Back in the day it would seems that Mario’s was quite the place. They had two locations, on the same street less than 2km apart! They must have been doing something right.
Today this location is better known as Bentley’s to the downtown bar crowd.
Stupid question….
Why Bar-B-Q? Am I so young that I’m missing a cultural “thing” that made Bar-B-Q a “hip” food in the 40’s and early 50’s? Between Marios, The United, and The Tunnel, the apearance is that it was the national food of Windsor……
Doug, good question I have no idea? Maybe because it was such a radical departure from what was tradionally available in resturants?
Those post-war boom years were something else, all kinds of innovations and new gadgets…
It gets more confusing when one considers the true definition of “BBQ” vs what most people (including restaurants) commonly call “BBQ’ing”, which usually simply involves cooking meat on a grill over a propane or natural gas burners – not wood or coals. Incidentally the Lumberjack has a real wood grill – not sure who else in town has anything like it?
Is that the WUC building to the left? Doesn’t look like it. Shouldn’t it be there?
Looks like a large brick house to me Shawn…
However a quick check of my building database shows the WUC building at 787 Ouellette Ave. as being designed by architect David Cameron, and built in 1955.
I always thought that date was worng and that the building was older than that, but apparently there’s the proof. This was in the 1954 guide, so the photo is probably from 1953 or early 1954. I imagine it must have been demolished fairly soon after this photo was taken.
Good catch!
NIce. I too always though it was a 1930ish building.
Thanks Andrew.. I knew there was another Mario’s. I thought they had moved from the 1 location to the other. I don’t remember eating at the downtown location. It must have been too rich for my families pocket book.
I would like to know if you have any pictures of the Devonshire greyhound dog track. It was at the mall location. My father and his brother used to race their dogs there in the 40’s. I would like to see if any of your sources have any information. I have asked my father and he has no pictures of the track.
Thanks. Keep up the good work.
Gray, interesting… I have neverheard about Devonshire being used for Dog racing. I know by the late 30’s once Michigan legalized horse racing, both Devonshire and Kenilworth died out… Maybe this was a short lived attempt at reusing the track?
As a kid, we would always have dinner at Mario’s Tavern on special occasions, birthdays, Mother’s Day (1966 -67 or so). I remember I once ordered the Duck a L’orange, I must have been 10 or 11. It was served flambe’d at the table by the chef. I thought I was so cool!