Irvine_laird Member Username: Irvine_laird
Post Number: 30 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 3:43 pm: | |
What is the oldest continuously operating dining establishment in Detroit? |
Oldredfordette Member Username: Oldredfordette
Post Number: 1583 Registered: 02-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 3:45 pm: | |
I think it's Roma Cafe. |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 4189 Registered: 08-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 3:57 pm: | |
Up until the 1980s it used to be a place next to the RenCen in Rivertown called Schweizer's, which was founded in 1862. But sadly, it closed. |
Thejesus Member Username: Thejesus
Post Number: 1012 Registered: 06-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 4:07 pm: | |
Roma cafe dates back to the turn of the Century...don't know if anyone can beat that... They also have the 2nd best pasta sauce I've ever had in my life... |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 4190 Registered: 08-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 4:13 pm: | |
Does anyone know how old Jacoby's is?? That would also be in the running. |
Rsa Member Username: Rsa
Post Number: 1120 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 4:20 pm: | |
oldest is roma cafe [1890]. second is carl's chop house [1932], third is mario's [1948], fourth is the caucus club [1952]. (Message edited by rsa on April 25, 2007) |
Pgn421 Member Username: Pgn421
Post Number: 75 Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 4:21 pm: | |
Gistok_I will check with my coworker Dick.He sold Jacobys afew months ago |
Rsa Member Username: Rsa
Post Number: 1121 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 4:21 pm: | |
jacoby's opened in 1904. their liquor license from 1917 is framed and hanging by the bar if people haven't noticed it... |
Spartacus Member Username: Spartacus
Post Number: 180 Registered: 07-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 4:23 pm: | |
Jacoby's opened in 1904 New Hellas opened in 1901 I think Roma opened in the 1890's, but under a different name. |
Wash_man Member Username: Wash_man
Post Number: 417 Registered: 05-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 4:25 pm: | |
Roma Cafe: 1890 Jacoby's 1904 |
Norwalk Member Username: Norwalk
Post Number: 65 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 4:31 pm: | |
Does Toms Tavern still sell food? I heard they had the longest running liquor license in Detroit. |
Rsa Member Username: Rsa
Post Number: 1122 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 4:32 pm: | |
hmmm; perhaps my list is fine(r) dining? 'cuz come to think of it, dakota inn rathskeller opened in 1933. maybe the two german places are considered beer gardens instead? |
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors
Post Number: 267 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 5:20 pm: | |
I believe Buddy's is the oldest pizza place. http://www.buddyspizza.com/our history.htm |
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors
Post Number: 268 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 5:29 pm: | |
this is probably a little stupid of a question. what about Circa 1890 Saloon it has been around for a while? But I doubt since 1890 just curious since it is within the grand blvd horse shoe? |
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936
Post Number: 1364 Registered: 01-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 5:35 pm: | |
Rsa said "jacoby's opened in 1904. their liquor license from 1917 is framed and hanging by the bar if people haven't noticed it..." It's not continuous. Oldest continuous liquor license would only date back to 1933. Little matter called Prohibition. |
Motorcitydave Member Username: Motorcitydave
Post Number: 8 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 5:38 pm: | |
If I remember it correct, they were the first ones to get the liquor license after prohibition... I think I remember reading an on a framed paper article on their wall that stated something about that... may be just a PR/advertising thing though. (Message edited by MotorCityDave on April 25, 2007) |
Rsa Member Username: Rsa
Post Number: 1123 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 5:41 pm: | |
i never sed it was ray; that was just an additional anecdote. (Message edited by rsa on April 25, 2007) |
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell
Post Number: 3827 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 9:11 pm: | |
Lafayette Coney is on my 1943 downtown map, Arcade next to it, is on it too. Do they count? When did they start? |
Scs100 Member Username: Scs100
Post Number: 935 Registered: 12-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 9:15 pm: | |
According to the Lafayette thread, Lafayette was started in the 1930s, from what Motownman said. (Message edited by SCS100 on April 25, 2007) |
Mallory Member Username: Mallory
Post Number: 104 Registered: 05-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 9:07 am: | |
I had some old tasting ham on a Subway sandwich. Does that count? |
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy
Post Number: 5062 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 9:11 am: | |
I've had some of that ham from Subway- it almost tastes like it was from the previous century. |
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13
Post Number: 1573 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 11:04 am: | |
"If I remember it correct, they were the first ones to get the liquor license after prohibition... I think I remember reading an on a framed paper article on their wall that stated something about that... may be just a PR/advertising thing though." I remember hearing that the old Woodbridge Tavern had the first liquor license issued after Prohibition (when it was known as Dick's Bar). |
Baltgar Member Username: Baltgar
Post Number: 59 Registered: 06-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 11:08 am: | |
Another old restaurant is the Dakota Inn. Their website states that they opened in 1933. |
Dds Member Username: Dds
Post Number: 222 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 12:24 pm: | |
At one time, I was told that the Soup Kitchen was one contender for that honor also. Until it was razed. |
Cambrian Member Username: Cambrian
Post Number: 1037 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 12:39 pm: | |
Scotty Simpson's in Brightmoor has been there since 1950. |
Irvine_laird Member Username: Irvine_laird
Post Number: 31 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 3:33 pm: | |
Here is the list I gathered from this thread and some research on the Internet: Roma Cafe (1890) New Hella's (1901) Jacoby's (1904) American Coney Island (1917) Carl's Chop House (1932) Dakota Inn Rathskeller (1933) Buddy's (1936) Lafayette Coney Island (1930s or 1940s) Mario's (1948) Scotty Simpson's (1950) The Caucus Club (1952) |
Cambrian Member Username: Cambrian
Post Number: 1041 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 3:40 pm: | |
Good job! I thought buddy's was 1946? Shields came into being somewhere in there too. |
Irvine_laird Member Username: Irvine_laird
Post Number: 32 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 3:59 pm: | |
According to Buddy's Website, Gus Guerra started his "blind pig" in 1936, went "legal" in 1944, and started selling pizza in 1946. I'll have to check on Shield's. I can't seem to find the year in which Lafayette Coney Island opened for business and I had no luck searching past threads. |
1953 Member Username: 1953
Post Number: 1354 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 5:51 pm: | |
I went to Vince's Italian restaurant in Detroit on Springwells today. That placed seems to have been there for many, many years. Anyone know how long? |
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall
Post Number: 96 Registered: 05-2004
| Posted on Monday, April 30, 2007 - 9:02 pm: | |
Only half of New Hella's probably qualifies since the new half on the corner was a grocery back in the early 70's. I remember standing out in the snow trying to get in there before they added on to the restaurant. |
Oldestuff Member Username: Oldestuff
Post Number: 16 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 10:44 am: | |
I belive Vince's opend in the late '50's or early 60's, started out just as a pizza place |
1953 Member Username: 1953
Post Number: 1364 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 10:48 am: | |
Thanks for the info Oldestuff! |
Bobj Member Username: Bobj
Post Number: 2023 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 11:09 am: | |
Very interesting thread, I never knew that Roma was that old |