Deutschof Becomes Danny's – March 1954

Do you remember the Deutschof? 

The restaurant known as "the Fun Spot of Lorain" held its Grand Opening at its original location at 571 Broadway in 1933. It moved to its new location at 651 Broadway in the late 1940s. There, it continued its fine reputation as a place to enjoy fine food and the best in entertainment.

(I did a multi-part series on the Deutschof, featuring some great photos of its interior provided by a reader, starting waaaaay back here in 2011.)

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Joseph L. Deutsch, the owner of the Deutschof, passed away in late May 1949. The business kept on for a few more years before a major change took place in March 1954 – a new name, new approach and (I'm assuming) a new owner.

Here's the ad announcing the transition from the Deutschof to Danny's Bar (or just Danny's for short). It ran in the Lorain Journal back on March 12, 1954.

The ad is interesting in that it appears (via the illustration of the grinning worker punching his time card) that Danny's was trying to be the place where a working man could stop after work – sort of a 1950s version of "Miller Time." But the ad counteracts this theme by pointing out that the 'whole family is welcome.'

But it appears that Danny's didn't last very long. The building would be the home of Ben Hart Show Bar about a year later.

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Stopping for a drink after work apparently was a big thing in a working man's town like Lorain, judging by the number of bars located all in a row on a major street, especially across from a factory or plant (like U. S. Steel).

Even my grandfather was known to stop every night on his way home from his job at the Journal for a drink at the Elks Club. Mom told me that a few times she was sent to fetch him there, and she remembered the boisterous singing of bawdy songs, like Roll Me Over.

I'm (*hic*) guilty of the practice myself. While in my 20s, I worked for an architect on E. Ninth Street in Downtown Cleveland for a short while in the early 1980s. Very conveniently, there was a bar with a very nice lounge located in our building at street level. (Our office was in the basement.) So naturally, the other two guys I worked with (a draftsman and a landscape architect) and I stopped for a quick snort each night. It gave the draftsman time to flirt with the cocktail waitress, as well as regularly providing me an opportunity to almost miss my bus home. I remember many times running like Dagwood Bumstead from E. Ninth to Public Square trying to get there in time.

Thanksgiving at the Deutschof – 1937

Many people enjoy Thanksgiving dinner out at a restaurant, and thus avoid the unpleasant task of washing dishes.

The older I get, this seems to make more sense to me. Maybe next year.

Back on Thanksgiving Day 1937, one of the choices for a fine meal for Lorainites was the Deutschof . It had a nice menu for the day, with expected items (turkey with chestnut dressing, fluffy mashed potatoes) as well as a few surprises (marinated herring, french fried potatoes and fruit cake). Assorted nuts and mints rounded out the feast.

Here’s hoping that you are able to celebrate the holiday with a fine meal, in the company of your loved ones and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Deutschof Part 3

Here's a 'then and now' view of the Deutschof.

Joe Deutch appears to have passed away around 1950. By 1952, the Deutschof was no longer in business  – but that wasn't the end of the good times at at 651 Broadway.

Around 1954, Danny's Bar took over the space, followed by a variety of other businesses, including Ben Hart (also known as Ben Hart Show Bar) from 1955-1963, The Tropics from 1964-1965, D'Agnese Restaurant and Lounge from 1966-1968, The Golden Nugget from 1969-1973 and The Angry Bull in 1974. (All dates are approximate and from the City Directory.)

Later businesses included Duffy's Lounge, Secrets Club and the current occupant, Old Towne Charleston.

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I'm sure Lorain has a hundred stories like that of the Deutschof, in which a popular business thrives for a number of years, brings much enjoyment to its customers and employees, and then promptly disappears, leaving only memories along with some photos in a scrapbook.

I think it's important to try and tell as many of these stories as possible to keep those memories alive, and to let future generations know how special a place Lorain was during its 'golden years'.

If you have a personal connection to a business and/or some reminisces that you would like to see highlighted here on the blog, please send me an email. I have a couple of people already who are compiling photos and histories, and it is a pleasure to be able to provide a forum in which people can share special memories and good times.

The Deutschof Part 2

The new location of the Deutschof at 651 Broadway

Brad Nitzke's father was a bartender at the Deutschof in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Brad was nice enough to allow me to post these photos from the family photo album.

The inside of the restaurant looked quite opulent.

The photo below is of special interest to Brad. "The man on the left clapping is my father," he notes. "He did sign painting on the side and I believe the sign above  them was done by him. He painted signs for a lot of the small stores around Lorain."

Brad's photo collection also includes many of the entertainers who used to perform at the Deutschof. The photo below shows Bob Veon at the piano & Solovox.

Check out the great steel mill mural behind Mr. Veon!

Special thanks to Brad for allowing me to share these photos.

The Deutschof Part 1

On Friday, May 26, 1933 the full-page ad at left appeared in the Lorain Journal and Times-Herald announcing the grand opening of the Deutschof, which would take place the next day. (Click on it so you can read it.)

As you can see from the ad, the Deutschof's name comes not from Germany, but from its manager and host: Joe Deutsch. And it was much more than the mere bar that I originally imagined. Food specialties included broiled chicken, steaks, chops, lobster, fish, roast beef, corned beef and Virginia-baked ham.

What, no sauerbraten?

It also boasted "the best cup of coffee in town" along with homemade pastries.

The ad lists several old-time Lorain companies that had a hand in the Grand Opening or were suppliers for the new business, including the Lorain Creamery and the Lorain Crystal Ice Company.

At that time, the restaurant was located at 571 Broadway. According to the City Directory, the Deutschof moved down the street to 651 Broadway around 1947.

A 1949 newspaper ad (below) shows that the great menu followed the restaurant to its new location.  And, the new digs were not only air-conditoned, but also boasted something new: television to watch the ball games!

Tomorrow: Great Photos and Memories of the Deutschof!

Remember the Deutschof?

Last November, I received some great vintage photos in my email from Bob Kovach, one of the regular readers of this blog, that he thought I might enjoy. They were of a bar in Lorain that I had never heard of: the Deutschof.

The name sounded so German that I imagined that everyone who hung out there wore lederhosen. But Lorain already had the Liedertafel – so what was the story of the Deutschof?

I decided to do a little research about the place and find out when it existed before I posted the photos. It took a little while, but with some dumb luck I was finally able to dig up some information.

I also learned that the photos that Bob sent me had come from his friend Brad Nitzke, who has an interesting personal connection with the Deutschof.

So stop by here tomorrow (pour yourself a nice chilled Old Dutch first) and read Part 1 of mein story about the Deutschof!