Friday, October 12, 1984

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

57

A BRIGHT IDEA

send

BERKLEY THEATRE

2990 W. 12 Mile Rd.
Berkley LI 2-0330
ALL SEATS
$1.00 AT ALL TIMES

HELD OVER!

WXYZ RADIO officially be-
ame WXYT on Tuesday, and the
-lebration was held at 11:30 a.m.
Jhen station personalities and
Offers congregated on lawn at
3roadcast House, W. Ten Mile,
;outhfield, to toast the change.
THE MYSTERY MUNCHER
YRITES . . . "Did you know that
ince food restores the human
,dy, the place which serves food
as named from the French word,
ec,taurer, meaning to restore?'
"With that bit of trivia with
which to impress your family and
riends, here's another little-
mown fact. In the 1600s, men
rn thered at the local inn to talk
✓ er affairs of the world. They
ound that food and drink
encouraged conversation.
"Gradually the eating part of
he inn, called a tavern, began
E, , , rving persons who weren't stay-
ng there. In time the inn became
separate business. In England it
vas called a coffeehouse and in
Lance a cafe meaning coffee.
The word restaurant wasn't
ised until after about 1750., At
first it referred only to the dining
;ection of a hotel or to a cof-
'eehouse frequented by the rich.
3ut in the 1900s, the name had
ome to be used for several types
,f eating places.
"The first cafeteria in the
United States was called the Ex-
ange Buffet. It opened in New
ork in 1885.
One of the most notable chain
estaurants in the United States
ened in New York in 1948. It
ccupies four floors of a Rockefel-
Center building and is among
e largest service eateries in the
orld with seating for about 1,300
ners.
The restaurant business is no
ionic. About four years, Detroit
Tea eating spots were being
queezed even thinner by rising
"City, food and tax bills as well
s economy conscious customers.
"To excape the threatening tide
f red ink, many restaurateurs
urned to drink. Even the swank
ucus Club in downtown Detroit
arted offering cut-rate drinks
etween 4 and 6 p.m. In more
modest eateries, that's known as
the Happy Hour.'
"The Caucus Club and other
thning spots hoped to generate a
little more of a cocktail hour
which might lead to a more brisk
'dinner business.
"Happy Hour' has become an
Institution for work-weary guys
and gals who flock to their favo-
rite sipping and supping spot to
unwind and/or meet a stranger
la cross a crowded bar.
But the days. of `two-for-one'
drinks may be coming to an end.
The Michigan Liquor Control
Commission recently voted to
sound the death knell to the popu-
lar form of booze sales in an effort
to curb drunk driving.
"The LCC ruling is subject to
further state action but happy
I-1 ours may go down the tube as
early as November. Bar owners
will still be able to sell the hard
stuff at half price.
"Restaurants during the reces-
sion cooked up other survival
plans such as price cutting, staff
layoffs, specials for senior citi-
z.ns, varying portions and prices,
special events, two-meals-for-

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the-price-of-one coupons and din-
ing clubs.
Some proprietors report that
the recession years have in-
creased the number of empty
chairs in restaurants and many
customers who used to order
gourmet meals at top prices are
choosing dinner specials and opt-
ing for lobster night meals at
below regular menu prices.
"Restaurant owners continue to
struggle for solvency in a business
known for its competitiveness and
high mortality rate.
"Not all restaurants make it.
Those that fail find refuge in
Bankruptcy Court. Competition
in a crowded restaurant market
will knock less-successfUl
businesses right out of the box.
"It's apparent some of the older
eateries where patrons used to
stand in long lines at lunch and
dinner hours aren't packing in
customers. Bigger, better and
more novel spots have replaced
aging standbys.
The dining out public is fickle.
But many find that newer isn't
necessarily better. TGI Fridays in
Southfield, for example, still
packs them in even though the
popular wining and dining spot is
far from the new kid on the block.
Even Monday nights at Fridays
draw the kind of crowds that com-
peting restaurants would wel-
come on Saturday nights.
"Fast food chains and some
white tablecloth dining rooms are
making it. But in other cases top-
notch, luxury hotel restaurants
are suffering from the economic
blahs along which were expected
to be whopping successes.
The vast expansion of fast-food
outlets during the 1970s, com-
bined with price resistance among
lower income customers hurt by
the recession, is bringing about a
shakeup in the industry.
"Some fast-food chains like
Sambo's failed to survive in the
Detroit area and others are wag-
ing wars to grab a bigger share of
the depressed market.
McDonald's is stepping up promo-
tions to outpace Wendy's 'Where's
the beef?' advertising blitz.
"Breakfasts in the world of fast
food are made to sound like fare fit
for a gourmet's discriminating
taste buds. Domino Pizza offers
two for the price of one, free deliv-
ery and $3 off the price if the pizza
doesn't arrive within 30 minutes.
Buy-one-get-one-free , coupon of-
fers by other fast-food chains heat
up skirmishes for the consumer
buck.
"On the brighter side, what's
saving restaurateurs is that din-
ing out, especially for families in
which husbands and wives both
work, is no longer a luxury. The
U.S. Department of Commerce es-
timates that three out of five
families eat out at least once a
week.
"And this isn't taking into con-
sideration the more affluent
couples for whom dining out
Saturday and Sunday nights, and
maybe more often, is a way of life.
"We do our share of eating out
and we've been impressed with a
few places we've never frequented
before. The Good Earth in Tally
Hall on Orchard Lake and 14 Mile

Continued on next page

THE JEWISH NEWS

424-8833

as a gift

FLAMING EMBERS RESTAURANT

Harrison Ford in
"INDIANA JONES &
THE TEMPLE OF DOOM" (PG)
Fri., Sat. & Weeknites 7:00 & 9:20
Sun. 2:30, 4:45, 7:00 & 9:20

Steaks • B-B-Q Chicken • Ribs • Fish

KEEGO TWIN

4 0064444,5446

Where Movies Cost Less
Orchard Lake & Cass Lake Rds.
1 1 /2 Miles West of Telegraph
682-1900

Mon. & Tues.
ALL SEATS $1.00
This ad will entitle bearer
ONE FREE ADMISSION
when a second admission is
purchased
Fri., Sun., Wed. & Thurs.
I - "THE KARATE KID" (PG)
Fri., Mon.-Thurs.
7:15 & 9:40
Sat. & Sun.
1:30, 4:00, 7:15, 9:40

SPECTACULAR DOUBLE BILL!
II - "GREMLINS" (PG)
Fri., Mon.-Thurs. 7:00 & 10:25
Sat. & Sun.
1:00, 4:25, 7:00, 10:25

PLUS!
"POLICE ACADEMY" (R)
Fri., Mon.-Thurs. 8:45
Sat. & Sun. 2:45 & 8:45

FREE Dessert Goodie Bar w/Dinner

Quick Lunch Deli-Board Carry-out

$2.49 KIDDIE MEAL — 10 and under

two exta eats

Downtown
Detroit at
Grand Circus Park

17700 Grand River
at Fenkell

15036 E. 8 Mile
near Gratiot

Distinctive Dining at-Reasonable Prices

For lunch or dinner, Georgio's features specially prepared appetizers, exotic
salads, gourmet entrees, fine wines and liquors and exceptional desserts.

Daily Seafood Specials

Mon.-Thurs.
11 a.m.-10:30 p.m
Fri. & Sat.
11 a.m.-11 p.m.

S

Valet
Parking
Fri. & Sat.

tilnoThh=
41" WPea

290 N. WOODWARD
In The

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Major Credit
Cards
Accepted

Great American
Insurance Bldg.

Reservations Suggested

540-7940

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Restaurant

SERVING YOU FOR 7 YEARS IN THE SAME WALNUT LAKE RD. LOCATION

West Bloomfield

2080 Walnut Lake Rd. at Inkster
Featuring

Superb Milk Fed Veal • Fresh Seafood Daily

Served in an authentic traditional New York Italian-style atmosphere

Reservations Suggested For Your Convenience

851-2500

Your Host:

Your Hostess:

Al Valente

Ruthe Wagner

after 3 p.m.

SPECIAL EVENINGS

'15.95 per couple

MONDAY EVENINGS

• Broiled Whitefish, homemade soup, potato du jour.

'15.95 per couple
FRIDAY
EVENINGS
Choice of two dinners. • Prime Rib, potato du jour, salad,

relishes, bread basket • Broiled Whitefish, homemade soup,
potato du jour.

SUNDAY BAVARIAN NIGHTS .. '8.95 per person

• Family Style Fried Chicken...additional helpings are on us!

toCingsltg 111np

WOODWARD AT LONG LAKE ROAD
BLOOMFIELD HILLS e 644- 1400

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