Today we cast our eyes towards this tired, and badly renovated oldie on Ouellette Avenue. Left alone in a sea of nothingness, since the demolition of the old Mother’s Building & Joker’s Building to the north, what was once kind of hidden as you headed south on Ouellette is now very visible.
The house was built around 1890, and was originally home to J.D. Arthur Deziel and his family. Deziel was the clerk of the 7th Division Court. Also residing in the house in 1919 were:
Julia C. Deziel, no job listed
Leah Deziel, also a clerk of the 7th Division Court
Leo Deziel, no job listed
I’m certain that they must be some relation to whomever lent their name to Deziel Drive:
The photo above was taken August 13, 1973 by a Detroit News staff photographer. I’m guessing the photo was taken to run with a restaurant review for the Himalaya Dining Room, at 841 Ouellettte.
Looking at the notes on the back, it looks like it ran both in August 16, 1973 and December 16, 1977. Back in 1973, the house was in great shape. It retained the original windows, and slate roof, and the front has not yet been altered by the strange “porch” type addition on the front. Interesting to note the “Himalaya Dining Room” sign…
… is still standing 36 years later… While I don’t know anyone who’s eaten there, according to “The Google“, the place is still open? Anyone know? Anyone eaten there? If it is still open it would have to be one of Windsor’s oldest Indian restaurants I would think…
Crescent Lanes first opened on Ottawa Street in 1944 at 1055 Ottawa Street, opposite Lanspeary…
Above is a photo of the home of Mr & Mrs Oswald Janisse, located at…
in 1917 two Greek brothers Gus & Harry Lukos purchased a one story building on…
Photo from Google Streetview A long time reader sent me an email the other week…
An unremarkable end to a part of Windsor's history. The large vacant house at 841…
One for the lost Windsor files, is this house that once belonged to Joseph Reaume…
View Comments
I never knew what was in that building. I thought it was a travel agency. I always liked this former house and wondered about what else has been lost on Ouellette Ave.
Interesting to see the old phone booth on the right of the picture in 1973. Kids today don't even know what phone booths were.
Ughh, that building looked so much better in the red brick than that stucco and porch+awning addition Does stucco on brick get moldly or what is that behind the sign?
Chef Oza, patriarch of the family who owns the house, still cooks from time to time- despite being completely blind! The place is wild inside- like an Indian Ashram.
The picture from the seventies make the house look a lot better than it was in the late sixties.Then the A&P parking lot surrounded it with Union Gas office to the south.
It isn't a porch that was added to the front, it is a roof covering step down into a basement clinic. I agree that it looked much better in the 70s.
Friends of mine have eaten there and apparently the food is fantastic. When he isn't running the restaurant Chef Oza operates a cattle sancutary in India.
I've eaten there several times, but not recently. Some of the best meals I have ever had.
i've been wondering when this place would pop up on here. seeing as she sits all alone, i can only assume it's just a matter of time till she's brought down for MORE parking.
thanks Andrew!
I have eaten there many times over the years. It was a real experience - Chef Oza would come out of the kitchen and speak to each of us before cooking, making sure we ordered something that would suit us. I recall once asking for a glass of water (the spice was a little overwhelming), he said he wouldn't serve water, it was like putting water on the fire, and preferred to serve beer, and some honey/banana yoghurt - so bring on the beer!.... His food was amazing always, and you needed about 4 hours to eat and enjoy the slow cooked curries, and made-to-order foods. Some menu items had to be ordered a few days in advance, I suppose so he could shop for them, and prepare.
My first visit was circa 1975, my last visit was about 2005 when Chef Oza cooked for a private gathering of about 8 of us. I have heard he is a Brahmin chef.
Funny this is posted today, I walked by this building just yesterday and thought of all the nights we spent with the family, eating their fine food - nothing like any other Indian Restaurant Windsor has ever seen.
Deziel Drive I believe is named after Lawrence Arthur Deziel who practised law with the Mctague law firm, was elected to the City Board of Control in the 50s, and became a judge on the County Court.