Once upon a time, Windsor was the King of Entertainment. Supper-Clubs with big-name entertainment was common, among the biggest were the Elmwood (covered recently here, here and here), The Metropole and the Top Hat (which we looked at back in May).
Today we look at some historical promotional material graciously donated by Sam Drakich.
A few shots of the interior of the Top Hat from a postcard, c. 1970
Below is a brochure put out by the Top Hat in 1983.
Check out that classic mid century wallpaper.
The Founder of the Top Hat.
Tune in tomorrow for Part II, when we head inside the Top Hat to make a final visit to this legendary local establishment.
I was reading your post at the same time as I was listening to AM800 announce that city council approved Burger King’s plans to relocate to this historic piece of Windsor real estate.
I also heard that LaCuisine is shutting it’s doors as well after 32 years of serving Windsorites.
I fear for the future of our downtown. Many thanks to the Drakich family for their lifetime of work making downtown Windsor a destination and thriving place to conduct business.
I thought a while back BK got shot down on the top hat site because city council didn’t approve a drive through. Did this get changed or was that just a rumour?
Topher, I have mixed feeling about the decision. On one had the city has no business meddling in private business’ affairs, but I’m always concerend about our loss of history.
On the other hand, if someone wanted to buy the building and reopen a restaurant, it would have happend by now. At least this BK deal (while not what I would want to see on the site) will remove 1/3 of the blight from that block. The Armouries and Bus Station remain vacant with no plan of reuse on the horizion.
The loss of another long time business like LaCuisine is sad, but they also seem to have rested on their laurels for too long. I never saw any advertising, and although they had a monthly special, their website was infrequently updated, and as a result anytime I thought of them I couldn’t get the information I needed.
There are still a few long time restaurants still open, make sure you visit and support the Tunnel BBQ and the United Grill (on University). Both of which have been around over a half century.
PW – It did get shot down. BK went back to the drawing board and resubmitted new plans. The new plans were approved last night.
For what it’s worth, both set of plans were approved first by the PAC (Planning Advisory Committee) before going to council.
La Guardia is another easily forgotten longtime restaurant in downtown, a few years away from celebrating 30 years in business.
My fav downtown is still TBQ. Don’t even need to look at the menu – full slab o’ ribs please!
Top Hat always had good food and I loved the interior. It was like going to another place in time. I used to order take out from there quite a bit as well. The bread pudding was the best I ever had anywhere! The whiskey sauce was just outstanding!
I wish I could have the recipe to both.
A big thanks to the Dragich family for their support of downtown and their contriubtion to a once great city.
I agree with Andrew, even if it is a Burger King that’s getting the land maybe it will lure others to the rest of the empty real estate around it.
I also seen this in the Star……Last month, Kurt Deeg announced he was closing Ye Olde Steak House on Chatham Street on Sept. 30 after more than 40 years in business.
As I have stated many times. Who needs competition when you have these idiots (mayor and the politburo) runningm or should I say attempting to run the city?
They are our worse enemy.
I heard that the reason all these restaurants are shutting down is because the business taxes on restaurants have skyrocketed on downtown restaurants (a lot higher than restaurants outside of downtown) to pay for all the extra policing because of the nightclubs and they can’t afford to stay in business anymore.. Any truth to that?
Thank you for the lovely tribute.The real reason the Top Hat closed as we had deal that was later scuttled .The main reason for the businesses that are closing downtown is city hall ,they want our properties for their own so they have made life unbearable .
Wow, I can’t believe how many restaurants are closing downtown. It’s already pretty slim pickin’s there if you don’t want to eat bar food. The only thing that seems to be consistently busy is Chanoso’s.
I’ve never been to LaCuisine, but Ye Olde Steak House closing doesn’t surprise me. I ordered a Chicken Breast Sandwich from Ye Olde a little past lunchtime a couple months ago. My friend ordered a steak. It took them well over an hour to be served from when the waitress took the order to having it delivered and there were only two other tables occupied, with a couple people at these tables. I kept looking at my watch complaining to my friend that I still have a lot of things to do today. No one has the patience to eat at a restaurant that operates at a snail’s pace. Maybe, in the old days when sales people needed to spend hours smoozing clients over lunch and dinner, it was fine. But, other people don’t have the time to wait this long.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind it if The Tunnel BBQ closed tommorrow. The place looks like a dump and the owner’s haven’t done anything to maintain the property. The Tunnel BBQ was once a jewel but lately it looks more like an eyesore.
That’s harsh George. TBQ is well-maintained from what I can tell–do you have an axe to grind with them? They are an important part of downtown and Windsor’s history, hope they go on strongly into the future.
Anyone read Page A3 of the Windsor Star today? It said that council agreed to a new architecturally friendly Burger King at the Top Hat site. It said it’s gonna feature “a large amount of brick and wrought iron” with “architecture that mimics the armouries”. I like the wording,but what exactly does it look like? Is there any way the public could get a picture of these designs? I’d suspect that council saw what it’s supposed to look like for them to come on board.
David,
Renderings were online as part of yesterday’s agenda. However for the first time in recent history, next weeks’ agenda is already posted, and yesterday’s is gone.
It looked like brick and stucco to me, but at least they’re trying I suppose…
George, that remark about TBQ was really uncalled for. I’m a regular customer of Tunnel BBQ and know for a fact the owners there put 100% into the running of that restaurant. That’s why it has lasted for so many decades while others have come and gone. I actually have a couple recent photos of the restaurant from the outside and it is in fact a very nicely maintained and clean building, ditto for the interior. Terms like “dump” and “eyesore” couldn’t be any further from the truth in describing this building. People who don’t get downtown very often might read comments like yours and be discouraged from patronizing this restaurant, which is the last thing a struggling business needs in downtown Windsor. We need to support the businesspeople who are keeping downtown alive, not putting a knife in their back!
I would have to agree with John.
Maybe you could call it stale or a bit dated, but I’m sure most of the patrons aren’t there for the decor.
I think “dump” and “eyesore” might be a little harsh. However everyone is entitled to their opinion. I for one am glad they are still around.
I would say 95% of all Michiganders I know, equate Windsor to the Tunnel BBQ. You don’t last 60 years in the restaurant business if you’re not good.
To Andrew, John, JT and all of our supporters;
Thank you so much for your wonderful words of support, it is greatly appreciated. Please continue to support the downtown businesses or there will be no downtown. We love where we are and we love what we do and we try our hardest everyday.
Sincerely
Valerie Stoiantsis
To Andrew, John, JT and all of our supporters;
Thank you so much for your wonderful words of support, it is greatly appreciated. Please continue to support the downtown businesses or there will be no downtown. We love where we are and we love what we do and we try our hardest everyday.
Sincerely
Valerie Stoiantsis
Thanks Valerie–we all love that you guys are there too–some of my first memories of Windsor (when I moved here) are of TBQ–great food and great tradition–keep doing what you’re doing!
I love this site. What a shame that all of our unique fine dining and shopping in downtown Windsor remains no more.
almond cream crunch pie. the base had thinly sliced almonds sliced lengthwise. you use this instead of crust. layer it plentiful. the filling was cherry flavoured but it looked yellow. most likely custard with cherry extract. the top was fresh whipped cream with the same almond slices on top as the bottom. thats it. simple but DELICIOUS. enjoy.
That sounds awesome!
Mike Drakich’s Top Hat Supper Club was one of the great venues that made Windsor famous as a city of hospitality. The Living Room Lounge was a comfortable place to relax and meet your fiends for a glass of something soothing after a busy day. I have great memories of seeing George Carlin perform there in the main lounge with his ” wippy dippy weatherman” routine and cherish the memory of meeting Rick Nelson in person and talking with him. The food was also superb. Windsor was the place to come back in the heady days of the 1960’s for those looking for great entertainment in the Midwest.
My wife and I first dined at the Top Hat in ’69. We didn’t know about the entertainment (or the cover charge for such being parochial Detroiters) but the food was very good as was the ambience. We were just getting ready to leave when Rusty Warren (google her) came on stage and proceeded to entertain us for the next hour. What a hoot! We went back to the Top Hat several times after that taking in a variety of entertainments including the Chieftains, a really great Irish group of that time. Sorry to hear of the decline of downtown but we still have our memories. Is the Jackson Rose Garden still going?
Peace.
mark