Top Hat – Part I

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• 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