 
Urbanoutdoors
Member
Username: Urbanoutdoors
Post Number: 335
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 12:33 pm: |    |
I for one miss trappers alley I know its still there in a sense with greektown but it is just not the same. I am hoping with all the new development that we will once again have a place like that within such close proximity to downtown without being affiliated with a casino. |
Dialh4hipster
Member
Username: Dialh4hipster
Post Number: 2085
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 12:55 pm: | |
What did you like about it? |
Ramcharger
Member
Username: Ramcharger
Post Number: 314
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 1:12 pm: | |
I miss Trapper’s Alley as well, especially when it still had the food court on the top two floors. Part of the original justification for allowing a casino in Greektown was to save Trapper’s Alley. But the Greektown Casino owners are so stinking cheap… well; don’t get me started on that. |
Downtown_remix
Member
Username: Downtown_remix
Post Number: 346
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 1:26 pm: | |
With some much research going into how to revamp downtown, i think a trappers Alley type spot could be created. how out in some of the yet to be redeveloped sections near the pick fort shelby hotel, or Something that could bridge the gap between Motor city and MGM casinos? |
Vetalalumni
Member
Username: Vetalalumni
Post Number: 410
Registered: 05-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 1:30 pm: | |
Is TA still there? I wonder what it is like now? All I ever hear about today are the casinos.
I liked TA, but I must admit 1989 was my last time there! The "open" feel to it was sort of unique. |
Royce
Member
Username: Royce
Post Number: 2253
Registered: 07-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 1:32 pm: | |
With the new stadiums and new attitudes of suburbanites to frequent Downtown Detroit, Trapper's Alley would have probably faired better now than at the time it was in existence.
Sometimes things come along at the wrong time. |
Gistok
Member
Username: Gistok
Post Number: 4552
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 2:07 pm: | |
Yes Trappers Alley is still there, generally speaking.
You can no longer go up 5 levels. The east escalator and stair are closed off, due to the Casino. I believe you can only go up to the 3rd level of TA to get to the People Mover station. Beyond the 1st floor TA is generally no longer accessible, except for perhaps the 2nd floor of the casino lookout over the alley. Sadly you can no longer go up to the 4th or 5th floor to get the nice views down below and to the outside areas of Greektown.
That sucks! |
Downtown_remix
Member
Username: Downtown_remix
Post Number: 347
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 2:13 pm: | |
well at lease they are expanding the casino to include the 4th an 5th floor rooftop terrace, Trappers Alley was ahead of its time, but how perfect would it be if they converted the building above fishbones into a trappers alley type mall. seems like a few offices an wasted space |
Gistok
Member
Username: Gistok
Post Number: 4554
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 2:20 pm: | |
Are you sure Downtown_remix? I thought the expansion of the gaming area was by building over Lafayette Ave., up to the island in the middle of the street. |
Malcovemagnesia
Member
Username: Malcovemagnesia
Post Number: 39
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 7:18 pm: | |
I've never gone deeper into the Greektown casino cave other than to validate the parking stub. That noise and flashing everything can't be good for anyone prone to epileptic seizures.
How many floors are gambling and how many floors are unused or closed to the public? |
Bumble
Member
Username: Bumble
Post Number: 152
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 7:43 pm: | |
I miss the fudge shop, especially the singing. |
56packman
Member
Username: 56packman
Post Number: 1428
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 7:58 pm: | |
I miss trappers alley as it was when it first opened, not so much later.
"we just can't have anything nice around here!"
Next time keep the riff-raff out. |
Andylinn
Member
Username: Andylinn
Post Number: 425
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 8:04 pm: | |
trappers alley was pretty sweet. the only reason i EVER go up in that shit now (in its casino phase) is to indulge my guilty pleasure... cold stone creamery... always tell my self... "NEXT time i'll go to astoria..." god damn me... though i do spend like 95% of my dollars otherwise at independent detroit city retail... |
Erikd
Member
Username: Erikd
Post Number: 864
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 8:15 pm: | |
The first and third floors of Trappers Alley are completely open to the public, including an outdoor rooftop patio overlooking Greektown on the third floor. The Alley Grille and the Olive Room banquet hall, both on the second floor, are open to the public, but the rest of the second floor is used for employee facilities.
There is a small seating area on the fourth floor that is open to the public, but the rest of the fourth floor is used as offices. The fifth floor is used as offices, and it is the only floor in Trappers Alley that is completely closed to the public. |
Downtown_remix
Member
Username: Downtown_remix
Post Number: 350
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 9:24 pm: | |
they are gonna expand the casino in several areas including over laffeyete. the big property on monroe next to the school and where the jewelry store use to be will be apart of the expanded casino.I asked one of the construction workers on site. |
Cgunn
Member
Username: Cgunn
Post Number: 57
Registered: 01-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 10:19 pm: | |
Yeah I miss laser tag, and the real penny candy store; can't find those anymore. But hopefully the Casino will use more of the building as remix stated. |
Detroitej72
Member
Username: Detroitej72
Post Number: 561
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 10:35 pm: | |
I miss the miniture golf on the fifth floor. Only played a couple of times, but that was because they were only open a short time.
Harmony House was also a fav. of mine, it was there I bought my first copy of REM's Murmer here!
(Message edited by detroitej72 on June 16, 2007)
(Message edited by detroitej72 on June 16, 2007) |
Jenniferl
Member
Username: Jenniferl
Post Number: 374
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2007 - 11:40 pm: | |
Do they still have any stores inside Trapper's Alley? I still have some records (yes, records) that I bought at the Harmony House that used to be there. They had some clothing stores too-- and a store where everything was purple. |
Ericdetfan
Member
Username: Ericdetfan
Post Number: 99
Registered: 02-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, June 17, 2007 - 1:40 am: | |
I went there once back in the mid 90's. I remeber the comic book shop they used to have in there. It was pretty sweet! |
Paulmcall
Member
Username: Paulmcall
Post Number: 181
Registered: 05-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 17, 2007 - 9:23 am: | |
No. It had great potential but never took off. |
Gistok
Member
Username: Gistok
Post Number: 4561
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 17, 2007 - 3:21 pm: | |
Downtown-remix, the area next to the school where the jewelry store used to be is where the elevated walkway from the hotel tower will connect to the casino. It will be interesting to see how it looks when it's done. Wonder if there'll be an atrium or something like that so that hotel guests can choose which gaming floor they wish to visit.
Mercifully that means that the St. Mary's School Building will not have a hole punched into it to connect the hotel/casino. That walkway will bypass the historic building.
I hope that they use the school as office space (or ?), and open up more of the Trappers Alley floor space as public areas (retail/entertainment/dining), like it used to be, because the fenced off closed stairway and escalator (1st floor) look very tacky.
(Message edited by Gistok on June 17, 2007) |
Downtown_remix
Member
Username: Downtown_remix
Post Number: 354
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, June 17, 2007 - 3:35 pm: | |
i was told the school will be intergrated in the casino expansion. that is a huge lot next to the school. I wonder if they will build the casino to front monroe since the guy told me the school will be apart of the casino |
Gistok
Member
Username: Gistok
Post Number: 4563
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 17, 2007 - 3:45 pm: | |
Yes, the casino purchased the school. But due to its' historic nature (isn't it on the historic registry?), I hope that they don't make drastic changes to it. It'll be interesting to see how it connects to the casino.
And yes, it is likely that the casino expansion will front Monroe St. next to the school, since they don't have too many other options for expanding the casino space. |
Classico
Member
Username: Classico
Post Number: 20
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Monday, June 18, 2007 - 1:16 am: | |
I remember my Uncle taking me down there a bit in the late 80's early 90's. He was a big Panama Jack guy, so we'd always hit that store. They still make P-Jack??
I remember thinking it was cool as hell as a kid. I do miss it though. |
Mallory
Member
Username: Mallory
Post Number: 133
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Monday, June 18, 2007 - 8:55 am: | |
To me, TA always gave me the sense that Detroit wasn't such a bad place. Even with the reputation the city has had for years, TA always made me feel like the city was going in the right direction. I worked in the Penobscot from 1988-1991 and used to go to TA quite often. I particularly liked the open air bar at the top. Great view of the skyline and it made me proud of the city.
Trappers Alley RIP. |
El_jimbo
Member
Username: El_jimbo
Post Number: 226
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Monday, June 18, 2007 - 9:07 am: | |
Before Greektown Casino made their decision on their new facilities, I always had visions that trapper's alley would someday become something similiar to the B.O.B. Grand Rapids. I think that sort of setup would have been very successful in that location. |
Waz
Member
Username: Waz
Post Number: 84
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 19, 2007 - 4:44 pm: | |
I used to like going there at Christmas time. It was decorated nicely and they had carolers too. |