Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors
Post Number: 181 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 11:11 pm: | |
I heard the LESOD and The Grecian gardens were two mob hot spots anyone have info and pics? |
Patrick Member Username: Patrick
Post Number: 4217 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 11:19 pm: | |
McDonalds on 9 Mile between Kelly and Gratiot |
Whithorn11446 Member Username: Whithorn11446
Post Number: 38 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 11:20 pm: | |
You may find the Lindell A.C. thread relevant. The Grecian Gardens is mentioned. The Grecian Gardens had issues in the 1960's. |
Hans57 Member Username: Hans57
Post Number: 85 Registered: 05-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 11:22 pm: | |
Can someone elaborate on what the LESOD is? |
Whithorn11446 Member Username: Whithorn11446
Post Number: 39 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 11:28 pm: | |
I want to say that was the infamous Orleans St. location that existed until urban renewal eliminated it. The address may have been 530 Orleans and some games organized by the Middlesex St. crowd were running there. I know someone from DPD who had an interesting moment at that location in the 1950's with his bosses. |
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell
Post Number: 3781 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 11:34 pm: | |
The Schvitz on Oakland - Purple gang. |
Blueidone Member Username: Blueidone
Post Number: 35 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 12:10 am: | |
Had a friend who was a waitress at Pinky's many years ago. She always said it was a mob hangout. |
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors
Post Number: 182 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 12:37 am: | |
the LESOD club was an italian hangout that stood for lower east side of detroit. they moved to highland park after pressure to be searched by george edwards. |
Hans57 Member Username: Hans57
Post Number: 86 Registered: 05-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 12:43 am: | |
Grazie mille. |
Whithorn11446 Member Username: Whithorn11446
Post Number: 41 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 12:54 am: | |
As Ray1936 has said on the Lindell thread 1962 was a big year between DPD and organized crime. Inspector Vincent Piersante is a name you will see a lot of if you look into it. The LESOD was the place I believe as previously mentioned was located at 530 Orleans. The Grecian Gardens and Mr.Colacasides black book became issues because some of the names in that books were of DPD personal. Around 1966 Mr. Colacasides spent a lot of time with his attorney Joe Louisell in Wayne Ct. Circuit Court. At some point I think both Edward Piggins and George Bowles were judges names associated with the case. |
Pgn421 Member Username: Pgn421
Post Number: 69 Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 8:07 am: | |
whithorn- Did you live on Whithorn off Gratiot? Ever been to Al`s Inn if you did? |
Club_boss Member Username: Club_boss
Post Number: 33 Registered: 12-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 8:15 am: | |
The good old days...brings a tear to my eye. |
Cambrian Member Username: Cambrian
Post Number: 963 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 8:35 am: | |
I worked at Dimitri's of Southfield in 1990-91. Some mobsters would come in with thier Goomars. Just like they do in the Sopranos. One old dude pulled up, was wearing the Gold Framed Fancy Glasses, and drove a Ferrari. |
Plymouthres Member Username: Plymouthres
Post Number: 91 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 10:29 am: | |
I also thought that Mario's, on Second near Seldon, was a mob hangout, too. |
Redvetred Member Username: Redvetred
Post Number: 4 Registered: 04-2007
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 10:36 am: | |
In the 1970s, Edjo's on Woodward used to have many "wiseguys" stop by to watch the dancers. |
Alan55 Member Username: Alan55
Post Number: 18 Registered: 09-2005
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 10:39 am: | |
Dumbarton Garage - Purple Gang. |
Homer Member Username: Homer
Post Number: 156 Registered: 08-2004
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 10:45 am: | |
Bagley Boys-Clark Park 1950's Oh my bad, wrong gang type......... |
Gargoyle Member Username: Gargoyle
Post Number: 64 Registered: 04-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 11:24 am: | |
Back in the 60's the guy who owned the Stardust bar (at least I think that was the name then) on Mack near the Pointes ran numbers and "loan" enforcement for the Giaccalone brothers. He used a little too much force on one of the debtors, killing him, and himself ended up in the trunk of a car parked at the Atlanta airport with a bullet in the back of his head. This was in May of 1968. Not sure if the big boys ever patronized the place, but it's a good bet. |
Gtat44 Member Username: Gtat44
Post Number: 111 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 2:12 pm: | |
Detroit Italian Bakery...the one on Shoemaker near French and continued when they moved to the Gratiot location. |
Whithorn11446 Member Username: Whithorn11446
Post Number: 44 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 3:46 pm: | |
whithorn- Did you live on Whithorn off Gratiot? Ever been to Al`s Inn if you did? Pgn421, My grandparents lived on Whithorn off of Gunston. My dad lived there until 1976. I was at the house before my grandfather left when I was a kid. I've not heard Al's mentioned. I know the Snow Owl was at the corner of Whithorn and Gratiot for probably 55 or 60 years, which became Dyer's. Dyer's was originally across the street at Gratiot and Loretto. The places I heard constantly mentioned in the area were Sportsmen's, Kragers-Olive Pit, Little Cafe, Happy Landings on Conner, Remer's, Hec's(Gratiot and French Rd.) and Glenwood Bar. That's off the top of my head. Both my dad and grandparents worked downtown so a good amount of time was spent there. |
Kslice Member Username: Kslice
Post Number: 4 Registered: 04-2007
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 4:32 pm: | |
Thanks for the locations. I've been looking to get involved in the outfit. seriously. |
Cambrian Member Username: Cambrian
Post Number: 978 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 4:41 pm: | |
Just open a topless bar on 8 mile. They'll come to you! And I don't mean just to patronize the place either. |
Whithorn11446 Member Username: Whithorn11446
Post Number: 46 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 5:09 pm: | |
I will clarify. I responded to Pgn421 and Al's Inn. I simply listed places that were frequented in that area and Al's Inn was not mentioned. The places I listed had no underworld connections that I knew of. Little Cafe and Kragers were German restaurants. Glenwood Bar was a place to get served underage back in the day. Sportsmen was a place for the owner to show his animal trophies. Happy Landings..well it was commonly called "Crash Landings" for multiple reasons. Hec's was just a blue collar bar. With of the exception of Remer's and the Hec's all of these places are gone. However, they were some places in the area that were "rumored" as hangouts. An alleged underworld figure's car blew up around Gratiot and Gouldburn in 1964. He was accused of being apart of the Walter Reuther shooting in 1948. |
Bigjeff Member Username: Bigjeff
Post Number: 68 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 5:15 pm: | |
My mom told me there was a bar near Six Mile and Gratiot in the 60's and 70's that were co-owned by the Outlaws and the Mob. I don't remember if it was The Snow Owl or Cousin's Two. Or was it called Cousin's Too? I don't remember, but it was one of those bars that had mailbox type shelves when you walked in the door. If you were "packing heat", you had to leave your "piece" in one of those slots. She was a bartender there for a many of years and she never had to worry about getting mugged or any type of problem with the regulars never got out of hand. |
Whithorn11446 Member Username: Whithorn11446
Post Number: 50 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 5:37 pm: | |
I doubt it was the Snow Owl. I believe the same family had that place from the 1930's until the end in the 1980's. I think they were German people. Snow Owl was at the corner of Whithorn and Gratiot. I probably would have heard something about that from someone. |
Terryh Member Username: Terryh
Post Number: 258 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 6:49 pm: | |
Where is dumbarton garage Allen? |
Ladyinabag Member Username: Ladyinabag
Post Number: 218 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 6:54 pm: | |
FAGETABOUTIT!! |
Oladub Member Username: Oladub
Post Number: 30 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 7:42 pm: | |
In about 1964, I was in a Civil Air Patrol group with Nick Colacasedes, the son of the Grecian Garden's owner. After a late meeting he took a bunch of us to the restaurant. Nick had a key to the back door. We walked through the back room, which was set up with tables, to get to the restaurant part. The night manager, whose last name was Vitale, rudely scolded Nick in front of us for taking us through the back room. I thought it was odd that the manager would publicly insult the owner's son. Some months later, the story broke out about gambling in the back room and the black book with prominent names. Nick was later found hanging naked in the stairwell of his GP Park house. Officially it was suicide. I don't think so. Suicide and depression did not seem consistent with what I knew about him. I think, just a guess, it was retribution for his father allowing the black book to get into police hands. I don't think the names in the black book were ever made public by our justice system. |
Pgn421 Member Username: Pgn421
Post Number: 70 Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 7:44 am: | |
Whithorn;Thanks, yes Als was a half block east of Dyers. Dyers is still going strong. |
East_detroit Member Username: East_detroit
Post Number: 1040 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 7:53 am: | |
Tocco's at 10 Mile and Brittany, in East Detroit, used to have monthly meetings in the warehouse with a parking lot full of Cadillacs. |
Pgn421 Member Username: Pgn421
Post Number: 71 Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 8:24 am: | |
Gargoyle: I remember the Stardust. Mack , between Bedford and Devonshire. You are correct |
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia
Post Number: 867 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 1:05 pm: | |
Grosse Pointe South |
Club_boss Member Username: Club_boss
Post Number: 41 Registered: 12-2006
| Posted on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 1:40 pm: | |
Irish Mafia=Westies |
Whithorn11446 Member Username: Whithorn11446
Post Number: 52 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 1:40 pm: | |
Pgn421, So Al's was Gratiot and Filbert ? I've seen the Dyers sign in the old Snow Owl location but didn't know how much business they are doing. My grandfather sometime in the 1990's ran into the old Snow Owl owner(s) somewhere up north like East Tawas. He found out they owned the bar there after recognizing the Snow Owl behind the bar they had from the original location at Whithorn and Gratiot. |
Pgn421 Member Username: Pgn421
Post Number: 72 Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 1:47 pm: | |
whithorn:Have you been up to the new Hec`s? Van Dyke and Outer Drive. |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 5208 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 1:54 pm: | |
Is jjaba missing something? How's come all the wise guys live and do business on the Eastside? jjaba, Proudly Westsider. |
Pgn421 Member Username: Pgn421
Post Number: 73 Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 1:57 pm: | |
Jjaba: westsides gotta them too. Fogettaboutit! |
Whithorn11446 Member Username: Whithorn11446
Post Number: 53 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 4:51 pm: | |
Pgn421, I have not been to the new Hec's on Van Dyke. I was at a wedding last summer in the Outer Drive-Van Dyke and noticed it. We had to kill time between the wedding and reception. If I had known earlier enough I would stopped in. I remember the people standing around outside the church and saying...."let's hit Falcon....oh wait that's gone, how about the Nortown bar ?, no that's gone too" I remember their were some kind of ownership issues with the original Hec's at Gratiot and French Rd. Specifically, an issue with owning the bar operation but not the building or something to that effect. I could be wrong but I thought it resulted in the original Hec's being torn down and replaced by the fast food place. |
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia
Post Number: 869 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 5:57 pm: | |
Club_Boss, Not really. Might have some cousins in NY generations ago... Irish Mafia in Detroit refers to the nickname of the old Irish politicos who used to run the city. Our friends on the East Side were our Sicilian brethren. |
Club_boss Member Username: Club_boss
Post Number: 43 Registered: 12-2006
| Posted on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 9:18 pm: | |
For a second there I thought I had found Francis. Kidding… |
Walkerpub Member Username: Walkerpub
Post Number: 150 Registered: 12-2003
| Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 12:45 am: | |
Windsor also know as The Border Cities once featured the most popular mob hangouts during Prohibition, esp. our notorious roadhouses: "The shoreline of the Detroit River was like a diamond-studded bracelet, each glittering jewel a roadhouse. Americans nightly traversed the mile-wide river to moor their yachts till the first glimpses of dawn. They came to the Canadian shoreline to feast upon the hearty seafood and chicken dinners, soak up the lush, elaborate speakeasies and toss away easy-come, easy-go money in long, bustling, upstairs rooms crammed with gambling table sand flappers." http://www.walkervilletimes.co m/33/roadhouses.html |
Soomka1 Member Username: Soomka1
Post Number: 7 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 2:37 am: | |
Hey Irish_mafia, Grosse Pointe South is where the wannabe kids of mobsters hung out. Their dads who were the real thing used to hang out at that Coney Island on Mack & Anita or Hawthorne. |
Cambrian Member Username: Cambrian
Post Number: 988 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 9:37 am: | |
Most italian mobsters were on the Eastside as it would seem that's where their roots were. Giacolone, however lived in Farmington Hills I think. |
Fjw718 Member Username: Fjw718
Post Number: 101 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 11:40 am: | |
heard that the velvet mafia hangs out at the works |
Zephyrprocess Member Username: Zephyrprocess
Post Number: 333 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 8:20 pm: | |
There were east side Giacolones |
Dodgemain Member Username: Dodgemain
Post Number: 148 Registered: 04-2005
| Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 8:24 pm: | |
Just go to Lucianno's (sp) on Garfield and 17 Mile in Clinton Township. Lots of high power big shots in there. |
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia
Post Number: 870 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 3:36 pm: | |
Soomka1, Are you suggesting the kids followed a different path? |
20043_stotter Member Username: 20043_stotter
Post Number: 13 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 2:53 pm: | |
Gino's Falcon at Outer Drive and Van Dyke was built with mob money. It was rumored long ago. I remember when it was erected. I was a kid living down the block. |
Foodandwine Member Username: Foodandwine
Post Number: 14 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 8:56 am: | |
Try Mr.Paul's Chophouse on Grossebeck North of 12 Mile. |
Sailor_rick Member Username: Sailor_rick
Post Number: 177 Registered: 02-2004
| Posted on Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 11:37 pm: | |
There used to be an Italian restaurant called De Lucas on the east side of Woodward in Royal Oak. With its Sterling Heights rococo interior, El Dorados in the parking lot and patrons that seemed to be quite acquainted with each other, it could have passed as a “friendly gathering place”. |
Detroitfan Member Username: Detroitfan
Post Number: 5 Registered: 04-2007
| Posted on Saturday, April 28, 2007 - 9:47 pm: | |
Does anyone have any pic's of the MC 5 playing around Detroit. Would really like to see something at the Grande. A film about them is due to be released soon. I guess Wayne Kramer has been holding it up for some time. |
Soomka1 Member Username: Soomka1
Post Number: 11 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 12:40 am: | |
Hi Irish_mafia, Sorry, I didn't see your question until now. A lot of their kids did follow a different path. They had all of the advantages that their parents and grandparents lacked. A few knuckleheads tried to become mobsters (and it was easy to guess which ones would), but I think most of them are in jail for stupid things. |
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia
Post Number: 885 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 10:00 am: | |
Hi Soomka, Well that's good news! I knew some of them back in the day and I knew some of them ended up in the Klink. Glad to here that some of the others found an exit strategy. |
Wally2times Member Username: Wally2times
Post Number: 18 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 10:20 am: | |
yugoslavian coffee club in Hamtramck on Jos. Campau nice little gambling establishment frequented by everyone from the mayor of detroit and hamtramck, police,albanian, italian, and other mobsters. Closed up in the early 80's. |
Gingellgirl Member Username: Gingellgirl
Post Number: 4 Registered: 04-2007
| Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 11:05 am: | |
My aunt used to work at Sobo Cleaners on Conant near the railroad tracks. She said it was a front for the Purple Gang. |
Jman Member Username: Jman
Post Number: 50 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 11:24 am: | |
Anyone remember Maxi's Deli which was on Michigan and 8th and later moved to Michigan and Trumbull? Maxi was in the Purple Gang. The Detroit News did a article about him in the 80's. |
Wally2times Member Username: Wally2times
Post Number: 20 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 11:28 am: | |
my dad owned that place. Just a bunch of guys who happened to be mobsters, cops and politicians wanted to gamble but politics did not allow them too. Here they were safe. (Message edited by wally2times on May 04, 2007) |
Middleageguy Member Username: Middleageguy
Post Number: 28 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 5:48 pm: | |
what does the mob still do? I thought they kinda all died away. |
Wally2times Member Username: Wally2times
Post Number: 29 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 7:13 pm: | |
if I told you, I'd have to kill you. lolololol |
Eastside_charlie Member Username: Eastside_charlie
Post Number: 52 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Sunday, May 06, 2007 - 3:30 am: | |
yo, Middleageguy they did all die away, they left the money with me to have fun with. |
Whisper128 Member Username: Whisper128
Post Number: 2 Registered: 05-2007
| Posted on Thursday, May 10, 2007 - 11:11 am: | |
I used to own a club at 28 Grand River between Woodward and Griswald (The building has since been demolished). The building had been a restaurant many times over the years and people said that Al Capone used to dine there when he came to Detroit. Although I can't verify the claim, my club was almost across the street from the downtown synagogue. Also, when I was cleaning the building ten years ago, I discovered bits of decades-old, red- and white-striped wallpaper (Perhaps an Italian restaurant?) near the original tin ceiling. |
Alexei289 Member Username: Alexei289
Post Number: 1285 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Thursday, May 10, 2007 - 12:18 pm: | |
Spagetti Palace on the eastside.. |
Chitaku Member Username: Chitaku
Post Number: 1342 Registered: 03-2006
| Posted on Thursday, May 10, 2007 - 12:20 pm: | |
i remember that place, my dad would make us go there!! (Spaghetti Palace) as for the red and white wallpaper, I know there was a Big Boy on grand River between Woodward and Griswold |
Alexei289 Member Username: Alexei289
Post Number: 1286 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Thursday, May 10, 2007 - 12:26 pm: | |
Shit... spagetti palace was a kool place.. ALOT of bigtimers were in there 24/7.. We all knew who they were.. they always took care of my grandma who Lived near there. |
Kslice Member Username: Kslice
Post Number: 26 Registered: 04-2007
| Posted on Thursday, May 10, 2007 - 4:49 pm: | |
Any one know any CURRENT mob hangouts? Seems like when all the white people left town the mob would have too... |
Bob_cosgrove Member Username: Bob_cosgrove
Post Number: 520 Registered: 03-2005
| Posted on Friday, May 11, 2007 - 1:40 am: | |
The waitress at Pinkey's may have known better than me, but I was in there a number of times at lunch and dinner in the 1960's when I worked at Parke-Davis and never had the impression it was a gang handout. Bob Cosgrove |
Tayshaun22 Member Username: Tayshaun22
Post Number: 363 Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Friday, May 11, 2007 - 2:01 am: | |
Roman Village on Dix I'm pretty sure is owned by the Mafia. I don't know if it's a mob hangout. |
Detroitstar Member Username: Detroitstar
Post Number: 589 Registered: 01-2006
| Posted on Friday, May 11, 2007 - 4:46 am: | |
Machus Red Fox was famous for something... |
Blueidone Member Username: Blueidone
Post Number: 63 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Friday, May 11, 2007 - 9:04 am: | |
Bob..she has passed away now, so I can't confirm with her. But, when she became disabled and could no longer waitress, she was "employed" by some folks from there. I won't go into detail, but suffice it to say that it was not exactly legal. She used to tell me stories about things that went on, and I have no reason to doubt her word. |
Larry Member Username: Larry
Post Number: 189 Registered: 08-2004
| Posted on Saturday, June 09, 2007 - 9:48 pm: | |
Marquette Garden at 6 Mile and Woodward in the late 30's. |