"Windsor was the template for Vegas." Those are the words of Sam Drakich, now the former owner of the Top Hat restaurant, describing the glory days of the Rose City during the supper club era of the 50s, 60s and 70s. It was "right out of a Frank Sinatra film. Top entertainment with big bands and colourful gala...Celebrities were all over the city and county." In the aftermath of an ugly battle between the Drakich family, the city of Windsor and a myriad of potential suitors for the former Top Hat restaurant, we, at SDW, wanted to know what killed the downtown core and, with it, the heart and soul of Windsor. In a candid interview with Sam Drakich we explored where Windsor came from, how we got there, and where we are headed.
"...Devonshire Mall hurt downtown [and] poor city management and planning helped speed up the decay" asserts Drakich. A review of the state of downtown Windsor certainly supports the claim that Windsor has done little to support the small business while doing everything within its' power to bring in big business. As already announced on this blog Windsor has lost another classic restaurant La Cuisine. A downtown business manager, who asked not to be named, indicated that in recent months three businesses have closed on his block alone and that they are making plans to close their doors in January. By that account, city hall is turning a blind eye to the devastation of the downtown core. While the city courts chain restaurants, fast food or otherwise, and lauds the development of the Walker Road commercial corridor as "smart development" our small business owners our fleeing the city like rats on a sinking ship.
The word among some administration officials, and business owners, is that Windsor is in trouble and, without a comprehensive plan to attract and keep business, we agree. The plan, according to Drakich, needs to include "a street mall in front of the Windsor Armouries...a plaza with open air concerts and dancing or a ... market". To bring back the American dollars, he continued, we need to re-discover our uniquely Canadian and British roots with stores that cater to a more sophisticated crowd including posh eateries and clothing stores that provide high quality service and merchandise.
Windsor certainly has its' priorities mixed up. The city is investing $65 million into a new arena to service a small percentage of the city while the average home owner faces increased taxes and utility charges to support infrastructure and an administration that is being neutered by council. This is a city built strong by the immigrant business owners who worked hard, played hard and, most importantly, lived, and spent their money, in Windsor with pride. We have an obligation to preserve and prosper their spirit of entrepreneurship. The Windsor that Sam remembers drew Americans and Canadians in droves and was often the talk of the Ed Sullivan Show, Light Night with Jack Parr and, later, Johnny Carson. Entertainment in Windsor was even covered in Billboard and Variety magazines; "Windsor was booming... that was the attraction" said Drakich.
If Windsor had gone from boom to bust over night we could (maybe) understand. Communities all across Canada have faced devastation when local industries have closed. Sudbury and the nickel mines, countless small prairie towns as the grain elevators closed and, most recently, Oshawa and demise of General Motors. Yet Windsor didn't bust overnight; we've been in a slow-motion collapse since the late 80s with business after business fleeing for, first, the suburbs, then the bedroom communities of Lasalle and Tecumseh and, now, they are even stretching out as far as Lakeshore. I remember doing the Mother's Pizza tour in public school, spending countless hours at Fast Eddies and frequenting the Palace theatre and the Cineplex in the old Best Western on the riverfront. Those businesses are gone, victims of commercial evolution, natural disasters and expropriation. Gone with them is an era that, in the minds of all who can, and care to, remember, was a better time.
Windsor needs to change, and change now. We asked Drakich who on counsel had the vision to pull Windsor from the current downward spiral. "Nobody" he responded "have (sic) a vision." We, at SWD, disagree that nobody on council has a vision though the visionaries are outnumbered and, at times, tend to hide their visionary ways. Halberstadt and, surprisingly, Marra have shown some incredibly insightful ideas at times, but they are fighting against councilors, and a Mayor, who live like we are blue-collar bumpkins. Windsor needs leadership, and needs to start making the hard choices. We keep trying to forge out on our own, trying to reinvent the wheel. When city planners present policies for counsel approval they are always asked to contrast and compare the proposed policy against that of other municipalities in Ontario. When it comes to land use and development, without fail, Windsor always takes the low road, preferring to serve us development gruel rather the gourmet plans served up by Guelph, Kitchener and even Toronto.
Windsor can change. At SDW we know that, and we can see it happening. Blogs like this, and others, are starting to mobilize citizens, cast lights on the dark corners of city administration, and ask the questions that need to be asked. Business owners like Sam Drakich and his family were once the lifeblood of Windsor and, now, are sacrificing family businesses to the highest bidder and deepest pockets. With so much invested in Windsor the Drakich family has brought us good times and good memories, unfortunately their legacy will be a Burger King. I wonder if Audrey Hepburn and Frank Sinatra like cheese on their Whoppers?
"...Devonshire Mall hurt downtown [and] poor city management and planning helped speed up the decay" asserts Drakich. A review of the state of downtown Windsor certainly supports the claim that Windsor has done little to support the small business while doing everything within its' power to bring in big business. As already announced on this blog Windsor has lost another classic restaurant La Cuisine. A downtown business manager, who asked not to be named, indicated that in recent months three businesses have closed on his block alone and that they are making plans to close their doors in January. By that account, city hall is turning a blind eye to the devastation of the downtown core. While the city courts chain restaurants, fast food or otherwise, and lauds the development of the Walker Road commercial corridor as "smart development" our small business owners our fleeing the city like rats on a sinking ship.
The word among some administration officials, and business owners, is that Windsor is in trouble and, without a comprehensive plan to attract and keep business, we agree. The plan, according to Drakich, needs to include "a street mall in front of the Windsor Armouries...a plaza with open air concerts and dancing or a ... market". To bring back the American dollars, he continued, we need to re-discover our uniquely Canadian and British roots with stores that cater to a more sophisticated crowd including posh eateries and clothing stores that provide high quality service and merchandise.
Windsor certainly has its' priorities mixed up. The city is investing $65 million into a new arena to service a small percentage of the city while the average home owner faces increased taxes and utility charges to support infrastructure and an administration that is being neutered by council. This is a city built strong by the immigrant business owners who worked hard, played hard and, most importantly, lived, and spent their money, in Windsor with pride. We have an obligation to preserve and prosper their spirit of entrepreneurship. The Windsor that Sam remembers drew Americans and Canadians in droves and was often the talk of the Ed Sullivan Show, Light Night with Jack Parr and, later, Johnny Carson. Entertainment in Windsor was even covered in Billboard and Variety magazines; "Windsor was booming... that was the attraction" said Drakich.
If Windsor had gone from boom to bust over night we could (maybe) understand. Communities all across Canada have faced devastation when local industries have closed. Sudbury and the nickel mines, countless small prairie towns as the grain elevators closed and, most recently, Oshawa and demise of General Motors. Yet Windsor didn't bust overnight; we've been in a slow-motion collapse since the late 80s with business after business fleeing for, first, the suburbs, then the bedroom communities of Lasalle and Tecumseh and, now, they are even stretching out as far as Lakeshore. I remember doing the Mother's Pizza tour in public school, spending countless hours at Fast Eddies and frequenting the Palace theatre and the Cineplex in the old Best Western on the riverfront. Those businesses are gone, victims of commercial evolution, natural disasters and expropriation. Gone with them is an era that, in the minds of all who can, and care to, remember, was a better time.
Windsor needs to change, and change now. We asked Drakich who on counsel had the vision to pull Windsor from the current downward spiral. "Nobody" he responded "have (sic) a vision." We, at SWD, disagree that nobody on council has a vision though the visionaries are outnumbered and, at times, tend to hide their visionary ways. Halberstadt and, surprisingly, Marra have shown some incredibly insightful ideas at times, but they are fighting against councilors, and a Mayor, who live like we are blue-collar bumpkins. Windsor needs leadership, and needs to start making the hard choices. We keep trying to forge out on our own, trying to reinvent the wheel. When city planners present policies for counsel approval they are always asked to contrast and compare the proposed policy against that of other municipalities in Ontario. When it comes to land use and development, without fail, Windsor always takes the low road, preferring to serve us development gruel rather the gourmet plans served up by Guelph, Kitchener and even Toronto.
Windsor can change. At SDW we know that, and we can see it happening. Blogs like this, and others, are starting to mobilize citizens, cast lights on the dark corners of city administration, and ask the questions that need to be asked. Business owners like Sam Drakich and his family were once the lifeblood of Windsor and, now, are sacrificing family businesses to the highest bidder and deepest pockets. With so much invested in Windsor the Drakich family has brought us good times and good memories, unfortunately their legacy will be a Burger King. I wonder if Audrey Hepburn and Frank Sinatra like cheese on their Whoppers?
