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Dining out in Wayne in the 40’s and 50’s

By Darlene Hawley gan Ave. across the street from the
Growing up in Wayne in the State Wayne Theater. The Wayne
1940’s and 50’s, our family of seven Dairy provided our community with
(later to grow to nine) very seldom milk and milk products plus an ice
ate out. Money was tight with a large cream parlor serving sodas, sundaes
family and just getting everyone and other treats. It was located on
dressed up and ready to go to a the south side of Main Street, west of
restaurant was challenging. But, it Newberry.
was always a real treat when we did Ed’s Lunch was located at 3924
go out for dinner in Wayne. There Wayne Rd. between Norris and
was no shortage of restaurants in Brush. Besides serving food it was
Wayne in those days and fast food a pool hall and was a front runner in
restaurants had not appeared on the selling pizza before all the pizza
scene as yet. Downtown Wayne serv- shops opened. Ed’s Lunch was also
iced all of the needs of the people of the site of many professional bil-
our community and the surrounding liards competitions in days gone by.
area. There were clothing, shoe, Long ago the Chocolate House sat at
music, variety, drug, hardware, gro- 35203 Michigan Ave. and later be-
cery and jewelry stores, as well as came Flo’s Grill and then Sheila’s
beauty shops, barber shops, car Grill before closing. Frenchy’s Coney
dealerships, garages and many busi- Island was on Wayne Rd. across
ness and utility offices. Wayne also from Jake’s which was originally We-
had many restaurants which served berline’s. Lee’s Hamburgers and
the people who worked downtown as The recently demolished Brownies Restaurant on Michigan Avenue was also a pop- Catering on Main St. was run by Jim
well as those who shopped down- Leright and was located across from
town. These restaurants were filled ular place to eat pictured above, will soon be replaced by Lee’s Chicken. Photo courtesy the old Roosevelt school between
with local people having breakfast, of The Wayne Historical Museum Sophia and Clark streets. The white,
lunch and dinner at their favorite named after the railroad which ran and is now McDonald’s.) cinder block building still stands
spot during the week and on week- through Wayne. Passengers disem- In 1946 there was a Dolly’s today across from the Westchester
ends. I have many fond memories of barking from the trains could get a Lunch at Wayne Rd. and Van Born, Towers. Mr. Leright also had a
walking to downtown Wayne with my meal at The Central. In 1939, some The Pit Barbecue at 32746 Michigan restaurant on the west side of Wayne
sisters and friends in the summer or may remember The Club Restaurant, Ave. and the Hamburger House at Rd. south of Chestnut. It later be-
on Saturday mornings to go to the li- The Cottage, The Village Coffee Shop 35826. Others restaurants along came Howard’s Hoagies. Another
brary, shop at the 5 & 10 Cent Vari- and The Wayne Café, which were all Michigan Avenue were The Hearth- eatery was the Northside Restaurant
ety store and have lunch at the soda located along Michigan Ave in down- stone Inn at 35604 and Papa Harry’s located on Wayne Rd. in the south-
fountain in Kresges or Cunningham’s town Wayne. The Wayne Café was in at 35002. The Barrick’s Restaurant ern section of the building housing
on the north east corner of Michigan the Wilson Building which later be- was at 2920 Washington and was for- Northside Hardware. The Ledge-
Ave. and Wayne Rd. came Kresges. In 1947 Mr. R. merly called the Princess Cafe. rock Restaurant was located in the
In 1824 when George M. John- Reynolds bought a restaurant run by Avery’s Restaurant was located at building where the US 12 is today. It
son bought property in a vast wilder- the senior Leright family and opened 35714 Main Street. Chums Fine later became the Cameo. This block
ness and built a tavern on the Old Chappie’s Coffee Shop. It was built Food could be found on the south of buildings originally housed other
Saulk Trail which meandered from on Michigan Ave. (where Stuart’s side of Michigan Ave. east of Second stores including the Wayne Hobby
Detroit to Chicago, our community Dress Shop was built a few years Street and was a favorite of locals for Shop.
had its beginnings. Johnson’s Tav- later) and was across the street from many years. The owner, Mr. Stock- The Alamo was located on the
ern might be considered the first Mulholland’s and Brownie’s Taxi well, eventually moved to Glenwood north side of Michigan Avenue east
“restaurant” in our community. It Stand. Chappie’s was a family across the street from Wayne Memo- of Venoy and the Town House was lo-
serviced travelers on foot, horse- restaurant which employed the rial where his son, Larry Stockwell, cated near it. Claude Howard (a city
back, stage coach and wagon. Since whole Reynolds family including ran the popular Chums Donut Shop. councilman) purchased it and built
that time, many eating establish- grandma, aunts and uncles. The Chat and Chew Grill was located Howard’s Town House on the south
ments have been built in our area Fessler’s was a long time restau- on Michigan Avenue across from Old side of Michigan Ave. which is now
and have thrived, changed owners, rant at 35103 Michigan Ave at Wash- Wayne High (which later became the Red Apple.
changed names, rebuilt, moved loca- ington St. It later became the Cameo West Side Junior High and then the Sambo’s Restaurant opened in a
tions and always served the growing and then the Golden Boy. The Administration Building for the new building on the north side of
community. Long time residents of Golden Boy moved to Elizabeth Wayne Westland Schools. Today The Michigan Ave. west of the train
Wayne will remember many of these Street (where The Avenue sits today) Korean Village sits on the site). On viaduct and west of the Wayne Bowl-
eateries mentioned in this article when Chuck Muer bought the prop- the south side of town, Temple’s Din- ing Alley. Sambo’s and the property
and many will recall others that may erty and built a new building to ing Room was located on the east it sat on were bought out by the Ford
not be mentioned. All have provided house his restaurant Chuck Muer’s side of Wayne Road at Harroun Motor Company. When the Metro
people of our community with suste- at Michigan and Wayne Rd. Chuck Street and provided patrons with Mall was built it housed the Wayne
nance and a place to socialize. Muer closed his restaurant and sold fine dining. It later became The Cafe, later to become a Coney Island
In 1929 The Central Restaurant the building which became Rex’s Prince and the Pauper. The Tip Top which is still operating today as
sat on Michigan Ave. It was probably Restaurant. (Rex’s was torn down Grill was on the south side of Michi- Nick’s Coney Island.
The Wayne Dispatch · April 2023 · 5