Cunningham Drug Stores at Grandland

By John Berry

One of my first experiences in buying marbles and trading cards (my Star Wars cards were purchased from this store) came at Cunningham's Drug Store at Grandland between Grand River and Fenkell.  I had two uncles that would take me there (along with my mom and an aunt) would treat me regularly to toys, pop and more at the store. We would often pick up a prescription, my trading cards and then go to Sanders for a treat. 

Cunningham's mid-to-late 1970s

Cunningham's seemed to have everything you would want available; especially for a kid.  It was located close to Sanders and Sibley's Shoe Store.  I believe that Cunningham's also had a 24-hour prescription pick up, or maybe something close to 24 hours.  It was ahead of it's times and advertised itself as 21 stores in one shop.

Cunningham Drug Store was a chain in more than one location, but was based in Detroit, Michigan. The chain had been founded in October 1889 by Andrew Cunningham and was once the largest drugstore chain in the state. In 1982, Cunningham Drug Stores were rebranded as Apex Drug and then later sold to Perry Drugs. I don't recall when the Cunningham Drug Store at Grandland closed, but I assume that it was probably also around 1982.

Today, the old Cunningham's location is still (I believe) occupied by a Dollar General.  A more recent photo of this same location is shown below:

Same area in 2016

Next to Dollar General is a shoe store and another store called Dots.

Sno-White Restaurant

By John Berry

The Sno-White Restaurant was an icon in Rosedale Park.  It was located at 18944 Grand River in Detroit, Michigan at least 1949 to the early 1970s. I don't believe that I ever ate there due to when it closed, but might have when I was very young. Apparently, before the Sno-White Restaurant there was another restaurant that was located on the same spot. I found a reference in the Detroit Free Press to a restaurant burglary there in November of 1943, prior to Sno-White's existence.

The Sno-White Restaurant was owned by Walter Nau and his wife Velma Nau.  The previously owned a grocery store before starting the Sno-White Restaurant from October 1946 to 1949 at 20505 Grand River Avenue. The name of the short-lived grocery store was the Sno-White Food Market.

October 1973

There was a labor organization attempt at the Sno-White that made news in July of 1959, related to efforts to organize Sno-White's 49 employees by the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union. The dispute and pickets apparently occurred for some time, but the restaurant never appears to have been organized.

After Sno-White, the next reference to an establishment at 18944 Grand River was a business known as Rosedale Manor, which appeared to host a variety of events, fashion shows and disco. Apparently, after the Rosedale Manor closed, the address served as the location of the Rosedale Park American Legion, Post #390, which closed in or around November of 1987.

As of 1992, the location hosted a laboratory known as LifeChem Laboratory Services, Northwest Kidney Center.  As of 2017, it appears the location still houses a kidney center, named the Fresnius Kidney Center.

Sno-White Location 2017

Rosedale Travel Agency

By John Berry

I have 2 photos from my mom, Rosemarie Hanson (Berry)'s (1931-2005) photo books.  Most of my Hanson side family from Rosedale Park is gone so it has been hard to find out where this business was, so I am checking again.  I think my family ran the Rosedale Travel Agency and was wondering if anyone knew., based on the structures or past knowledge, where it might have been located.  If anyone knows, I would appreciate it.  Many thanks. I believe it operated in the Rosedale Park area between the mid-1950s to early 1960s. 

Bob Armstrong Buick

By John Berry

17500 Grand River Avenue was home to at least 2 Buick dealerships. The first, so far as I can tell was called Andrews Buick. It appeared to be in operation from at least 1944 to 1958, although the address listed for the dealer between 1944 and 1947 was also 17761 Grand River Ave. Perhaps there were two car lots at the time.

late 1940s

Bob Armstrong Buick took over the location at 17500 Grand River Avenue in Detroit at the corner of Oakfield in Detroit, Michigan. The windows, since it has closed, have long ago been bricked up. According to what I was able to find, Bob Armstrong was an active Buick dealer in the Rosedale Park area from at least 1958 through about the end of September, 1973. I am not quite sure if another business took over 17500 Grand River Ave. after Armstrong Buick left.  

1956

1960

2018

From online accounts, Bob Armstrong was a very nice man, who had worked/owned a Buick dealership closer to downtown Detroit at 6865 Michigan Avenue before opening the location at 17500 Grand River. Eventually, Armstrong Buick moved again to 30500 Plymouth Road in Livonia. It is fascinating that the building is still located at the same spot and recognizable after about 70 years.  Hopefully, another business will take over this location.  

Cregar's Pickwick House Remembered

By John Berry

I remember Cregar's Pickwick House at 19335 Grand River Avenue.  It was my favorite restaurant in Rosedale Park.  It was also the the closest restaurant to me. My uncle's law office (Law Office of Victor Hanson) was located across the street and I essentially grew up in the office when I was younger. My uncle would always walk across the street and bring me a Swankie Frankie (think Bacon) or Club Sandwich and a Malted.  The food was always great and Mr. Cregar (Harold Cregar) was a very nice man to me.  It has been very hard to find photos of the restaurant, but I have some photos and hope to find more as I have more time to research or when people send them to me. If anyone has photos of Cregars, I would love to post them, so please send or post them.

Cregar's Pickwick House - 1950s

History of Cregars

Cregars was owned by Harold T. Cregar, a man from Newark, New Jersey. He began as a buyer of coffee, candy and other goods for the Al Bamberger and Co. in Newark and for soft drinks for the J.L. Hudson company in Detroit. Mr. Cregar saved his money and moved to Detroit in 1948, buying the S & C Cafeteria on Grand River and Outer Drive, naming it Cregar's Pickwick House. Cregar's Pickwick House, over the years, would be host to numerous meetings, conferences and weddings.  Mr. Cregar eventually would eventually expand the restaurant to house 600 people by building additional rooms.

The following are photos in the interior of Cregars.

FBI Investigation

I was in the restaurant the day that the FBI bugged the restaurant. I was 10 at the time, but I remember a lot of craziness about tape recorders being under the tables, on September 3, 1981. The FBI bugged Cregars, for some reason. Cregars often had Detroit politicians at the restaurant and it is believed that the FBI was attempting to bug not the politicians, but rather other individuals.  At one of the tables that day were former Congressman Bill Brodhead and Councilman Jack Kelley, who were not involved in the investigation but spoke a lot about it in the press.

Auction

Often, you will see items from Cregar's Pickwick House for sale on the Internet.  It is like due to the auction that took place on August 19, 1986.

Closing of Cregars

I remember hearing that Mr. Cregar had a stroke from my uncle. Then I heard from my uncle in 1984 that Cregars was going to close in the mid-1980s. One day it was gone.  In its place a medical clinic was built and I believe still is there today.  If you have any photos of the restaurant, please post them.