Your Detroit Memories! (Wyoming, Monroe, Cadillac: houses, rent, work)

[Maxine3]

I remember going to Tom's Tavern in 1954/55.
(From the rest of your post, you seem too young to remember Tom.)
It was near Wyoming and Pembroke, if memory serves. Near the "AA" Army base.
I married a soldier, stationed there, more than 50 years ago.
Sweet memories...........

[reconmark]

Originally Posted by Maxine3

I remember going to Tom's Tavern in 1954/55.
(From the rest of your post, you seem too young to remember Tom.)
It was near Wyoming and Pembroke, if memory serves. Near the "AA" Army base.
I married a soldier, stationed there, more than 50 years ago.
Sweet memories...........

Could you give more information on Tom's Tavern. I pass it by weekly, I thought it was abandoned because it looks like it's about to fall down; untill I saw a party there about a month ago.
What was the "aa" Army Base and what was the corner of seven mile and wyoming like back then.
Thanks.

[Maxine3]

Another poster remined that Tom's Tavern was on 7 Mile. It is just west of Wyoming, right? I wondered if it was still there.....
It was just a hole-in-the-wall when I went there, with friends, for a beer or two. We were underage then, and never a problem being served
The "AA" stood for anti-aircraft. The base was located at Wyoming and Pembroke (between 7 and 8 Mile). The bases were about a city block square and fenced, gated and guarded, and were located through out the city to protect/respond in case of an air attack.
The bases sometimes held dances. One was invited by word of mouth.
I had no idea the bases were around until I was invited to a dance.
A lot of the soldiers hung out at Tom's Tavern when they had passes, just to get away from the base for a while.
We went there, of course, to meet soldiers.
Always a sucker for a uniform

[Maxine3]

"I thought it was abandoned because it looks like it's about to fall down"
This made me laugh. Think how I feel I'm about to "fall down", too.
I forgot to mention that Tom's was about in the middle of a block surrounded by fields. No other building around it. The rest of the 7 Mile-8 Mile/Wyoming area was small post-war housing with a few older houses in the mix. Just a nice, working class neighborhood.
I remember driving through the area a few years later (having spent a few years in the Chicago area), the base was gone. Replaced by houses. One would never know a base was ever there.
Anybody know what year the bases, in Detroit were dismanteled?

[and the]

I remember going to Tom's Tavern in 1954/55.
(From the rest of your post, you seem too young to remember Tom.)
It was near Wyoming and Pembroke, if memory serves. Near the "AA" Army base.
I married a soldier, stationed there, more than 50 years ago.
Sweet memories...........

Nope, I walked a beat down 7 Mile in 1986. I'd go in there in the winter and Tom would be asleep against the furnace. I also tended bar there more than once during Tom's naps. Last one in the bar had to drive Tom home to the apartments on Outer Drive where he lived. That was sometimes me between 1986 and about 1989 or 90.

One of the regulars, Ron, took the place over after Tom died, and in a concession to modern times, bought an ELECTRIC cooler. I don't think he uses the Coke cooler anymore, but it's still there. I have a bunch of pics of Tom's...I'll try to post a few if I can find them. I never remember where I put theme. As far as the Nike and Ajax missle bases, I think they were mostly out by the mid 60's?? used to live by one at Rouge Park/Spinoza area. Here's a decent review of the "newer" Tom's, and here's a cool site about the Rouge Park Nike base. I'll post some Tom's pics if I can find them. Also, I may be up there tonight Mark....Pamela Warick-Smith is playing there tonight. One night only. $10.00 cover. They're having shrimp and Jambalaya (sp?) Maybe I'll see you there:

D-69 - Rouge Park | The Nike Detroit - Cleveland Defense Area Website

Tom's Tavern: A true Detroit Bar


“Tom’s Tavern” might not be the best name for the infamous Detroit Bar on W. Seven Mile road, perhaps “Tom’s dilapidated Shack” might be more appropriate. However, if the structure of this great bar is somewhat run down, it more than makes up for it in its character. Despite its leaning bar, slanted floors, and cozy ceiling, Tom’s Tavern remains strong and vibrant, especially in an age when many of Detroit’s Bars are closing their doors. Tom’s Tavern is the story of one man, Tom Lucas, a Greek Immigrant who came to America in 1915.





“Tom bought the place 1928…We are not quite sure when it was built, we think around 1925… back then seven mile was still a dirt road.” At the bar I sit next to Ron Gurdjian, the current owner of Tom’s who took over the bar after Tom died in 1991. Tom opened the bar during Prohibition; his alcohol was supplied by Detroit’s Purple Gang. According to Ron, “The Gang would come, guys in suits and wide brim hats, and bring the alcohol in long limousines in back.”

Tom’s connections indeed were quite impressive, Ron says he likes to think of Tom like Picasso: “He was short and powerful.” Judges, lawyers, and many of the area powerful elites all knew Tom. In 1979 the building suffered a fire but Mike Ilitch and Charlie Jones ensured that the building was repaired so that Tom could keep the Tavern open. Tom’s connections certainly had something to do with his personality. Tom was quite the gambler, there are countless stories of him leaving the bar to go gamble at the racetrack while he left a regular in charge of the bar. “Tom told me he’d be rich if he hadn’t gambled.” Ron jokes. Tom took his job very serious however, “He’d have a stack of white shirts pressed and starched from the cleaners and he’d have a new shirt on every day.”





Tom’s has remained open for so long not because it was a gold mine, but because of its eclectic clientele. During Tom’s early years, Detroit was booming with immigrants and the neighborhoods were vibrant. Unfortunately, the city has taken a turn for the worse in the last fifties years, and Tom’s has felt the bumps along the way. Ron remembers “during the seventies and eighties, Tom would get broken into almost every Sunday night.” It was then that Tom was thinking of quitting, especially after the fire in 79. However, Tom’s loyal customers wouldn’t let him give up and the place remained open. Even today Tom’s customer remain loyal, many of whom are staff and teachers at University of Detroit High School. “We’re integrated on many different levels.” Ron tells me, “the young kids from Cass corridor, constructions workers, judges…” Tom’s attracts quite a unique crowd. Even the Europeans who visit go crazy about the place. They appreciate its unique charm.

The future for Tom’s looks promising, but presents its challenges. According to Ron, the City “ Doesn’t give a rats ass about small business, they doubled and tripped their inspection fees.” Furthermore, insurance rates since 9/11 have skyrocketed, making it hard to keep a place like Tom’s open. The outlook for many of Detroit’s old bars looks bleak and many have unfortunately already closed. Ron believes the bar is “here because enough people care about it” and without such strong support the place could not survive. “You have to be adventurous; we’re not a Royal Oak bar.” They certainly are not and in a time when bars serve more as hook-up spots for young people than neighborhood sanctuaries, Tom’s Tavern remains a real, Detroit bar.





Tom’s Tavern 10093 W. 7 Mile Rd Detroit, MI 48221 313.862.9768

[and the]

Here's a pic of Tom's from a couple years ago.....You went in there May, 1954, '55??? I wasn't even BORN then!! But I'm still old enough to remember Tom. "Hey, don't touch the bebe's!!" (Babies). I went in there one time without a date and Tom said "Where's your girlfriend". When I told him I was between girlfriends at the time, he said "Whatsa matter, you got something wrong with your TOOL!?!?!" I assured him it was OK and thanked him for asking.


The legs of each chair are individually trimmed to fit their particular space at the bar. The floor is so tilted that if you move the wrong chair to the wrong spot, you'll fall out of it. I used to have a nice little website just for Tom's, but I changed providers and took it down. Maybe I'll get around to putting it back up. Come on up Maxine, we'll play Patsy Kline on the jukebox!! You remember Rocky's Pizza on 7 Mile? I'm old enough to have eaten there too!! Closed shortly thereafter though. My grandparents used to have a store in the basement of their house on Wisconsin and Eaton. Before they had it, it was known as "Bib's Market".


Here's a shot of Ron, longtime Tom's regular, current owner, and artist. There used to be a wrought-iron window grate shaped like a....well..."member". Ront made it. At the Summer solstice it was turned "up" and when it got into Fall, he turned in "down". It covered the window of the men's water closet...I don't know what happened to it. Maybe someone stole it.

[Maxine3]

WOW!
Thanks, so much, for posting those pictures!
Yes, 1954/55. I was there. If you weren't born yet, I probably have children older than you
Ahhhh, yes Patsy Kline. I've been a country music fan ever since I can remember.
Those were the days.....
P.S. I don't remember Rocky's Pizza. I didn't live in the neighborhood.

[and the]

Another pic for Maxine....Before the SUV ran through the building last year.


Just got back Maxine. Great night at Tom's. Talked to an 80 year-old Navy vet who had two ships shot out from under him, first at Sicily where the Germans got him from SHORE, and again later in the Phillipines. You never know who you'll meet at Tom's!! Come on up.

[Maxine3]

THANKS !
I was hoping that you had a pic of the outside. It doesn't look much different after 50+ years, unlike some people. I see my grandmother when I look in a mirror

"I'd go in there in the winter and Tom would be asleep against the furnace."

I recall Tom's having a wood-burning stove in the day......

[Maxine3]

Boy, sure looks like I know how to kill a thread
What I meant was that back in my days of going to Tom's (1954/55), I seem to remember a wood stove. Some tell me they don't remember.
Anyway, thanks for posting the pictures. They were a real treat.
It's time for me to get back to living in 2007.
Thanks for the memories....