Back in October, we took look at Bentley’s, which once housed Mario’s of Windsor.
I recently acquired this press photo taken in January, 1967, by the Detroit News.
Following the crop marks on the photo above, this is closer to how it would have looked in the paper when it ran.
Anyone out there remember Mario’s? Is this the Mario or just a manager of some sort? I wonder what the occasion was, first day of Sunday liquor sales in Ontario maybe? Any thoughts or ideas?
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Great article! My grandfather Dimitri(Pete)Pazuk was Mr. Mario's best friend and also a great chef in Windsor. I remember visiting their restaurants and the Mario home. I have the original Windsor Star obituary of Mr. Mario's passing and other restaurant memorabilia from the 30's to 60's. Interesting stuff!
I remember going across to Windsor while I was on business in Detroit back in the 1970's.
If I am correct, Mario's served a very scrumptious English Trifle for dessert.
Would love to have that recipe!
I worked in the office of Mario's of Windsor from 1969 until 1974 as junior bookkeeper. I prepared the menus twice a day for lunch and dinner. I loved working here. We were the first to have the Outdoor Cafe and every year we celebrated the Tulip Festival, when Mr. Roozen would have thousands of tulips flown in from Holland and also serve the rice dishes. People looked forward to this event. The staff were so nice and friendly and the food was fantastic. The specialty was the prime rib which, while I was there, was served by George a very sweet man. Good memories.
This article got posted to Facebook when I was trying to remember the name of an old bar that was located on the S/W side of Ouellette and Tecumseh. I know it wasn't Marios. If I remember correctly, I think it was like an older house. It was there before O'Toole's and Hacienda.
I'm so glad this was posted. The history is absolutely facinating!!!
Darlene.... are you recalling the Colonial House? It is discussed elsewhere on this site.
I wanted to tell you my Mother Mia Roozen died last August 2013 at 94 years age. She lived a long and very filled life, with lots of memories. She loved the years they owned Mario's of Windsor, and meet alot of nice people. She will be missed in this family.....Monique Garant(nee Roozen).
As a teenager, I used to drive from Chatham to Windsor just to eat "pizza pie" at Mario's on Tecumseh and Quellete, When I attended Assumption University in Windsor, a special treat was to occasionally eat supper at the more elegant dining room on Quellette closer to downtown. Great food, great service, and great memories.
As a 13 yr.old grade 9er at KCI, I went to the Fri.nite football games at Windsor Stadium.
After the game,my friends said "let's go for pizza". I said "what's that?". They said "you'll find out at Mario's". Thus began a life-long affair with 'ZA.
At 14, I got a job at Holmes Drugs a block away,(where Paul Martin Sr. would come by occasionally to use the office)and at lunch I'd go to Mario's for more pizza and Mary behind the bar (sweet lady) would throw in a free cherry coke.
Yes the diner at McDougall was just "the Derby" and I think the bar next to Mario's was the
Driving Park Hotel. In '64 when I worked at the Chrysler Truck Plant # 1, we ate at the CanUsa. I moved to BC in 1970 but I'l always remember Mario's and that first pizza.