Awrey Bakery sold, brand saved

On the side of an Awrey semi-trailer
The trailer was gone shortly after this photo was taken.
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 This little-noticed sign on the the north wall of the Awrey building has seen better days. It is unknown if it will be repaired,  removed or replaced by the new owners.

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In the fall of 2012, facing seemingly insurmountable financial trouble, Awrey Bakeries said it would lay off most of its 200 employees unless a buyer could be found for the 103-year-old company by mid-February.

As hopes for finding a buyer dimmed, the company discontinued retail bakery operations and began dismantling equipment which was to be sold at an auction scheduled for February 20th. On February 19th, in what was literally a last-minute reprieve, privately-held Minnie Marie Bakers of the Midland-Bay City, Michigan area came forward with a purchase offer just eight minutes before the final sale deadline.

New CEO Jim McColgan said owner Ron Beebe will change the Livonia bakery's name to Minnie Marie Bakers, Inc., but will "keep the Awrey brand name alive." McColgan also said they intend to rehire more than 150 laid off workers and reopen the 218,000 square foot facility within thirty days.

Sales and marketing director John Awrey, who is a member of the founding family, said he is “pleased that the new owner will preserve the Awrey’s brand and tradition of fine products."

"They know Michigan is a good place to do business and will expand our focus to develop a local supply chain of farmers, millers and producers of Michigan-grown wheat, soybeans, sugar and other ingredients," Awrey said.

When the bakery reopened on March 11th, about 50 former employees had been returned to work. McColgan said the number of workers they can rehire will depend on sales.


Read more about Awrey in this previous post.


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Tap Room - Ypsilanti

Tap Room Bar

Ypsilanti, Michigan

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The landmark Tap Room Bar dates to 1941 and the building to 1850.

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Pegasus

 Pegasus Taverna

Greektown - Detroit, Michigan

A favorite night spot near the Greektown Casino in Detroit.

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Fishbones

Monroe Ave.
Detroit, Michigan
 

A favorite in Detroit's Greektown district.

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Trail Bar - Vintage Neon

Trail Bar Vintage Neon Sign

Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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This classic neon sign with incandescent chaser on the now-closed Trail Bar in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn Heights probably dates to the post-war 1940s to mid 1950s.




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Bronx Bar - Detroit: Just the Basics

The Bronx Bar

Detroit, Michigan

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Best guesses estimate that the Bronx Bar dates from the late 1930s, possibly 1937. That's the only uncertain thing, though, about this Second Ave. mainstay of the Wayne State University / Cass Corridor area. You can be certain of everything else about the completely unpretentious Bronx Bar. 

You can be certain to find:

No designer decor. Just an unassuming and mismatched assortment of stained glass hanging lights, fringe, and table lamps on the wooden bar along with other odd items collected through the years.

No dress code. They only require that you be clothed, even if it's only pajamas.

Nothing special at all.
  No special event nights
  No karioke
  No drink or food specials
  No happy hour
  No dancing
  No television
  No entertainment, save for one small pool table and one juke box.

No big prices. Beer starts at $2.00 and drinks run $3.50 to $5.50. If you want wine, it's served in a highball glass. Martini glasses? Forget about it!

Reasonably good bar food staples like burgers, fries, onion rings and sandwiches reasonably priced from $3.50 to $7.00 with reasonably sized portions.

Friendly people on both sides of the bar.

The best shot / beer / burger joint in the area. 




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Kowalski Kowality

Kowalski Headquarters

Hamtramck, Michigan

In 1920, Agnes and Zygmund Kowalski, who emigrated from Poland to pursue the American Dream, opened a small grocery store on Chene St. in Detroit. They wanted to bring their favorite Polish keilbasa and other sausages from the old country so a smokehouse was added to the store. Demand grew and new plant was built on Holbrook Street in Hamtramck.

The business has grown as it has passed to each succeeding generation. Adhering to Kowalski tradition, their secret family recipes and hardwood smoking process have not changed. Today, ninety years later, the company employs more than 100 people and Kowalski products can be found not only in the Detroit area, but as far as Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.

Vintage Kowalski Sign

on the closed Nortown Bakery & Deli building in Hamtramck.

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Elias Bros. Big Boy Drive-In

Big Boy Drive-In
Livonia, Michigan

Curb service at the Big Boy on Plymouth and Farmington Rds. was "curbed" long ago, but this sign remains as a dim, flickering reminder of the days of hot rods and car hops. This little-noticed sign at the Farmington Rd. entrance is probably the last Elias Bros. sign in existence. 

                      

In 1936, Bob Wian sold his prized DeSoto Roadster to purchase a small hamburger stand in Glendale, California which he named Bob's Pantry. One night one of his regular customers asked for something different. Bob went to work and created the first double-decker hamburger.

Customers couldn't get enough of Bob's burgers. One fan in particular was a chubby six-year-old boy in droopy overalls, little Richard Woodruff (1936–1986), also of Glendale. One day as Wian was trying to cook up a name for his new sensation, in walked Richard. Always happy to see him, Wian said, "Hello, big boy!" and the name stuck. Another frequent customer was Warner Bros. animation artist Ben Washam who sketched Richard's caricature on a napkin which became the Big Boy mascot.


Wian sold his very successful brand and chain to Marriott Corp. in 1967. By 1979 there were more than a thousand Big Boy restaurants in the U.S. and Canada, and about 20 franchisees. Shoney's, Elias Brothers and Frisch's—charter franchisees—controlled the vast majority.

Detroit's Elias brothers, Fred Sr., Louis, and John, who became the first Big Boy Restaurant franchisees in 1952, bought the chain from Mariott in 1987 and moved the headquarters to Warren, Michigan. They were exclusive worldwide franchisers of the Big Boy Restaurant system, which operated 925 Big Boys in the United States, Canada and Japan until declaring bankruptcy in 2000.

After bankruptcy, investor Robert Leggett, Jr. bought the chain and became CEO.  Immediately after the purchase, Liggett Restaurant Enterprises, dba Big Boy Restaurants International, negotiated an agreement with the other large franchise operator, Frisch's Restaurants, which granted Frisch's exclusive, perpetual ownership of Big Boy marks in Kentucky, Indiana, and most of Ohio and Tennessee. All other Frisch's territories transferred to Liggett. Big Boy International and Frisch's now are co-registrants of the Big Boy name and trademark. Thus, Frisch's is no longer a franchisee but essentially an equal owner with Liggett. Frisch's is the owner or franchisor of 118 Big Boy restaurants in the United States.

Still headquartered in Warren, Big Boy Restaurants International is franchisor for 126 Big Boy restaurants - including Bob's Big Boy - in the United States.



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Cas Bar

 Cas Bar

Detroit, Michgian

Vintage neon sign on Michigan Ave., Detroit.

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Jimi's

Jimi's Ice Cream Pallis

Royal Oak, Michigan

Unfortunately the "Pallis" is closed so the sign, which seems to be in great shape, isn't illuminated any more. The owner said he might reopen it next summer.




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Dairy Treat

Dairy Treat

Detroit, Michigan

Vintage neon sign at the now-closed Dairy Treat on Mack Ave.

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Awrey gone awry

Awrey Bakery

Livonia, Michigan

The Awrey Bakery and outlet store in Livonia, Michigan are still operating, but this landmark sign has been sadly neglected. Much of the neon is out and the windmill vanes no longer turn.

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Awrey Bakeries got its start in 1910 when Fletcher and Elizabeth Awrey left Canada and moved to Detroit looking for work in the auto industry.

To help make ends meet, Elizabeth Awrey began baking breads and pies in her wood-fired oven and selling them to neighbors, which her three sons — Elton, Wilbur and Thomas — would deliver. As business boomed, the Awreys opened a retail outlet in 1914 on Tireman and Epworth near West Grand Blvd. in Detroit, where the firm's first "volume baking" began.

The next four decades saw Awrey expand from a home-based business into a large enterprise with commercial bakery facilities, home delivery, and 91 stores by 1940. After WW II Awrey's growth resumed aided by the increasing popularity of supermarkets. By 1950 the company had 120 locations, including both individual stores and supermarket concessions, and its home delivery service. Increased success required increased capacity, and a new bakery and headquarters was built in Livonia in 1967. In 1969 the entire operation was moved there and the Tireman plant was closed.

By 1990 Awrey's food service business accounted for 70% of total revenues, with retail sales contributing one-quarter and contract baking making up the remainder. The company had 700 food service distributors and a national network of brokers that distributed its products to institutional accounts such as hospitals, schools, and restaurants. The retail line was distributed in southeastern Michigan to stores that ranged from major supermarket chains to small independent grocers.

Unfortunate changes in management and strategies led to a decline in business which resulted in Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2005. The sale out of bankruptcy in 2008, enabled Awrey to repay its creditors at 98 cents on the dollar from proceeds.

Awrey survived the turmoil and continued operations. The brand celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2010.


UPDATE:  Financial trouble again threatened Awrey's existence in late 2012, but a last-minute purchase by Minnie Marie Bakers saved the 103-year-old brand from oblivion in February, 2013. Read more here.



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8-Wood Motel

8-Wood Motel

Ferndale, Michigan

On the north side of Eight Mile Rd. (yep, the one in the movie of the same name) at Woodward across the border from Detroit. In this joint I wouldn't be surprised if they have an unpublished hourly rate, but doubt there's much  demand for HBO.

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