the company, was built in 1926. It
closed in 1973, Unlike some of today's
short-lived operations, they were obvi-
ously doing something consistently
right; consistency being the key.
"Many others in Detroit come to
mind, that have endured the test of
time: Hector Sossi's Roma Cafe,
Marcia Cron's Woodbridge Tavern and
Sindbad's are just a few.
"Coming from the Big Apple and
returning to my hometown and work-
ing for old and graying Stouffer's sur-
prised many of my friends. How does
one leave the excitement and glamour
of Dangerfield's for Detroit?
"I socialized [there] with comedians
like David Brenner and Robert Klein.
I went to a Milton Berle-hosted cock-
tail party and met Johnny Carson,
Jason Robards and Lauren Bacall.
"Now it would be Jim Constand
(Jim's Garage); Emily Gail (Emily's on
the Corner) and Doug Jacobs (The
Red Garter Saloon).
"Well, one reason I took their offer
was the sparkle and excitement of
Stouffer's newer 'Top' restaurants.
Downtown had its Top of the Flame,
atop the Michigan Consolidated Gas
building. One in Chicago, on the top
of the Prudential Insurance Building
on Michigan Avenue was called Top of
the Rock, after their Rock of Gibraltar
logo. These places drew crowds. There
were six other Tops around the coun-
try.
"The last general.manager of the
Flame that - I remember was Craig
Dilworth: He now operates the Ocean
Grille in Birmingham.
"Another reason I chose to go with
Stouffer's was its fleet of rollicking
Grogshops. These barnwood-themed
bars with live entertainment were a
national craze in the '60s and '70s.
Later on, I promoted 13 of them
around the East Coast and Midwest.
That was one wild and crazy time!
"The Grogshop in the Northland
Inn always led the nation in sales well
into the '70s. I think it was because the
pick-up potential was A+. Understand
this was a time of free love and the
three-martini lunch was still in vogue.
"The only real problem in the area
was the Washington Boulevard restau-
rant at Clifford Street, just south of
Grand Circus Park This venerable old
restaurant was really an architectural
gem. The restaurant had two floors with
six elegant rooms. Seating was around
625. They'd do two turns at lunch and
dinner. After a serious decline in busi-
ness due to the 1967 riots, the lower
level became banquet rooms.
"By the time of my arrival on

Over thirty years of serving
the freshest fish and pristine
seafood available anywhere!

he ultimate Metro Detroit dining

experience awaits you at Chuck Muer's

six award winning restaurants.

Enjoy the area's freshest fish and pristine

seafood, creative homemade pasta entrees

and landlubber specialties,

all prepared under

the watchful eye of

renowned Chef James Blake.

CHUCK MUER'S

0110

ehaRteq's eRab

700 Town Center Dr., Dearborn

313.336.6350

1111 W 14 Mile Rd., Madison Heights

248.585.9533

5498 Crooks Rd., Troy

248.879.2060

CHUCK MUER'S

SEAFOOD

4".

)

ri::7 Rim

5656 W. Maple, West Bloomfield

248.851.2251

MERI WETH ERS
ani=2

401 Depot St., Ann Arbor

734-769.0592

25484 Telegraph Rd., Southfield

248.358.1310

7/28

2000

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