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Amazing Comeback
Pepino's perseveres to reopen for New Year's Eve party at new location.
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OTPOURRI ...
America from Greece in the early 1900s and
Hard work almost to a state of seem-
eventually founded American Coney Island
ingly frenzied or desperate urgency to do
around 1917 ... He later brought his brother
what might have seemed positively impossible
Bill to America, working for Gust and leav-
has become a reality.
ing American in 1925 to open his own place,
Pepino's restaurant will definitely open again
Lafayette Coney Island, next door ... That
this year ... It will be only for one night to
they stayed brotherly friends was shown
accommodate a huge reservation request for
when as partners together they opened the
Pepino's to reopen, if just for New Year's Eve,
original Senate Coney Island near them.
at its new location, Orchard Lake Road, Sylvan
American Coney Island expanded in
Danny R askin
Lake (by Keego Harbor) ... Merely one night,
1989 with purchase of the old United Shirt
Senior C olumnist
but hardly expected.
Distributors building next to it ... Come to
While waiting for its full liquor license trans-
think of it, before that, you could almost
fer, which usually takes from four to six weeks, Pepino's
always find United Shirt manager Nate Rossman eating a
will open New Year's Eve on a special one-night event
coney from either American or Lafayette ... And while at
permit ... It will feature a limited menu with seating for
the News, I was sure to bring back dogs for night editor
about 170, music by PashNplay and dancing.
Larry Henderson and News rewrite gent John McManus.
No one in his or her right mind could have foreseen
MAIL DEPT. ... "I noticed while driving by on Orchard
even this one-night opening so soon
Lake and the corner of Pontiac Trail
after November's devastating fire at
that there is no restaurant there any-
Pepino's former Walled Lake loca-
more. I use to be a regular when it was
tion ... But sweat and determina-
Buster's Bay, and I wish it was there
tion by dedicated owners Kathy
again. Do you remember it?" ... Sam
Kwiecinski, Carol Carson and Dr.
"Rocky" Stone.
Chris Hutchinson and their staff have
(I remember it well. Buster's Bay
made it happen.
was owned by Mike Ilitch and Chef
WHEN FOLKS THINK about
Jimmy Schmidt. Many folks have
super longevity in the restaurant busi-
written wondering why the sector
ness, two names stand out although
has never opened again as a seafood
neither is your usual type of dining
restaurant. Buster's Bay sure had the
spots ... But certainly, slices of com-
interior looks of a seafarin eatery and
ing-to-America history and wonderful
a lot of good dishes on its menu.)
lives of successful endeavors.
WHEN DINING OUT and seeing
Back in the days of loading up on
a
waitperson
or bus person reaching
Pepino's owners Carol Carson, Dr. Chris
Coney Island hot dogs during my
across
a
table
to serve or take away,
Hutchinson and Kathy Kwiecinski
daily treks along Lafayette Avenue
you are actually looking at two things
with others from the Detroit News midnight shift, hardly
that are no-nos in the restaurant business ... Both tell
a day would pass without Coney Island hot dog visits with
knowledgeable owners or managers one of two things ...
all the trimmings ... When Phil Slomovitz called and I
The server or bus person is very lazy or does not know
started with his first edition of the Detroit Jewish News in
any better ... Many customers don't know much more
1942, the paper's first offices were in the nearby Penobscot themselves or couldn't care less ... But countless owners
Building and, then, David Stott Building, so getting those
and managers do ... and have been known to act accord-
succulent hotties was still within easy access.
ingly.
The stops were both American Coney Island and
ALTHOUGH STILL a member of the chain, Leo's
Lafayette Coney Island ... Gust Keros had come first to
Coney Island, Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield (by
PRIME29
STEAKS • SEAFOOD • COCKTAILS
Kohl's), is now a Leo's franchise and under new owner-
ship ... It was at one time called Farmington Coney Island
when located on the other side of 14 Mile.
RECENTLY OPENED New Jersey Bagel and Deli on 14
Mile, between Orchard Lake Road and Farmington Road,
West Bloomfield, has both carryout and small table din-
ing.
UPCOMING RECIPIENT of the Dick Schaap Award
for outstanding journalism at next year's Hank Greenberg
Memorial Golf Invitational, former Detroit News writer
Tom Gage, is a member of baseball's Hall of Fame and
winner of the 2015 J.G. Taylor Spink Award by Baseball
Writers Association of America ... He was a sports writer
with the News from 1979 to 2015 ... The Michigan Jewish
Sports Foundation's 26th annual Greenberg Invitational,
is set for Monday, June 13, at Franklin Hills Country Club,
Farmington Hills.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE ... from Russi Arden ... On a
plane to Hollywood, Goldberg brags to his boss, "I know
everyone there is to know"
The boss calls his bluff. "OK, Goldberg, how about Tom
Cruise?"
"Tom and I are old friends," says Goldberg. They knock
on Cruise's door and the star shouts, "Goldberg! Great to
see you. You and your friend are in time to join me for
lunch!"
Although impressed, Goldberg's boss is still skeptical.
"Just name anybody," Goldberg says, and the boss replies,
"OK, smarty, how about the pope?"
They then fly to Rome where Goldberg and his boss are
assembled with the masses in Vatican Square. "I won't be
able to catch the pope's eye among all these people. I know
the guards, so I'll come out on the balcony with the pope'
Half an hour later, Goldberg returns and finds his boss
surrounded by paramedics and is told that he had a heart
attack. Goldberg bends over and asks, "What happened?"
His boss looks up and says, "I was doing fine until you
and the pope came out on the balcony, and the Japanese
tourist next to me asked, 'Who's that on the balcony with
Goldberg?"'
CONGRATS ... To Dr. Glen Gardner on his birthday ...
To Heidi Martin on her birthday ... To Jeff Weiser on his
birthday. *
Danny's email address is dannyraskin@sbcglobatnet.
CALL FOR RESERVATIONS
248 737.7463
CHEERS TO THE PAST
TOAST TO THE FUTURE
NEW YEARS EVE
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