A WALK DOWN HAMBURGER MEMORY LANE
Where did the hamburger get it's name? The term Hamburger is derived from Hamburg,Germany. In Germany it was known as Hamburg Steak. As German immigrants brought their food traditions to the United States the Hamburg steak became popular as a sandwich. This sandwich became popular and became known as the Hamburger.
This week I was in Birmingham,Michigan. On the corner of Maple and Woodward there has been a very small and popular place since 1952 called Hunter House Hamburgers. They featured small juicy hamburgers with sweet onions smashed into the burger and steamed hot. The Hunter House after all these years has moved about one mile down Woodward to the corner of Woodward and Lincoln. It will be larger but with the same menu. I was there this week. The new place is still under construction but opened for carry out. I ordered a carry out and it was very good. They will probably be open before long.
The visit made me remember some of the other spots around the Detroit area that I enjoyed tasty burgers over the years.
Greens Hamburgers was also one of those small white tiled hamburger places located on the corner of Seven Mile and Schaeffer in Northwest Detroit. They also made the small juicy burger with onions and steamed hot. I believe in the late 1950's the price was 15 cents for the single and 20 cents for a double burger. You could also get a slice of pie for 15 cents. I think the Greens at Seven and Schaeffer is long gone but there is still one at Ten Mile and Orchard Lake Road.
There was a place around town Called Biff's I am not sure how many locations they had. They made a very good hamburger. Biff's also had many other items on the menu. They had a location at Six Mile and Schaffer in the 1960's. I worked accross the street at the Federal's Department and had a Biff's hamburger for lunch many times during those years.
There was a small drive in type hamburger place called Nelson's that opened up on 9 mile rode just east of Coolidge in Oak Park in the 1960's. I think it was a popular place for Oak Park teenagers to go for burgers. I was going to Mumford High School in Detroit at the time but I remember if a friend had driven the family car to school driving out to Oak Park for Nelson's Hamburgers after school.
Not far from my house an Elias Brothers Big Boy opened up at Greenfield and James Cousins. During my early high school years, I would walk there with a couple of friends on Friday night's to eat. I liked the Big Boy Hamburger. I also liked their Brawny Lad Steak not to mention the Slim Jim. It was always a tough choice but I usually went with the Big Boy.
A few years went by and new types of Hamburger places started to open. McDonalds home the Big Mac. Burger King had the whopper. Wendy's became popular with their "where's the beef." ads. Maybe you remember the Red Barn and Burger Chef.
Don't forget the White Castle with their little square hamburgers. I could easily eat six for lunch.
When we went down downtown to the Lafayette Coney Islands. You might remember they also had a loose hamburger with chili, mustard and onions on a bun. When you ordered one coney hot dog and one loose hamburger the server would shout out "one of each on one".
When I reached my very early twenties I was introduced to some new places around town for good hamburgers. Diamond Jim Brady's at Seven Mile and Greenfield A cool bar that served a very good burger called the Charlie Brown.. If you were ever at Diamond Jim's you might remember a sign above the bar that read "those that have them wear them. There is a Diamond Jim's today in Novi.
A place by the Detroit River called Sindbads has been around for a long time. They have very good hamburgers, clam chowder and many other things including a full bar.
The Red Coat Tavern on Woodward around Thirteen Mile also has had the same type of menu and atmosphere.
A few more place where you can get a good hamburger today among other items on the menu. These are places that have opened more recently. 2215 Kitchen and Cocktails on Haggerty. B and G Roadside grill on Telegraph and Beau's on Maple.
The Lux on old Woodward in Birmingham is really good.
I hope you enjoyed this little journey down the memory lane of hamburgers. I am sure many of you have your favorite places for hamburgers.
WRITTEN BY
RONNY TURETT
born in the 40's/raised in the 50's
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