Mario’s Of Windsor

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• I was looking at the Windsor Star story about Bentleys Roadhouse being renovated into 16 one-bedroom apartments geared to residents with low incomes.

  The article shocked me a bit. I guess I don't go downtown to much anymore. It's no surprise considering the condition of the city core. I'm not trying to be nasty, it's just a sad fact. So many grand and beautiful buildings have been lost or abandoned to rot in neglect.

  I grew up in the 60's, 70's and 80's traveling from Tecumseh to the downtown core every weekend to party or work at some of the different pubs and restaurants.

  Marios of Windsor was one of the restaurants I worked at when I was about 17 years old.
  Kees J Roozen was the manager who interviewed me and hired me. I remember sitting in the office during the interview, me on one side of the big wooden desk and he on the other, papers piled everywhere and certificates and pictures hanging on the wall. One of the pictures caught my interest and attention and Mr. Roozen saw me staring at it. It was a large black and white photograph of a very long dining table covered with linens and fine silver and dinnerware. At the table were many apparently high ranking officers of the third Reich along with two notable and very recognizable figures. Adolf Hitler was seated at the head of the table and Mussolini at the other end. After watching my facial expressions change from interest to shock, Kees J Roozen points to the two young lads who are serving the feast to the group. They had large serving plates hoisted with one hand and balanced by the other, dressed smartly in white and black server uniforms with large linen napkins draped over their arms. "That's me and that's my friend" Kees said pointing to the servers.

  Now, I know someone on here said Kees was dutch but I always thought he was Austrian. If the picture was taken where he lived and he was dutch, then I assume it was occupied Holland. I don't know what Mussolini would have been doing there though. Then again I may not know my WW2 history as well as I'd like.

  I enjoyed working at the restaurant and it was very posh with a fairly wealthy clientele and a salad bar, that was a new concept at that time. I also remember similar places like Sir Williams Steak House and Ye Old Steak House, a favorite of my parents. One important thing to remember about Marios of Windsor was that it had the first outdoor patio to serve liquor and beer in the Windsor Essex County. The patio was marketed and run like a Bavarian Oktoberfest.

  Does anyone know what ever happened to Kees Roozen. Did he die after Marios or did he move on to other things? Thanks for these pictures!!

• Thanks Doug, that's a very interesting story. I too would love to know what happened to Kees?

• Mussolini would not have been in Holland and as far as my history books are concerned Hitler never visited there during the war or after 1933 when he was head of state.

• My name is Monique Garant Before i was married i was monique Roozen. I am Kees Roozen's daughter. I live in Windsor, the last Roozen living here and i will never leave. I love this city, and is the longest city i have ever lived in...50 years. My dad Kees Roozen moved to Toronto after Mario's went bankrupt, but returned ten years before he died. He died on August 28, 2000 of liver cancer. When he knew he was dying, he died with great dignity, happy for the live he lived, and all the opportunities he had during his live. He was 83, and his great faith carried him over. When Mario's went bankrupt, he never had one regret over it, or resented it, he just carried on.The picture Doug saw on his interview is accurate. When my grandfather owned he Whiteburg (the White Bridge) before the war, Hitler and Mussolini needed a neutral territory to hold a meeting, and that hotel was picked. My father and his friend was young and they were busboys for my grandfather.This was in the early thirties, since my father was 16 when my grandfather died.My mother is still alive and will be ninety this year. i there is anything you wish to know please contact me. i worked there in the office before it closed down.

• wow, thanks for the memories Monique.

• here's a couple restaurants i wonder if people remember from the early days the Brown Derby at the corner of McDougal and tecumseh it was located on the south/east corner where the spies sub shop now stands and the other restaurant was the Pizza King at Drouilard and tecumseh located on the north east corner

• The original mario's Restaurant was on the north west side of Ouellette Ave.near Wyandotte St.
  My Mother was a waitress there. I am looking for pictures if you know where I could find some.
  Thanks

• Ruth, if you are still interested in pictures of the Mario's restaurant, I just seen are a couple of them on eBay. Search for Windsor Ontario Restaurants there and you'll see them.

• Gary...I think it was just called The Derby.My Grandfather stopped frequently after the day shift for ribs...He swore they were the best in town and was devestated when they closed.
  Speaking of old restaurants. Anybody remember The Colonial Steakhouse on Huron Church and Totten ? Used to be operated by a guy named Jimmy.A true proffesional thru and thru and a real nice man.

• Hi This is the first time I've seen this site. I wish I would have seen this before now so I could give you accurate information about mario's. My father, mr. Mario and Frank Cundari were the original owners of the two restaurants. Mr. Roozen purchased the restaurants after my Dad Eugene Gualtieri (Walters) had a heart attack and Mr. mario passed away. The original Mario's started out in the old British American hotel at the foot of Ouellette and Riverside Drive sometime in the late 1930's. If you are the person who put out the book 500 ways you know you are from Windsor, I have to say it is a great book but am very disappointed that you didn't do more research on Mario's so that you could have gotten the correct information. My father 's life was dedicated to building such a great reputation for the best restaurant and Tavern in the city.