Carl's Chop House

**detroiturbex** · August-06-10, 02:13 PM

Scrappers have made short work of the Chop House.

For the full gallery: http://detroiturbex.com/content/down...rls/carls.html

**detroiturbex** · August-06-10, 02:14 PM

Anybody remember eating there? I'm curious about the quality of food, since by the online reviews it seemed to go downhill in the last few years...

**bailey** · August-06-10, 02:20 PM

wow. that was quick.

**Bluenote132003** · August-06-10, 02:24 PM

Wow is right, went there on our honeymoon 20 years ago...

**detroiturbex** · August-06-10, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by bailey

wow. that was quick.

Literally a matter of weeks from a window opening to everything including all the kitchen appliances being ripped out. There are scrappers living on the second floor.

**Fury13** · August-06-10, 02:53 PM

Shoot the scrappers. I'm serious, the trespassers should be shot.

**Maof** · August-06-10, 03:10 PM

wow, what a shame. i did read a few years back that they were turning it into a strip [[no pun intended) joint. another favorite gone.

**Zacha341** · August-06-10, 08:23 PM

Very nice photos. Excellent compositions. Sad state of affairs re. the ubiquitous, unstoppable scrappers.

Originally Posted by detroiturbex

Anybody remember eating there? I'm curious about the quality of food, since by the online reviews it seemed to go downhill in the last few years...

**Jman** · August-06-10, 02:23 PM

When Carl owned and ran the place it was excellent. Best short ribs in the world. Even when Carl's daughter Pat took over it was still holding it's own. When she came down with cancer her son Jeffrey tried to run it from New York and failed miserably. Frank bought it when the restaurant was on it's last leg and couldn't make a recovery.

**Zacha341** · August-06-10, 08:25 PM

I never dined there in its heyday. By the time I went it was scrapped worn china and thin forks. And barely edible, over priced food..... sad to see it in the state it is in now... the scrappers have had their feeding fest it appears.

Originally Posted by Jman

When Carl owned and ran the place it was excellent. Best short ribs in the world. Even when Carl's daughter Pat took over it was still holding it's own. When she came down with cancer her son Jeffrey tried to run it from New York and failed miserably. Frank bought it when the restaurant was on it's last leg and couldn't make a recovery.

**Patrick** · August-07-10, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by Jman

When Carl owned and ran the place it was excellent. Best short ribs in the world. Even when Carl's daughter Pat took over it was still holding it's own. When she came down with cancer her son Jeffrey tried to run it from New York and failed miserably. Frank bought it when the restaurant was on it's last leg and couldn't make a recovery.

How can one manage a restaurant from 500 miles away?

**Zacha341** · August-07-10, 01:56 PM

Apparently it did not work out. I know a guy who tried to rent a home in Detroit from Kalamazoo. The next thing he knew they were not paying rent, the place was trashed, with severe water damage. Being a landlord is no fun and you have to be around for rent collecting, repairs and inspection as needed. No doubt.

Originally Posted by Patrick

How can one manage a restaurant from 500 miles away?

**polaar** · August-07-10, 02:46 PM

In better days, here's a shot of the Carl's bar that I took in Jan 2005:

**gazhekwe** · August-06-10, 02:33 PM

They had a classic menu. One time I ordered Finnan Haddie [[smoked haddock) and it was wonderful, so it wasn't all just about beef. It was a place to wear your dressy clothes and feel like it was a special occasion.

**Blueidone** · August-06-10, 02:40 PM

One of the best restaurants for prime rib...I have some great memories of having dinner and a couple of company Christmas parties there.

**drjeff** · August-06-10, 03:04 PM

So sad. I always loved Carl's. The platter of complimentary appetizers they would bring out was awesome.

**Ray1936** · August-06-10, 03:09 PM

Damn shame. Had my retirement luncheon there in 1984. Was a most popular place with the DPD. Warm memories. Sigh.

**Downriviera** · August-06-10, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by Ray1936

Damn shame. Had my retirement luncheon there in 1984. Was a most popular place with the DPD. Warm memories. Sigh.

I heard rumors about this party, but I thought it was just urban legend. Were there really strippers there?

**marcwigle** · August-06-10, 03:29 PM

OK, so maybe I'm naiive but WTF is the building owner doing to let it go to this extent? If I have an asset that is supposedly worth $700k I'm hiring security to do some sort of walk around... maybe install an alarm??!! Maybe even buying a shotgun... and how the hell can someone walk out of building on a major street with commerical appliances under their arms without someone seeing something??!!

**bailey** · August-06-10, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by marcwigle

OK, so maybe I'm naiive but WTF is the building owner doing to let it go to this extent? If I have an asset that is supposedly worth $700k I'm hiring security to do some sort of walk around... maybe install an alarm??!! Maybe even buying a shotgun... and how the hell can someone walk out of building on a major street with commerical appliances under their arms without someone seeing something??!!

...bet the insurance was paid up though.

**Zacha341** · August-06-10, 08:42 PM

The big kitchen stuff etc. was taken by professional scrappers appearing to be movers who moved quick. Using heavy moving equipment and passing off their presence there for some legitimate "activity", poised to tell a lie that they were taking old equipment out to replace it, blah-de-blah... It was probably done during the day to look less suspicious, ironically.

They probably staked out the goods, unhooked everything one day, then pulled up the truck the next. Gone in a flash... working as a tight group. Everything prepared for a fast snatch-and-go.

The smaller load or amateur or crack-head types get the remaining, smaller under-the-arm goodies you can toss in a trunk. And ugly business indeed!

Originally Posted by marcwigle

OK, so maybe I'm naiive but WTF is the building owner doing to let it go to this extent? If I have an asset that is supposedly worth $700k I'm hiring security to do some sort of walk around... maybe install an alarm??!! Maybe even buying a shotgun... and how the hell can someone walk out of building on a major street with commerical appliances under their arms without someone seeing something??!!

**detroiturbex** · August-06-10, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

The big kitchen stuff etc. was taken by professional scrappers appearing to be movers who moved quick. Using heavy moving equipment and passing their presence there for some legitimate "activity", poised to tell a lie that they were taking old equipment out to replace it, blah-de-blah... It was probably done during the day to look less suspicious, ironically.

They probably staked out the goods, unhooked everything one day, then pulled up the truck the next. Gone in a flash... working as a tight group. Everything prepared for a fast snatch-and-go.

The smaller load or amateur or crack-head types get the remaining, smaller under-the-arm goodies you can toss in a trunk. And ugly business indeed!

First time in there they were knocking down the rear wall because they'd gotten a water heater stuck trying to go around a bend. Seriously, a week later and that kitchen was gone. What you're describing sounds very accurate.

**R8RBOB** · August-06-10, 11:35 PM

Funny that someone would do a thread on Carl's Chop House. I went pass there today and noticed the graffiti on the side of the building. I never got the chance to dine in Carl's though I did know someone who worked there and tried to get me in there. I knew that Carl's future wasn't going to be good when the Motor City opened in 2000 and it got worse when the city couldn't get the riverfront land needed to build the casinos/hotels on the riverfront which allowed the Motor City Casino to stay on Grand River. This decision put the finally nail in the coffin for Carl's.

**Bobl** · August-06-10, 11:53 PM

It was a great place to score Red Wing tickets. Just a word to the waitstaff would result in a choice of good tickets...

**Zacha341** · August-07-10, 07:24 AM

Yep, that casino was the death nail! It [[Motor City Casino), has or had a couple of good restaurants, and the free fair [[buffets and deli) they 'give' as their comps the losers would rather eat to temporarily sooth their mind from their loses

. Plus Carls was in high decline by the time MCC got to rolling big.....

Originally Posted by R8RBOB

Funny that someone would do a thread on Carl's Chop House. I went pass there today and noticed the graffiti on the side of the building. I never got the chance to dine in Carl's though I did know someone who worked there and tried to get me in there. I knew that Carl's future wasn't going to be good when the Motor City opened in 2000 and it got worse when the city couldn't get the riverfront land needed to build the casinos/hotels on the riverfront which allowed the Motor City Casino to stay on Grand River. This decision put the finally nail in the coffin for Carl's.