,

our

t.

.)

The Detroit Historical Museum is having some work done
refreshing our look and adding several exciting exhibits!

Where
the past
is present

We'll be closed for a while, but look forward to seeing you at our Grand Opening on November 23, 2012.

DETROIT
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY

Photos courtesy of Hitch Holdings Corporate Archives and The Parade Company.

for 40 years, and I keep coming to
this store," said Judy Figueroa, shop-
ping with her daughter, Judy Lopez.
"We like it. It is clean and the people
who work here are nice. We are Puerto
Rican, and they even have our foods."
This loyalty is significant because
several smaller Hispanic markets dot
the area.
Latino music turned up to a decent
volume enhances the Supermercado
experience. People sometimes sway or
dance to the music as they go down
the aisles. Some sing along. And pi-
ñatas hanging from the ceiling add to
the ambiance.
Keeping up the tradition started by
Edward Fienman and Louie Linawicz,
the meat counter is a major draw for
E & L. Aside from top-grade traditional
cuts, top-sellers include marinated
beef and chicken fajitas, beef and
pork chorizo, and freshly ground
hamburger.
The fajitas come in various flavors,
including a popular recipe perfected
over 15 years by Ben. Known simply as
Ben's Fajitas, they go fast. The tender-
ness in the fajita meat (skirt steak)
comes from the marinades, but also
from being tumbled in airtight drums.
Ben also developed a black rub for
sirloin steaks that forms a crust to
hold the flavor in. These steaks are a
favorite of nearby Detroit firefighters.
Another major draw is the small
take-out kitchen at the end of the
meat counter that serves authentic
steak, chicken or pork tacos and
quesadillas for $1.30 each, togas
(sandwiches) for $3.29 each, nachos
and more. Weekend offerings include
even more traditional Mexican fare:
menudo, barbacoa and carnitas.
The kitchen does brisk business at
lunch, drawing from the neighborhood
as well as workers in area businesses.
Call your order in ahead and it will be
waiting for you.

Family Affair

just as Edward brought Ben into the
business at a young age, Ben did the
same with his four children: _Jamie,
Mike, David and Matt. At one time,
all worked in the store. Now two
work from home — Matt, 27, of West
Bloomfield, handles computers and
networking, and Jamie Massey, 35, of

Franklin takes care of store advertis-
ing.
Mike, 34, of Farmington Hills had
thoughts of becoming an engineer,
but he left Eastern Michigan University
the summer of his freshman year to
work full-time when Ben had a health
problem. He's the store manager.
"I do everything," he says matter-of-
factly from his seat behind a computer
in the Supermercado's small office
upstairs.
David, 31, of Farmington Hills,
shares the managing responsibili-
ties. He completed his degree in food
marketing and business management
at Western Michigan University before
coming to work full time, yet he says
he came home most weekends to
work in the family business.
"I've been working here since I was
8 or 9, and never thought of doing
anything else," he said.
Ben still comes in daily around
lunchtime because he just can't stay
away.
"I learned a lot from my dad," he
said. "And we never disagreed —
that's unusual. When all four of my
children are here, it is a trip."
Add one more family member:
Cousin Brian Dubrinsky, 44, of Royal
Oak has managed the produce depart-
ment for 12 years. He's the only one
who knows enough Spanish to speak
at length with customers.

Jewish Involvement

The Fienmans are active members
of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield
Ben and his wife, Roseanne, who also
had worked at the store, were co-
sponsors of the temple's first Shabbat
Unplugged musical service that has
become a popular tradition.
David says he takes after his mother
regarding _Jewish involvement. He was
very active in Reform youth groups,
Temple Israel's YFTI and the national
NFTY. He and his wife have co-chaired
Temple Israel events, and he's active
in Federation's Young Adult Division
(YAD), which was recently folded into
its NEXTgen department.
And, David and his wife, Beth, met
on a jDate.com Mediterranean cruise.
"It was a great place to meet people,
and I met a girl from the neighbor-
hood," David said. "Being _Jewish is

very important to us."
Family also is a priority for all the
Fienmans. This extends to how they
treat their customers and employees
— and to how they run the store. They
sell no cigarettes, wine or beer and no
lottery tickets.
Each year on Cinco de Mayo (May
5), E & L Supermercado hosts a free
outdoor carnival with activities for
children, free popcorn, music and 50-
cent hot dogs. The whole neighbor-
hood seems to turn out to celebrate.
This August, they are planning a 14th
anniversary celebration of the
Supermercado.
"It's a way of giving back to the
neighborhood and our customers —
there's a real connection here," David
said.
Ben, grandfather to nine grandchil-

❑

E & L Supermercado is located at 6000 Vernor

Highway, Detroit. For details, go to www.

el-supermercado.com .

Better than you remember. 4fore affordable than you think.

Make Us Your Home Away

Engineered to Amaze

dren, hopes that family connection
extends into future generations at the
Supermercado.
He knows that working in a family
business can be very hard work. Both
David and Matt sometimes hear com-
plaints from their wives that they work
too much.
David has learned by experience to
sidestep one complaint.
"If I don't bring home some of our
homemade tortilla chips and salsa for
my wife's mahj game," he said, "I hear
about it from her friends."

AN AMERICAN RESTAURANT 1N AN AMERICAN PALACE.

From Home

3 13-8 32-5700 I www.TheWhitney.com

SPONSORED SECTION BY: Quicken Loar

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo at E & L
Supermercado in Detroit

iN

Lunch I Dinner I Sunday Brunch
The Whitne .,Qardens

Jun` 21 b 2012

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