Arts & Entertainment
E
F ST OF EVERYTHIN'
Isn't That What's-His-Name?
Local power players make Gallery an "in" dining spot.
I
t could be called the "Who's Who
Cafe" with so many personalities and
celebrities making it a regular casual
dining spot.
Since opening its second location in
1983, Gallery Restaurant in the Bloomfield
Plaza, Telegraph and 15 Mile, Bloomfield
Township, has been a culinary favorite of
many whose names bring recognition.
Mike Hitch, Dan Gilbert, Eugene
Applebaum, Judge Avern Cohn, Doreen
Hermelin, Chuck Daly, Jim Blanchard,
Mickey Nemer, Nate Forbes, SuSu Sosnick,
Scotty Bowman, Todd Jones, Chris Chelios,
and the list goes on.
If his initial concern had held true,
owner Stephan Becharas' second Gallery
Restaurant might never have become a
reality ... After leaving the coffee business
because of a sudden allergy to green cof-
fee bean dust, he went into the restaurant
business at a site that was given six months
to stay open ... Seems that the previ-
ous owner from whom Stephan bought
the place on 10 Mile east of Evergreen,
Southfield, found a loophole in their agree-
ment and opened a short distance away,
also in Southfield, using his wife's name in
front of Gallery ... Its customers, they said,
would follow the former owner, thinking
he had opened another Gallery.
Stephan proved them wrong and stayed
10 years, closing in 1984, a year after
he opened his own second Gallery in
Bloomfield Township, to devote complete
attention to the new restaurant.
This June will be Gallery's 24th anniver-
sary at the Bloomfield Plaza, whose doors
he estimates over 6 million people have
entered ... Amid the ultra-clean environ-
ment, its customers have consumed about
700,000 Greek salads, 350,000
echelon of casual neighbor-
pounds of chicken, over 4 million
hood dining popularity.
eggs, 250,000 pounds of fish, over
Tuna from white Albacore,
600,000 pounds of meat, etc.
used for salads, sandwiches
Not bad for a place that might
and platters, has accounted
never have been.
for more than 365,000
Service longevity at Gallery
pounds ... Premises-made
makes for much homey infor-
meat loaf is one you can
mality ... Aggie Gilmore and
trust, along with the salmon
Danny Raskin
Kathy McKinnie have been with
patties, chicken pot pie,
Senior
Columnist corned beef hash, etc.
Stephan 32 years; his wife Irene's
brother, Steve Mavrogiorgis, is
The Gallery is more
his general manager; one of Irene's sisters, than just a popular informal restaurant
Debbie Gyddsis, is hostess and floor man-
celebrating its 24th year at a second loca-
ager; her mother, Maria Mavrogiorgis, still tion ... along with being a "Who's Who"
makes the soups like her wonderful mush- culinary hangout, it is looked upon also as
room barley plus tuna salad, etc. ... The
a showplace ... The walls are filled with
latter three have been with Stephan since
more than just framed art ... There's also
10 Mile, as has Darren Grims, who was
hand-painted pure silks and French tiles,
line cook then and came to Bloomfield to
old-fashioned brass candle holders, price-
do the same six years later until becoming less music sheets, etc.
head chef.
Nothing, however, but the food is for
Gallery has always been a seven-day
sale ... What people see on the walls can-
breakfast, lunch and dinner operation
not be bought at any price ... People still
... Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.- 9:30 p.m.;
talk of the woman who refused to leave
Sunday, 8-9 ... Seating at tables and
unless she was sold one of the framed
booths is 130 plus six at a counter with
pictures ... "I'm not leaving without this
plush seats.
picture, she said, and Stephan smiled
In all the years, Gallery never featured a calmly while saying, "I'll make sure to lock
children's menu, so was not truly consid-
the doors when I leave."
ered a full family restaurant ... Now, for
The Gallery's true prominence, however,
the first time in 34 years, it has that chil-
is in the nutritious good food, service and
dren's menu and can be deemed as such.
cleanliness that Stephen continues to offer
Simple, but wholesome and fresh food
year after year.
is a major key at Gallery, together with
FIRST TIME since opening almost six
health department marks consistently in
years ago is the lunch now being served
the high 90s for kitchen and dining area
at Cuisine Restaurant, Lothrup, Detroit,
cleanliness ... Stephan's beliefs about
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 11:30-
nutrition and high food quality, along with 2 ... Excellent salad lyonnaise, $7, eggplant
low prices, also make these salient features involtini (stuffed), $6, soy honey-braised
that continually vault Gallery into a top
beef short rib, $12, charcutiere of duck pate,
duck mousse and pheasant duck salami,
$12, seafood tasting of seared scallop, lob-
ster ravioli, crab cake and halibut, $12, etc.
ANOTHER FINE name opens, No.
6 by George Dimopoulos: George's Senate
Coney Island, 14 Mile and Haggerty, near
Hiller's Market in the Newberry Shopping
Center, Commerce ... Its the old site of
Happy Days Coney Island.
OWNER OF SOON-to-open Zoe's
Pancake House, Orchard Lake Road, West
Bloomfield, Leo Stassinopoulos, is owner of
Leo's, Hercules, Farmington and Southfield
Coney Island and souvlaki operations.
GOOD WAITPERSON DEPT.
Shana Thomas and Kelly Ratushinak
at Sea Grille, Orchard Lake Road, West
Bloomfield ... a couple of gals with beauti-
ful smiles, wonderful personalities and
courteous efficiency.
MAIL DEPT. ... "Around 25 years
ago, we used to see Phil Marcus Esser and
Charlie Latimer performing in many plac-
es. I know that Charlie Latimer continues
to perform around town, but wondered if
you or your readers may know about Phil
and his whereabouts. I'd love to see them
perform together again." ... Mike Seltzer,
Franklin.
CONGRATS ... To Kenny Levine on
his 63rd birthday ... To Alan Swartz on
his birthday ... To Allen "Singing Window
Washer" Schwartz on his 75th birthday ...
To Phil Dembs on his 80th birthday ...
To Sharon Cohen on her birthday ... To
Michael Himelson on his birthday ... To
Sadie Braver on her 97th birthday ... To
Leo Phillips on his 71st birthday.
Danny's e-mail address is
dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net.
$25 OFF
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May 17 • 2007
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