 JANUARY 7 • 2021 | 45

T

he three sons of their late 
parents Buddy and Mary 
Meyerson, whose Buddy’s 
Bar-B-Q was a Detroit land-
mark for 30 years 
before closing, 
was the impetus 
to honor them 
with the building 
of a three-purpose 
restaurant.
And so the Trio 
at Franklin was 
designed from the ground up 
with this basic premise in mind 
… The creation of a dining insti-
tution by sons Arlyn, Jerry and 
Aubrey, that would build them 
a unique reputation … all three 
restaurants under the same roof.
Brown Bear for complete 
dinners in a warm, intimate 
and comfortable dining room 
… Buddy’s Barbecue with all 
the favorite barbecue delights 
the older Meyersons had served 
for almost four decades … The 
Great Oyster, an upbeat bar and 
lounge with entertainment and 
light seafood entrees.
Its menu featured entrées 
which the elder Meyersons had 

mastered … As a unique din-
ing institution, the Brown Bear 
offered items produced right 
here, like seafood from the Great 
Lakes, and Michigan cherries, 
mushrooms, fruit and vegetables 
in season … The dinner menu 
changed each week and the 
lunch menu daily.
Buddy’s Barbecue had the 
same barbecuing techniques, 
secret family recipes and sauces 
prepared in a glass-enclosed, 
red-tiled barbecuing area. 
The Great Oyster was a place 
to enjoy seafood delights and 
snacks … fresh oysters and 
clams, sautéed seafood, stuffed 
mushrooms, clam chowder, a 
soup selection and other favor-
ites … without ordering a full 
meal.
It was perfect for a light lunch 
and ideal for after theater or for 
stopping in after a tough day and 
beating the rush-hour blues … 
The bandstand came alive each 
night and there was dancing.

The Meyerson brothers 
decided that they had always 
wanted to be a part of the area 
they chose to build in a region 
that centered near the borders 
of Southfield, Franklin Village, 
Farmington Hills and West 
Bloomfield … In the early 1970s, 
the search was under way for 
the right location … Six acres 
were purchased at the corner 
of Northwestern and Franklin 
Road.
Each of the brothers had his 
own ideas about what form the 
new restaurant should take … 
They agreed, however, that they 
wanted to create something 
which would become a land-
mark … a dining facility unique 
to Michigan …They wanted 
their new restaurant to become 
as the French Quarter was in 
New Orleans.
The Trio offered a wide vari-
ety of food and atmosphere 
… Set at different levels which 
could be viewed from the mas-

sive lobby, the three rooms each 
presenting something different 
for varied moods … A brightly 
lit entrance canopy was their 
way of saying, “Here is where the 
action and great food is!”
Today, the Jewish News’ offices 
are where Trio once stood.
OLDIE BUT GOODIE … 
Moishe is looking for a parking 
place as he turns toward heav-
en and says, “Lord, if you find 
me a parking place, I promise I 
will eat only kosher and respect 
Shabbos and all holidays.
”
Miraculously, a place opens 
up just in front of him … He 
turns his face up to heaven and 
says, “Never mind, I just found 
one!”
 CONGRATS … To Dennis 
Frank on his 80th birthday … 
To Yetta and Danny Weintraub 
on their 66th anniversary … To 
Ron and Sheila Schechter on 
their 65th anniversary. 

Email dannyraskin2132@gmail.com.

Danny Raskin
Senior Columnist

Story 

 Trio

The

of

RASKIN
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Mary and Buddy Meyerson, the inspiration for Trio

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