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

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Mary and Buddy Meyerson, the inspiration for Trio

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