  Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 774 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 68.40.119.216 |
What's the deal with all those gutted apartment buildings on Greenfield just north of Grand River? There are three of four of them and it looks like hell. Speaking of that...Red Devil pizza is still around the corner at Fenkell and Greenfield. I still remember the pools of grease in the pepperoni.Yum. | ||
River_rat Member Username: River_rat Post Number: 172 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 68.166.44.44 |
Hey, don't knock the Red Devil! Great place has been there for 50 years. How many other restaurants of any kind have survived that long in Detroit? They must be doing something right. Besides, grease is good on pizza. Those wretched and gutted apartments were once nice homes. More decline outside the CBD. the river rat still goes to Red Devil | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 778 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 68.40.119.216 |
They actually had a Red Devil in Clinton Twp. a few years ago that had the same owners. Do they still burn the crap out of them too? | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 552 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.246.10.173 |
Red Devil on Fenkell is a work in progress.. I met the owners when I worked at Home Depot a year or so back and they were turning it into a Sports Bar and Pizza spot.. but retain the Red Devil name.. I haven't seen any progress after they painted it and put a iron fence around it and that was like over a year ago.... | ||
Detroitteacher Member Username: Detroitteacher Post Number: 66 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 64.12.116.204 |
Red Devil still has Yummy pizza! Those apts on Greenfield look light they are slated to be either torn down or refurbed. They just got done tearing all the foliage out. It was horribly overgrown. There has been some activity there in recent months so hopefully, something is being done to them. They've been boarded up for some time. I pass them everyday on my way to work and am hopeful that they will be transformed into affordable housing in that neighborhood. I know they are working on a few of the abandon homes in that neighborhood and sprucing them up, tearing down falling down garages, etc. Will keep you posted once school starts and I pass by every day again. | ||
Tetsua Member Username: Tetsua Post Number: 699 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 68.61.194.237 |
I think those are actually being refurbished. There is a company (the name escapes me right now) that refurbished many different apts on Greenfield between Fenkell and Six. I think these were supposed to be the next batch. | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2624 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 128.36.14.165 |
red devil pizza is rustic bait. (ime quality fluctuates trip to trip but that's become part of the charm. have not been there is a while tho ... next time I'm home I'll make a trip ...) | ||
River_rat Member Username: River_rat Post Number: 173 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 68.166.44.44 |
River rat watched all those apartments being built in the 50's and they were good structures. The big question? Refurbished or are the scrappers at work? There was (is?) a big red brick apt at Fenkell and Winthrop that was really well built and was real good livin' in the late 50's. | ||
Detroitteacher Member Username: Detroitteacher Post Number: 67 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
That red brick apt is still there. Seems to be holding up rather well. The apts on the west side of Greenfield have been refurbed so I imagine that those on the east side of the street will follow suit. Seems I saw a sign or something to that effect up a while back. I don't think the pickers are going through there....it seems pretty well boarded up and hasn't been vacant THAT long. They keep throwing bulk trash out on the side on Chalfonte street. | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 779 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 68.40.119.216 |
That fire station on Greenfield near Fenkell was there when I was a kid. I remember hearing fire trucks at night when I lived on Winthrop near Kendall. I can still see then widening Greenfield so many years ago. Wow, how things have changed. I used to deliver newspapers around where those apartments were. Al's Alcove was the spot to pick up a pop. | ||
River_rat Member Username: River_rat Post Number: 174 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 71.126.176.175 |
River rat delivered the Detroit News on Greenfield, Winthrop, Forrer and Prevost from Puritan to Six Mile and watched the 50's change in that area. Newsboys made all of 2 cents a paper then and the average route had 60 customers. $1.20 a day no matter how cold, snowy or hot. The hard thing was you had to collect from all the subscribers yourself and pay for the papers first. Work was hard but it provided a few bucks to watch a Tiger game from the bleachers at 50 cents a pop. | ||
Damon Member Username: Damon Post Number: 669 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 172.146.240.172 |
I grew up near that neighborhood and it is so sad to see the shape of it now. As for Red Devil Pizzeria, they have great pizza. Thats great that they are still open! People have done a swell job of destroying the neighborhood. | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 687 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.139 |
River_rat, welcome to the Old Newsboys club along with me 'n jjaba. Great early training in the business world for a young'un. Too bad they are pretty much history. To keep in line with the thread....yup, Red Devil, been there many times. Used to be our regular party place after bowling. Half our league went there every Thursday night. Sad to say I haven't thought of it in decades. I'll have to make it a stop this October on my annual trip back "home". | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 781 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 68.40.119.216 |
River Rat, where did you go to school? I was at MOS and SMR in the neighborhood. I had News and Free Press routes in those areas in the 60's. | ||
Detroitteacher Member Username: Detroitteacher Post Number: 70 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 64.12.116.204 |
Actually, many of the homes in that area, in the area off of Chalfonte, are in great shape. There are a few that have been lost, are vacant or just need tearing down...but for the most part, the lawns are well kept, neighbors are friendly, etc. It would look alot better if Detroit had bulk pickup. Many evictions cause lots of trash!! Plus, many homes are getting refurbed in that area and there is bulk trash but not enough to warrant renting a dumpster. At Cooley, we have an annual senior hot dog cookout and the whole neighborhood comes over to share in the festivities, eat, laugh and have a good time. That area has some of the nicest folk living there! I also grew up on Winthrop and remember having great neighbors! | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 782 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 68.40.119.216 |
I was at 14034 Winthrop from 1951 to 1978. Almost none of the business people are there from that time. Some of the buildings are but that's about it. Going back there is like going into the Twilight Zone. | ||
Mikefive Member Username: Mikefive Post Number: 8 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 68.40.227.236 |
They are rehabbing those apartments. They did a lot of roofwork last week on them. | ||
Mrkick Member Username: Mrkick Post Number: 6 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.220.225.86 |
Quote " People have done a swell job of destroying the neighborhood" I live IN that neighborhood, and it is not destroyed. The people are some of the finest hard working in the city with many years at the same address. Most of the lawns are finely pedicured and homes are well kept. Why does does a site seemingly to be a positive forum have so many negative vibes running through it? By the way Red Devil is not open for business. | ||
Tetsua Member Username: Tetsua Post Number: 701 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 68.61.194.237 |
When did Red Devil close, I love that place. | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 7537 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.19.17.79 |
Mrkick - We have a lot of ex-Detroiters thzt think theat the old times were heaven and nothing is left now. Ignore them and be happy that you are happy with your neighborhood. Welcome to the forum and glad to hear from you. Most of us know the city is much better than it is represented and the people are what make it great | ||
Detroitteacher Member Username: Detroitteacher Post Number: 75 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
MrKick......I agree with you. I work at Cooley and find that the folk in that neighborhood are friendly (they always wave as I come and go from work), they support us at games, practises, etc., and have helped our kids numerous times. It is much appreciated.....and you can tell your neighbors that we appreciate ya'll and the friendly atmosphere around the school! I thought I saw cars int he parking lot at RD a few months back. I haven't been there since a well needed after school get together a few years ago. | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2625 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.234.183.131 |
MrKick, thanks for the info re Red Devil. Welcome to the forum, please post more often (9 posts in a year and a half? ... come-on share more), the best way to fight the negative vibes is to post positive facts like you did. Unfortunately the vast majority of Detroit's populated neighborhoods get virtually no mention on this forum. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4057 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.171.136.201 |
jjaba, 14032 Northlawn, 1941-1961. Detroit 04. Noble School, Tappan Intermediate, Cass Tech. Printing. Family lived in one house until jjaba left for college. Detroit Times carrier out of Washburn and Grand River Station. Canvassed the new Livonia in the 1950s for customers for paper. Paper route in family 8 yrs. Bill always paid on time. Perfect record. jjaba, Purely Westside, on the Grand River feeder bus. | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 8 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 63.85.13.248 |
I understand you frustration MrKick. I too am a lifelong resident and actually live in a neighborhood, not soome yuppie loft. Now watch, soon someones going to lamate how it will make a nice cheesecake factory or house of blues... (Message edited by detroitplanner on July 06, 2006) | ||
Eric_c Member Username: Eric_c Post Number: 790 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.76.202.10 |
...AND THIS IS WHY PEOPLE STOP POSTING HERE! It has been complained about before, but the site is named "Detroityes" for a reason! There are a million places on the internet where you can go bitch, complain and lament over the city, but so few places where people who care can come celebrate what we have. | ||
Sarge Member Username: Sarge Post Number: 239 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 24.28.88.45 |
Eric_c, While I appreciate your frustration, this is a walk in the park compared with the Non-Detroit side of the forum. Were this thread transferred over there, I'm sure we would now be reading about how your blathering, braying, prattling, leftist, clueless, marxist, redistributionist views fuel your love for terrorism, hatred of america and willful murder of millions...... :-) | ||
Eric_c Member Username: Eric_c Post Number: 791 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.76.202.10 |
Well, see Sarge, what happens is, when people go to college they get their heads filled with a bunch of big words and knowledge they aren't ready for. Then, they come onto internet forums to strut around like Banty roosters and espouse their newly-crafted point of view. | ||
Itsjeff Member Username: Itsjeff Post Number: 6277 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 208.27.111.125 |
I beg your pardon, Eric_c, but my opinions are perfectly cormulant! | ||
River_rat Member Username: River_rat Post Number: 176 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 68.166.44.44 |
Paulmcall and jjaba, Not only was I a Detroit News paperboy, but a Times guy as well. But I delivered in the mid-50's. Times out of the Grand River-Southfield distribution center delivering on Archdale to Grandmont between Schoolcraft & Grand River. Lived on Rutherford at Fenkell. The neighborhood is pretty tough now. A few years ago the Crary-St. Mary's neighborhood association seemed to be making headway, but of late it seems to be regressing. I still go to the old area places that are still there. There are a lot of good folks there who are trying, but the factors that plague the city in genral are toughest on them. Lots of boarded up and burned out homes and vacant lots where people I knew lived. river rat of Crary Cooley and the Fenkell bus (to swipe a jjaba line) | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2629 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 130.132.177.245 |
Come on guys, let's get back to extinct pizza joints, quasi-rehabbed space age apartment buildings and the living breathing Crary-StMary neighborhood beating away warm in the bosom of Detroit's vast westside. | ||
River_rat Member Username: River_rat Post Number: 179 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 68.166.44.44 |
How about "the Hut" for extinct hangouts in the Cooley area. Maybe it's not extinct. It was the spot for a group of Cooleyites in the past, the very distant past. | ||
Eric_c Member Username: Eric_c Post Number: 792 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.76.202.10 |
"Cormulant?" P'raps "cromulent" would be a better fit?  (Message edited by Eric C. on July 06, 2006) | ||
Sarge Member Username: Sarge Post Number: 241 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 204.57.109.226 |
Your command of the language really embiggens one's spirit, Eric_c! | ||
Eric_c Member Username: Eric_c Post Number: 793 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.76.202.10 |
Indeed. | ||
Detroitteacher Member Username: Detroitteacher Post Number: 77 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
I teach at Cooley and don't hear of kids talking about "the Hut".......I assume you mean pizza hut? Oh well.....and if anyone wants some BS shoved up their butts, try the Daily Hate thread.......LOL Talk about self riteous canchors. | ||
River_rat Member Username: River_rat Post Number: 181 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 71.126.176.175 |
The Hut was on the south side of Fenkell just east of Hubble. It was a soda fountain / light lunch place that was frequented by the students in the 50's and early 60's. Lots of kids would skip out to go there. | ||
Detroitteacher Member Username: Detroitteacher Post Number: 78 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 205.188.116.137 |
OHHHHHHH, well, I think there MAY be a DQ still there.....but nothing much else.....We need places where the kids can just go hang out and feel safe. My mom and dad used to talk of places like that (they are Redford graduates in the late 50s mid 60s). | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2637 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.234.183.131 |
river_rat, I believe it became a coney island (nuthin special) by the late 70s/early 80's. As to what it is today I have no idea, I probably have not been there in 20 years lol! | ||
Barnesfoto Member Username: Barnesfoto Post Number: 2191 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.3.125.84 |
My dad grew up behind those apts on Greenfield. Al's Alcove...have not heard that name in a while. Wonder if any of you GR/GF folks remember my grandparent's neighbors on Winthrop, The Cases and The Poets. Barnesfoto, imagining Red Devil for breakfast | ||
Detroitteacher Member Username: Detroitteacher Post Number: 113 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 64.12.116.204 |
I grew up on Winthrop and Chalfonte but that was in the 60s, 70s.....don't remember any names, per se. We moved from there to West Parkway/Tireman area (the new house had an inground pool). Remember lots of folks from that area. | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 790 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 68.40.119.216 |
We had the Gehringer's, Stolls. Ringers, Lings, Szymanski's, Murrays, Dolans, Claytons, etc around us McCauley's down by Kendall and Winthrop. There was also a Japanese and Chinese family near too. A virtual United Nations neighborhood. | ||
Barnesfoto Member Username: Barnesfoto Post Number: 2193 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.246.29.74 |
My grandparents lived at 14860, btw. Eaton and Chalfonte. My grandfather died during the 67 Riots (of Natural Causes) and my grandmother lived there for a few years more. Later, my Aunt rented the house to a family named the Greenleys, who painted everything wild colors. My first driving experience was at this house, when, sometime in the mid sixties, at three years old, got into my Grandfather's Pontiac, put it in gear, and rolled across the street onto the lawn of another house. I remember a woman with a beehive hairdo coming out and being quite excited. | ||
Detroitteacher Member Username: Detroitteacher Post Number: 115 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
Barn: I lived at 14906 and was born in 67. I probably knew your grandmother or she knew of me and it was probably my MOM who had the beehive (she is a very excitable woman). We moved out in the 70s. Small world! We could have played together at some point since I vaguely remember some kids visiting their grandparents who I used to play with from time to time. |
