greektown Casino opened its doors in 2000 it marked the beginning of the end for the historic district. Casinos suck the money not only from the people who are gambling but any restaurant/bar establishment in its crosshairs.

Could someone tell me when Marilyn's closed? It joins the list with the Athens Lounge, the Trapper Bar, the Music Menu and let's throw in the Oyster Bar.

**Patrick** · April-28-10, 04:10 PM

Where do you see Greektown 7 years from now? By Greektown, I mean the district.

**English** · April-28-10, 04:13 PM

Farewell, Cyprus Taverna. I heard this news last fall, when I brought one of my friends down from Ann Arbor for the premiere of Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story. It was a day or two after the sudden demolition of the Hellas building.

**R8RBOB** · April-28-10, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by Patrick

Where do you see Greektown 7 years from now? By Greektown, I mean the district.

I can answer that. In seven years, Greektown will be Greektown in name only. In the beginning of the story, one of the twins who own Mosaic pointed out that the area is getting younger, hipper and more modern.

The disappearing of Greektown reminds me of the last episode of the Sopranos, Made in America when the tour bus was going through Little Italy and the guide was explaining how vast Little Italy was and somehow it shrank to a few blocks. The scene showed Phil Leotardo's crew walking in Little Italy but ended up in Chinatown

**iheartthed** · April-28-10, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by R8RBOB

I can answer that. In seven years, Greektown will be Greektown in name only. In the beginning of the story, one of the twins who own Mosaic pointed out that the area is getting younger, hipper and more modern.

The disappearing of Greektown reminds me of the last episode of the Sopranos, Made in America when the tour bus was going through Little Italy and the guide was explaining how vast Little Italy was and someone it shrank to a few blocks. The scene showed Phil Leotardo's crew walking in Little Italy but ended up in Chinatown

Little Italy [[Manhattan) is a pretty good analogy to Greektown. But even with what Little Italy has been reduced to, they've managed to keep the restaurants Italian. You'd never see a Five Guys in Little Italy......

**R8RBOB** · April-28-10, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by iheartthed

Little Italy [[Manhattan) is a pretty good analogy to Greektown. But even with what Little Italy has been reduced to, they've managed to keep the restaurants Italian. You'd never see a Five Guys in Little Italy......

True that, but the reason why you have a Five Guys in Greektown is because of the casino. Sadly, I'm just waiting for the news that Golden Fleece is closing its doors. That location was great at 2AM when the bars were closing and you could get a Gyro and fries.

**Traveller1** · April-28-10, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by R8RBOB

I can answer that. In seven years, Greektown will be Greektown in name only. In the beginning of the story, one of the twins who own Mosaic pointed out that the area is getting younger, hipper and more modern.

The disappearing of Greektown reminds me of the last episode of the Sopranos, Made in America when the tour bus was going through Little Italy and the guide was explaining how vast Little Italy was and somehow it shrank to a few blocks. The scene showed Phil Leotardo's crew walking in Little Italy but ended up in Chinatown

I remember that same scene from the Sopranos, it went by pretty quick, maybe a 1 minute scene, but it had a lot of symbolism behind it.

In seven years, I hate to say that there would be no Greek restaurants left, but the way that it is evolving, it very well looks like that may be the truth. Could you really even call the Greektown Casino the "Greektown" Casino if there where no Greek restaurants or influences left in Greektown?

If any Greek restaurant can hold on the longest I hope it is Golden Fleece, they are really the most "authentic" place in Greektown now. The New Parthenon is still pretty good as well.

***What do you guys think will be the future for Cyprus Taverna and the New Hellas demolished site?

**Patrick** · April-28-10, 05:20 PM

I love the Golden Fleece because it is such a hole in the wall...that is why it won't be around much longer.

**313rd** · April-28-10, 06:44 PM

I agree that it is becoming more "Modern" and I see nothing wrong with that at all. Think about it.....the generation of Metro Detroiters in the age group of 18-35, feel safe to drive down the freeway and get off and park for free in the Casino Parking lot. From there they will walk a couple blocks to their destinations. Go down for any event and look at the back up of traffic at the Lafayette exit...mapquest/garmin tells them to get off that exit. When you go an 1/8 mile further and exit on east jefferson, no traffic. These are the people spending the money in the city. The age group of 40 and over, rememeber the good old Detroit from back in the day. This group does not come down anymore, and when they do they are point A [[suburbs) to B and back to A.

**R8RBOB** · April-28-10, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by 313rd

I agree that it is becoming more "Modern" and I see nothing wrong with that at all. Think about it.....the generation of Metro Detroiters in the age group of 18-35, feel safe to drive down the freeway and get off and park for free in the Casino Parking lot. From there they will walk a couple blocks to their destinations. Go down for any event and look at the back up of traffic at the Lafayette exit...mapquest/garmin tells them to get off that exit. When you go an 1/8 mile further and exit on east jefferson, no traffic. These are the people spending the money in the city. The age group of 40 and over, rememeber the good old Detroit from back in the day. This group does not come down anymore, and when they do they are point A [[suburbs) to B and back to A.

I believe what people are feeling is that the character is being stripped away. Greektown is a part of Detroit history but that history is fading. When people go into Greektown now, the majority are going into the casino and when they leave the casino they are going home. [[Want proof? I asked on another thread how long Marilyn's on Monroe has been closed. I'm still waiting for an answer but that place used to have a crowd on the weekends)You can modernized Greektown all you want but as long the casino continue to be the primary establishment in the area everyone else will end up broke.

**BVos** · April-28-10, 07:40 PM

I bet that in 7 years Greektown will be renamed Paradise Valley

The Dude · April-28-10, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by Traveller1

I remember that same scene from the Sopranos, it went by pretty quick, maybe a 1 minute scene, but it had a lot of symbolism behind it.

In seven years, I hate to say that there would be no Greek restaurants left, but the way that it is evolving, it very well looks like that may be the truth. Could you really even call the Greektown Casino the "Greektown" Casino if there where no Greek restaurants or influences left in Greektown?

If any Greek restaurant can hold on the longest I hope it is Golden Fleece, they are really the most "authentic" place in Greektown now. The New Parthenon is still pretty good as well.

***What do you guys think will be the future for Cyprus Taverna and the New Hellas demolished site?

This may sound far- fetched, maybe they'll put a Coyote Ugly Saloon there.

**Detroitnerd** · April-29-10, 10:39 AM

Of course, if they didn't have that pedestrian tubeway directing foot traffic from the hotel directly into the casino ...

**Gistok** · April-29-10, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

Of course, if they didn't have that pedestrian tubeway directing foot traffic from the hotel directly into the casino ...

I went to the New Parthenon recently, but decided to try that new walkway.... I won't make that mistake again!

The walkway does NOT allow you to exit to Monroe Ave. once you take the tubeway across Monroe.... but makes you go into the center of the casino before you have any opportunity to exit the building. And you're so confused by the maze you have to follow just to get to the center of the casino.... it makes you somewhat disoriented as to how to get to the Monroe Ave. restaurants.

Going to the Greektown restaurants via the tube is twice the distance that it would be if you exited at the parking garage and just walked down Monroe. A deliberate attempt at keeping you inside the casino.... no wonder the restaurants are closing!

**iheartthed** · April-29-10, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

I went to the New Parthenon recently, but decided to try that new walkway.... I won't make that mistake again!

The walkway does NOT allow you to exit to Monroe Ave. once you take the tubeway across Monroe.... but makes you go into the center of the casino before you have any opportunity to exit the building. And you're so confused by the maze you have to follow just to get to the center of the casino.... it makes you somewhat disoriented as to how to get to the Monroe Ave. restaurants.

Going to the Greektown restaurants via the tube is twice the distance that it would be if you exited at the parking garage and just walked down Monroe. A deliberate attempt at keeping you inside the casino.... no wonder the restaurants are closing!

Ever been to Vegas? They are all designed to be mazes in order to keep you inside and spending money. They are designed to be that way even more deliberately than malls.

**detroitsgwenivere** · April-29-10, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by BVos

I bet that in 7 years Greektown will be renamed Paradise Valley

Oh WOW. Don't get me started.....

We've allowed this city to tear our gems to shreds.

**DetBill** · April-29-10, 01:25 PM

Very sad to see it go,, it was one of my favorite restaurants. The last three times I was in there was only two or three tables, and on a thursday/friday evening. You cant make money that way. Im not a casino fan, by any means, however , the way Greektown was going before the Casino, I feel it would be safe to say that most of these places would have been closed three or four years ago. The clientele/ atmosphere was getting dangerous and fewer people even would go there. Now at least there is a healthy amount of people on the streets and love or hate the restaurants there, there is a good amount of activity. I am not sure this is real progress, but at least it hasnt turned into a mess of empty store fronts and souvenir/wigshops and Im very thankful for that.

**bailey** · April-29-10, 01:31 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by BVos

I bet that in 7 years Greektown will be renamed Paradise Valley

Oh WOW. Don't get me started.....

We've allowed this city to tear our gems to shreds.

Well maybe the Germans that once populated the Harmonie Park area share some of the blame?

Let's not cry too hard for the Greeks. They, as far as I can tell, are victims of their own success. You can't throw a stick in the 'burbs without hitting a "coney" or a honey tree or some sort of greek restaurant. Why drive downton when the same family runs a restaurant down the street?

Secondly, why aren't the greeks labeled as quitters like everyone else that pulled up stakes and moved to the suburbs?

**R8RBOB** · April-29-10, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by DetBill

Very sad to see it go,, it was one of my favorite restaurants. The last three times I was in there was only two or three tables, and on a thursday/friday evening. You cant make money that way. Im not a casino fan, by any means, however , the way Greektown was going before the Casino, I feel it would be safe to say that most of these places would have been closed three or four years ago. The clientele/ atmosphere was getting dangerous and fewer people even would go there. Now at least there is a healthy amount of people on the streets and love or hate the restaurants there, there is a good amount of activity. I am not sure this is real progress, but at least it hasnt turned into a mess of empty store fronts and souvenir/wigshops and Im very thankful for that.

Your comments are quite puzzling. You are claiming that the Casino kept some of these restaurants operating? You will have to explain how that was possible. As for the clientele/atmosphere remark, I think that's nonsense. I don't recall hearing pools of blood in the street due to street violence. As for the activity, it is for the CASINO not for the restaurants. Don't you think you spread the hyperbole a bit too thick?

**DetBill** · April-29-10, 03:55 PM

R8R for some clairity perhaps. yes. I live across the freeway bridge from Greektown. and was/am a daily runner/walker/socializer there since 1991. The amount of foot traffic has increased enormously since pre Casino days. Many , many people I know of go to Greektown now, for gambling , and do have dinner there, something they never did before. Unfortunately, the type of patron [[ as mentioned in the article) has changed, and do not seem to really want as many ethnic restaurants. Many of the Tiger and Lions fans also make the trek over to Greektown because of the Casinos after the games, just take a walk with them after and see the stream of people headed to the Casinos , and inturn a percentage eat in Greektown [[ take a look at Pizza Papalis and Pegusus and the jerseys worn after any given event.) Many of these people would have little interest in running over to Greektown if no Casino was there. It is no secret many casino goers do still go out onto the restaurants and bars. However, they dont seem to want the Greek ethnic restaurants as much. The Casino itself does not excel in restaurant food and purposely so. Take this whole element out and you would have had a materially deader greektown and a increasingly changing night clientele. Many suburbanites I know of have said they had no interest in going to Greektown whatsoever prior to the Casino as they were increasingly feeling very unsafe. Also, Police personnel [[ two chief of police also since 1998) who live in our neighborhood have consistently stated that the streets of Greektown just prior to Casino development had increasing crime . Unfortunately , there were "pools of blood" as you coined, several times with some gang related shootings, I had the luxury of witnessing some in 1999. Auto break ins were becoming alarmingly high, this was borne out by police attendees at our neighborhood crime meetings. Crime has actually decreased per police stats due to increased security being present. There was no intention of spreading it on to "thick". For those of us who live in the direct area and found Greektown to be a alarmingly dangerous place to walk over and visit any given night, the Casino actually brought some stability to the streets with increased security present. It very sad to see the flavor of Greektown go, but as mentioned , Id take this anyday compared to the direction it was going in the late 1990s.