107-year-old New Hellas Café in Greektown shuts its doors permanently on Sunday 3/23

[Bozita]

I'm pretty sure other DUers have fond memories of this cultural institution.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080322/BIZ/803220368/&imw=Y

Saturday, March 22, 2008
Detroit's oldest Greek restaurant to shut doors
Owner, 80, will serve the last diners at the 107-year-old New Hellas Café on Sunday.
Jennifer Youssef / The Detroit News

On Sunday night, the last glass of wine at New Hellas Café in Greektown will be poured and sipped. The final "Opa!" will be shouted. And then the doors will close for the last time.
After 107 years in Detroit, New Hellas, the city's oldest Greek restaurant, will be only a memory.

Owner Gus Anton, 80, of Grosse Pointe said he can't keep up with the busy life of a restaurateur anymore and will shut down the popular business his father opened in 1901.

"I'm very sad, naturally," he said. "But at my age, what can you do? I'm old. I need the rest."

The 35 New Hellas employees will receive severance pay and, if the restaurant is sold, Anton hopes the staff will be hired back. For now, he isn't certain what will happen to the building once the restaurant is closed.

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[Festivito]

1. Fond memories: good friends, food and wine. Thanks Gus.

I will miss that window corner booth with friends topping off midday excursions. And our best friend, the waiter, whomever it would be, graciously and skillfully befriending our selections.

Good job all.

[TahitiNut]

2. Damn. Between the Laikon and New Hellas, my college days at WSU were nurtured.

I preferred the Laikon, of course, except when I had a date. Virtually every week (or more) a few of us (including my fraternity brothers who were Greek-born) would do a pilgrimage to the Laikon for avgolemono, yiaprakia, dolmades, moussaka, and leg of lamb. Yum.

:cry:

[noonwitch]

3. The Laikon is still there-it's my favorite in Greektown

They have tables in the front windows, which is cool when you bring kids there to eat. The food is good, and the host is a hot Greek man.

They also have a model boat hanging from the ceiling, that is pretty cool to look up at.