Discuss Detroit » Archives - Beginning January 2007 » What is the oldest dining establishment in Detroit? « Previous Next »
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Irvine_laird
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Post Number: 30
Registered: 02-2007
Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 3:43 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

What is the oldest continuously operating dining establishment in Detroit?
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Oldredfordette
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Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 3:45 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I think it's Roma Cafe.
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Gistok
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Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 3:57 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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.
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Thejesus
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Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 4:07 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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...
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Gistok
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Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 4:13 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Does anyone know how old Jacoby's is?? That would also be in the running.
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Rsa
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Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 4:20 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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)
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Pgn421
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Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 4:21 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Gistok_I will check with my coworker Dick.He sold Jacobys afew months ago
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Rsa
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Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 4:21 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

jacoby's opened in 1904. their liquor license from 1917 is framed and hanging by the bar if people haven't noticed it...
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Spartacus
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Post Number: 180
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Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 4:23 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Jacoby's opened in 1904

New Hellas opened in 1901

I think Roma opened in the 1890's, but under a different name.
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Wash_man
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Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 4:25 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Roma Cafe: 1890
Jacoby's 1904
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Norwalk
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Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 4:31 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Does Toms Tavern still sell food? I heard they had the longest running liquor license in Detroit.
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Rsa
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Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 4:32 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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?
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Urbanoutdoors
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Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 5:20 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I believe Buddy's is the oldest pizza place.

http://www.buddyspizza.com/our history.htm
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Urbanoutdoors
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Post Number: 268
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Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 5:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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?
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Ray1936
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Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 5:35 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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.
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Motorcitydave
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Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 5:38 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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)
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Rsa
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Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 5:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

i never sed it was ray; that was just an additional anecdote.

(Message edited by rsa on April 25, 2007)
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Lowell
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Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 9:11 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Lafayette Coney is on my 1943 downtown map, Arcade next to it, is on it too. Do they count? When did they start?
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Scs100
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Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 9:15 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

According to the Lafayette thread, Lafayette was started in the 1930s, from what Motownman said.

(Message edited by SCS100 on April 25, 2007)
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Mallory
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Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 9:07 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I had some old tasting ham on a Subway sandwich. Does that count?
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Smogboy
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Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 9:11 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I've had some of that ham from Subway- it almost tastes like it was from the previous century.
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Fury13
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Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 11:04 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"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).
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Baltgar
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Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 11:08 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Another old restaurant is the Dakota Inn. Their website states that they opened in 1933.
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Dds
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Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 12:24 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

At one time, I was told that the Soup Kitchen was one contender for that honor also. Until it was razed.
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Cambrian
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Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 12:39 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Scotty Simpson's in Brightmoor has been there since 1950.
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Irvine_laird
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Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 3:33 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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)
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Cambrian
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Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 3:40 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Good job!

I thought buddy's was 1946? Shields came into being somewhere in there too.
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Irvine_laird
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Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 3:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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.
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1953
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Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007 - 5:51 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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?
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Paulmcall
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Posted on Monday, April 30, 2007 - 9:02 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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.
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Oldestuff
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Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 10:44 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I belive Vince's opend in the late '50's or early 60's, started out just as a pizza place
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1953
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Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 10:48 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks for the info Oldestuff!
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Bobj
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Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 11:09 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Very interesting thread, I never knew that Roma was that old

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