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Detroit's 'Actor's Bar'

Hamtramck's 7 Brothers Bar has a dive atmosphere
and a creative clientele.

By Esther Allweiss Ingber

acob Plante of Hamtramck, 30,
an actor who attends Down-
town Synagogue, is proud of
his association with 7 Brothers Bar
on Jos. Campau. He occasionally
bartends at the Hamtramck neigh-
borhood watering hole, informally
known as "Detroit's Actors Bar."
After their shows get out, many
theater people meet up at 7 Broth-
Wanna-be actors can add their headshots to
ers to relax over a cold brew or bev- the wall at 7 Brothers.
erage. Actors no longer in the Metro
at Waterworks Theatre Company,
area, or even among the living,
Detroit Repertory Company and the
forever smile alongside the regulars
Theatre at University of Detroit-Mer-
in a lineup of 150 formal headshots
cy. He recently contributed comedy
affixed to a wall.
at the Birmingham Temple's Purim
The name"7 Brothers" in colored
celebration.
neon letters beckons patrons inside
According to Plante, 7 Brothers
the dark, retro-looking room with
customers associated with the Jew-
exposed ceiling ductwork and an
ish Ensemble Theater include Arthur
ancient fridge with rounded corners
Beer, Yolanda Fleischer, Patrick Cro-
in a corner. This is a real old-time
nin, Dax Anderson, Rusty Mewha,
bar — cash only, please — and a
Drew Parker, Jeff Thomakos and
completely unpretentious, friendly
Leah Smith, plus Elaine Hendricks-
gathering place for thespian and
Smith and Eric Maher from Berman
non-thespian alike.
Center for the Performing Arts.
No food is prepared here; in
Friends of the bar on Facebook
fact, there's a warning sign to staff:
include Frannie Shepherd-Bates,
"Do not put anything on the grill."
artistic director of Magenta Giraffe
However, anyone who's hungry can
Theater Company; Jeff Nahan, ex-
get the local Amicci Pizza location to
ecutive director of Fine, Performing
deliver at a discount price.
& Communication Arts at Detroit
The real beauty at 7 Brothers is
Country Day School, and local ac-
its original back bar that dates to
tress Kelly Komlen-Amadai, associ-
1924. Liquor bottles gleam from the
ated with Mosaic Youth Theatre.
lights under woodwork panels. Dual
The cool jukebox is one more at-
mirrors are also above the latched
traction of 7 Brothers. Customers are
cabinetry. Rumor has it that this
welcome to add
spot was once a speakeasy, illegally
their own CDs
serving alcohol during the 1920s
to the rotation,
Prohibition era.
which makes
When Macedonian native George
for an eclectic
Cvetanovski became the owner
smorgasbord
in 1977, he honored his family of
of rock-and-roll,
origin — seven brothers (no sisters)
blues, oldies,
— in the name he chose.
hip-hop — and
The late Eric Black and two other
Macedonian
members of Detroit's former Second
dance music
City company were the first per-
for you-know-
formers to discover 7 Brothers. Larry
who.
Joe Campbell went on to do ABC's
According to Jim and the Owen
Wilson movie Hall Pass while Mad
7 Brothers Bar
TV alumnus Keegan Michael-Key
11821 Jos. Campau
co-stars in a new Comedy Central
sketch series, Key & Peele. The comic
Hamtramck, MI 48212
actors found the dive atmosphere
(313) 365-6576
and Cvetanovski to their liking and
began bringing friends.
Hours: 7 p.m.-2 a.m. daily
"When you come in to visit and
enjoy the laid-back atmosphere at 7
Price Range: $ (Under $9)
Brothers, you just might run into Hol-
Alcohol: Full Bar
lywood's next big star;' Plante said.
Originally from the Saginaw
Dress Code: Anything Goes
area where he had his own theater
Bar Style: Music and Neighborhood
company, Plante has performed

J

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BAR

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April 2012 29

