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Update, 10 p.m. Saturday: James Culver, a retired ATF agent who tipped a few beers there over the years, sends this to Deadline Detroit:
It was a crossroads for everything that was right about Detroit from Federal, local and state law enforcement, to members of the Judiciary, Union Officials, Construction workers, Electricians, Elevator mechanics. ink stained wretches and talking heads, successful businessmen and others not so successful.
All were welcome. It was a happy place.
Original article, Friday:
As a Detroit News reporter, I'd drink beer with cops and federal agents at Casey's Pub on Michigan Avenue in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood. Firefighters also hung out there, as did baseball fans before and after the Tigers games at Michigan and Trumbull.
It's a classic dive bar with cheap beer and burgers and friendly bartenders. On fireworks night, you could stand on the sidewalk out front and watch the Detroit sky light up with colors.
One night, in the early 1990s, FBI agents threw a "Spring Break" fundraiser for an agent who had been suspended for more than a month for bringing topless dancers from a Dearborn strip joint to the bureau office after hours. Quite a bit of money was raised.
Now, after more than 30 years, Casey's will close its doors for good on Sunday, reports Brenna Houck of Eater Detroit. The partner for neighboring Bobcat Bonnie’s, Matthew Buskard, tells Eater he’s signed a contract with Casey’s operator Andrea Relkin to take over the space and transform it into a California-style street taco concept, Houck reports. It may open later this year.
Over the years Casey's stayed the same, but the neighborhood had changed into more of a hipster haven.
Casey's Pub posts this sad farewell on Facebook on Wednesday:
To all of our friends and family who have supported Casey's for the past 30 plus years:
We want to thank you all for all the love and support you have shown us. From all the parade days, to the super bowl, to every Firefighters fundraiser, we have loved getting to know all of you, serving you a strong cocktail, and an amazing old school burger. The memories that are in this building and business will always stay with us.As some of you know Detroit has been changing, and as times have changed so have the needs of the community and area. Back in the prime days we couldn't find enough seats for everyone, but over the past few years, for many factors the business has declined to a level that is no longer able to keep us afloat. We've looked for options, and have always had an amazing connection with our friends next door Bobcat Bonnie's. We've seen what they did next door, and how they worked hard to keep parts of O'Blivions while updating it into what it is now. After many talks with their ownership we have struck up a great deal that allows Casey's heart and soul continue on.
They have agreed to keep all of our staff, and they didn't want to come in and tear up everything and make it unrecognizable. They very much so want to keep it a Detroit institution that continues to focus on everything that has made us special for the last 30 plus years, which is why we chose to partner with them over anyone else because it was important to us to keep Casey's alive in some fashion.
We have loved all the support you've shown us, and we are excited to be able to keep the place open and our staff well taken care of. Here's to 30 more years of 21st birthdays, firefighters fundraisers, and lots of strong drinks.
Laurie Evans Bartel posted this in response: "Love it. It will always be in my heart!"
