September 5 • 2019 57
jn

Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist

raskin
the best of everything

Success Story from Out West
T

hey left the Detroit area for other 
regions of the country to pursue var-
ied careers … and finally wound up 
in the restaurant-style business in the histor-
ic Fourth Avenue District of Tucson, Ariz.
Eric and Mark Erman are the sons of 
Beth and Earle Erman of Bloomfield Hills 
… Their late grandparents were Detroiters 
Jack and Hilda Erman, the favorites of many 
… Eric and Mark’
s aunts and uncles, Larry 
Shulman, Nancy Leikowitz and Melvy Lewis 
live in West Bloomfield.
Their eatery, Ermanos Craft Beer & Wine 
Bar, North Fourth Avenue in Tucson, opened 
April 2015, is celebrating its fourth year of 
successful endeavor … with food favorites 
to satisfy the palates of many … appetizers 
galore to steaks, salads, lobster rolls, salmon, 
fried chicken, Creole jambalaya and favored 
sandwiches of excellent burgers, etc., on both 
daily and late-night menus.
The brothers continually search for rare 
brews and seasonal lip-smackers for their 
rotating tap list plus wines for all palates.
Just about all desserts are made in-house, 
including a choice flourless chocolate torte 
… Its Zip burger is a large seller … as are the 
nachos and Ermanos’
 Sure Choice, created 
with its own house-made pastrami. 
Their American gastropub restaurant seats 
120 with 20 stools at the bar … Hours are 
Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-midnight, Friday 
and Saturday 11 a.m.-1 a.m., Sunday 11 
a.m.-10 p.m. … Happy Hours are every day 
from opening to 6 p.m.
When in Tucson or thereabouts, be sure to 

visit Eric and Mark … Their successful and 
first endeavor, Ermanos Craft Beer & Wine 
Bar restaurant in its fourth year, will be with 
much satisfaction for you and yours.
REARVIEW MIRROR … Years ago, the 
minute your back was turned, somebody 
came along with a bunch of moola and 
opened a restaurant … Time was when the 
restaurant population was fairly stable … 
and most of the guys and gal owners knew 
where they were going … The original Joe 
Muer’
s, the original London Chop House, 
Little Harry’
s and 
several good restaurants 
doing business at the same stand every year 
… Then Joe Schoenith built the spectacu-
lar Roostertail … Mario’
s on Second kept 
adding on … Ken Nicholson and Cliff Bell 
bought the old Seafood Grotto and turned it 
into a beauty spot called the Country House 
…The Gold Cup Room in the Whittier 
Hotel was completely rebuilt at a cost of 
$250,000 (big money then).
I like to keep telling what James Beard, 
one of America’
s top dining-out authors, 
said, “Our best United States restaurant cities 
are New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco 
and Detroit.
”
And few will ever forget those Saturday 
afternoons at the Hotel Statler’
s Terrace 
Room in Downtown Detroit where the likes 
of that great leader and pianist Carmen 
Cavallero, among others, came for wonder-
ful dancing music.
SOME CHEFS ARE, as usual, already 
thinking about the various strange concoc-
tions they’
ll put out for Christmas dining 

… Ignoring some dishes that have been fea-
tured for centuries.
IF YOU’
RE A University of Michigan 
football follower, look for No. 97 on the 
back of defensive star Aidan Hutchinson 
… He is the son of Dr. Chris Hutchinson, 
former first team All-American at 
Michigan and partner at Pepino’
s popular 
eatery on Orchard Lake Road in Sylvan 
Lake … Same position, same school and 
same number for both.
TIME WILL COME this fall for marital 
lovebirds Michael and Sandy Hermanoff to 
go their separate ways … At home, that is … 
When their two beloved football teams meet 
each other annually in the bitter rivalry of 
Michael’
s University of Michigan Wolverines 
and wife Sandy’
s Ohio State Buckeyes … at 
Ann Arbor Saturday, Nov. 30, this year.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE … An elderly 
gentleman was stopped by the police around 
three o’
clock in the morning and asked 
where he was going at that time of night. 
The man replied, “I’
m on my way to a 
lecture about alcohol abuse and the effects 
it has on the human body, as well as smok-
ing and staying out late.” 
The officer asked, “Really? Who’
s giving 
that lecture at this time of night?” 
The man replied, “My wife.”
CONGRATS … To Harvey Goldsmith 
on his birthday … To Doug Goldberg on 
his birthday. ■

Danny’
s email address is 

dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.

Former Detroiters 
create fi
 ne eatery 
in Tucson.

Eric and Mark Erman

COURTESY OF ERMANOS

The Whitney proudly honors the commitment and 
vision of our community’s best and brightest. 

Champagne reception

Strolling dinner and open bar 

Live Entertainment throughout the Mansion

Black Tie Optional

For info www.thewhitney.com
 (313) 832-5700

201
9 
L
E
GA
C
Y
 
DI
NNE
R

 A Salute to Danny Raskin 

Sunday, September 22nd, 6:00 - 10:00