Monday, July 24, 2006

Lindell A.C. No More


The Lindell A.C. came down this weekend to make way for the Rosa Parks Transit Center. It is often claimed that the Lindell was the ORIGINAL sports bar in America. In its prime, many sports celebrities were know to frequent the bar.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

A belated goodbye to the greatest bar in Detroit during the last half of the 20th century. It has been closed since 2002 but the demolition has brought more finality to it. The constant presence of Norm Cash, Alex Karras, Billy Martin and Sonny Eliot helped make it the hottest bar in Detroit from the 1950's through the late 1970's. Of course the visiting jocks like Mickey Mantle, Rod Carew, Gump Worsley, Bobby Orr, Wilt Chamberlin, etc. kept it hopping. The visits from people like Dean Martin, Milton Berle, Jimmy Durante,Jayne Mansfield, etc. only added to the lure. The list of jocks, celebrities, entertainers, actors/actresses, politicians, judges, gamblers, underworld figures who frequented the place is endless.
Finally, the greatest tribute should go to Jimmy & Johnny Butsicaris who opened the original Lindell in the skid row Lindell Hotel around 1949 or 1950. The both of you created a place known on the levels of Toots Shor in New York and Duke Zeibert in Washington D.C. but without the pretense. I give you credit for keeping the Lindell A.C as a "regular" bar and not giving in to the temptation to make it something else. Both Jimmy and Johnny were loyal Detroit residents through great times and bad times. Also, the both of guys rank up there with Father Kern and others as some of the most unforgetable characters in Detroit's great past. I will others think of the corners of Michigan and Cass along with Cass and Bagley as the home of the greatest bar Detroit ever had. So long Lindell and may the dear departed patrons have a Stroh's with Jimmy.

A Dubs said...

Well said. Thank you for your comments.

Anonymous said...

My Father is in the process of chronicaling a bunch of old letters that his Uncle Marvin sent home during The Depression while he was travelling across the country looking for work. One of the first ones lists his return address as the Lindell Hotel in Detroit. I Googled the address and this was the first site that came up.

My thanks to Mr. Dubs for the photo but I want to especially thank "Anonymous" for the historical information. How interesting to know that the hotel was located in the "Skid Row" area of town and what became of it in later years.

Both of you have contributed greatly to our fledgling research of Uncle Marvin's adventures. :)

Anonymous said...

Coming from Tim White, Andre the Giant's traveling partner during the 80's from the book Andre the Giant: A legendary life, Lindell AC was the place that Andre ate at before his match with Hulk Hogan at Pontiac Siverdome for Wrestlemania 3.

Anonymous said...

And yes Andre was a frequent vistor when he was in town. All the Red Wing fans came before the game. And my friend,Jimmys good companion, Boots was the best. I worked there and still have my red and blue aprons - go Sonny - go MR Timmerman - you know i said that - that slow afternoon when Jimmy was up in his office :) Bobbie

Anonymous said...

I worked there too in college.(93ish) and I was just thinking about them. I loved them so much. I was just talking with a friend about Boots. And I realized I had no idea what her real name was. Does anybody know. Oh Jimmy! Also, does anyone know what happened to all of the great stuff on the walls?

Anonymous said...

I worked there in the late 70's and early 80's. I was there during the Pontiac Cop mess. Great stories!! Great Memories!!

Anonymous said...

The best ground rounds I ever ate. Truly a memorable place.