The Burgers of Michigan's Harbor-Wine Country

Everyone knows about Redamak's, which I lke fine but others don't. Here are some other options in SW Michigan, Chicago's Version of California's Central Coast (R) (dunes, bluffs, beaches, vineyards, and not too many people).

It coulda been McDonalds. Instead, it remains, preserved in Amber near one of America's finest beaches (Silver, in St. Joe).



If you ever wondered what would happen if a White Castle mated with a McDonalds cheeseburger, wonder no more. Thin, onion-steamed patties on very nice buns in the regular (i.e., non-slider) format. A double or triple is required given the slight patties, cheese under and between each layer of meat. The place is cheap, fries are ok, and the catfish (!) is pretty darn good. Exit 30 off 94, head west and you will see the sign. This is one of the last, possibly the last, outposts of a once-thriving national chain. I love these one or two-off places that stay alive locally long after the chain has expired. Frost Top and XXX root beer drive-ins, are prime examples. (Hey, Erik, Kankakee's Jaenickes homemade root-beer and chilidog drive in is for sale.)

Thanks, www.agilitynut.com

And not too far away, a much different burger in a decidedly more rural area, next door to the first-run (!!) 5 Mile Drive-in movie theatre.



The bacon cheeseburger here is quite good, much more in the hand-packed and griddled style of some of our own (Kevin's, Top-Notch).

Thanks, www.lumigraphics.com

Soon, the even less-well documented, hidden in plain view, taco trucks and carnicerias of Michiacan's vineyards. Not unlike Santa Rosa or Paso Robles, really.

There was still a Henry's outpost in Lawrence, Kansas when I was going to school there in the 80s. I wonder what the history of the chain is; even by then it seemed like the franchisees had kind of gone their own ways with guidance from the mothership no longer forthcoming.

Isn't there a Henry's on Ogden somewhere? I don't know what the common elements of the chain were to be able to tell if it was a franchisee, or just a burger place started by some guy named Henry.

A clue or two:

http://www.ameshistoricalsociety.org/ex ... henrys.htm

But Henry's doesn't seem to have spawned a page like this:

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/jsf605213/ ... index.html

Mike, the menu from the 50's on you link is almost identical to the menu at the BH Henry's. Shrimp and a fish sandwich go way back. The catfish must be more recent, but it is a natural fit.

PS, Luddite that I am, I have no clue on how to fit the linked fotos (which I confirmed are public) properly. Sorry for the inconvenience.

One thing's for sure: fantastic signage.

Jeff,

Have you eaten at this Henry's?

I drive by this Henry's quite regularly 3+ times per week. I work nearby and I probably grab a burger once a month. Its better than McDonald's but... I guess I will have to try the triple burger once.

Yes. Note, I did not say it was great, just that it represents a marriage of a slider and a McD's burger. Some, and perhaps most here, would find that repulsive. Me, I kinda like it. It's strictly a low-rent sort of burger, down to the plain brown sacks that are used to deliver the food.

I might mention also that Michigan has enviable fast food options (as do many states) compared to Illinois. Some exits have a Culver's, a Big Boy, a Steak n Shake, a Long John's and local color, like Henry's or Redamak's lined up in a row.

I just showed that photo of Henry's to my mom, a fellow vintage sign lover, and she immediately said that there was a post of Henry's here in Chicago on Harlem just south of Addison... does anyone remember this? It's since been a crazy antique store and now it's condos...

JeffB wrote:Yes. Note, I did not say it was great, just that it represents a marriage of a slider and a McD's burger. Some, and perhaps most here, would find that repulsive. Me, I kinda like it. It's strictly a low-rent sort of burger, down to the plain brown sacks that are used to deliver the food.

I know exactly what you mean. I wouldn't eat them daily, but they aren't bad for a quick bite while on the run.

Detroit used to have quite a few great greasy diner hamburger joints. I've been away for so long I"ve forgotten the name of the one I particularly like. It was sort of a "great" White Castle type of place

magpie1140 wrote:I just showed that photo of Henry's to my mom, a fellow vintage sign lover, and she immediately said that there was a post of Henry's here in Chicago on Harlem just south of Addison... does anyone remember this? It's since been a crazy antique store and now it's condos...

There used to be on on Western Ave on the site that now houses San Su Gab San. Also, there was another one on Western just south of Cornelia on the East side of the street (at the viaduct). That site now houses a used car lot, but the original building is still standing and acts as the office of the car lot.

P.S. I had to stop at the Michigan Henry's posted above "for old times sake" when I saw it on a road trip last summer. All I can say is sometimes the memory is much better than the reality. No, you can't go home again.

has anyone ever been to the Tabor Hill Restaurant? just curious if its any good or worth going to even? it was recommended by a few people we asked, but i think mainly due to lack of other choices... it seems to be the only in house restaurant at any of the wineries in that area.

i went once with 2 friends... they kinda looked at us like we weren't good enough and said they were booked... i had a hard time believing it since shortly after another couple walked up and got a table. I think they're just snobby! ..and my guess is the place probably couldn't hold a candle to half of the places in chicago.

Mike G wrote:But Henry's doesn't seem to have spawned a page like this:

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/jsf605213/ ... index.html

Maybe because Henry's was never as totally, stupendously awesome as Burger Chef. Nor was Henry's based in Indianapolis...
Anyway, I understand that, 25 years or so since Hardee's bought out the chain, a couple of Burger Chefs continued operating under the Burger Chef name at least until very recently, and some Hardees have been serving certain Burger Chef signature burgers. But of course Hardee's bought out Burger Chef when it still had hundreds, maybe thousands of locations, nationwide; sounds like Henry's may not have enough restaurants still open to warrant that kind of a buyout, but I think McDonald's or Wendy's or DZHIMEE DZHONZZZ!!!s or somebody should think about it as a new "hip, retro" niche product. Those signs absolutely kill.

dddane wrote:has anyone ever been to the Tabor Hill Restaurant? just curious if its any good or worth going to even? it was recommended by a few people we asked, but i think mainly due to lack of other choices... it seems to be the only in house restaurant at any of the wineries in that area.

i went once with 2 friends... they kinda looked at us like we weren't good enough and said they were booked... i had a hard time believing it since shortly after another couple walked up and got a table. I think they're just snobby! ..and my guess is the place probably couldn't hold a candle to half of the places in chicago.

It is the only winery with a restaurant in ara. Tabor Hill is nice, but I've never found the food outstanding, just good. I know the GM a little and have talked to him a few times. There are other places in the area that are better, and others that are worse.

Very few, if any of the restaurants around here compare to the excellent Chicago places. A couple might compare to some of the good places.

Growing up, I had a certain fondness for Henry’s. I had no idea there were any remaining.

Mike G wrote:I wonder what the history of the chain is . . .

Henry's was founded in Chicago in 1954 by David Bresler who earlier started the Bresler Ice Cream Company. The restaurants, named for a deceased brother, were originally intended mainly as an outlet for their ice cream. Beside ice cream, the original menu featured hamburgers, hot dogs, and fish. By 1956 there were about three dozen franchises around Chicago; a decade later there were an additional hundred in 35 states.

magpie1140 wrote:. . . she immediately said that there was a post of Henry's here in Chicago on Harlem just south of Addison

That Henry's Drive In, at 3434 N Harlem, was a fairly early one. It opened in 1956 or '57.

stevez wrote:There used to be on on Western Ave on the site that now houses San Su Gab San.

Are you sure it wasn't a block south on the other side of Western? At least at one time there was a Henry's at 5200 N Western, the northwest corner of Western and Foster where a 7-Eleven is now. San Soo Gab San is at the southeast corner of Western and Farragut.

stevez wrote:Also, there was another one on Western just south of Cornelia on the East side of the street (at the viaduct). That site now houses a used car lot, but the original building is still standing and acts as the office of the car lot.

Very cool. I passed by many times without giving it any thought. The sign, too, is fairly well preserved. You can almost see the grinning hamburger.

3333 N Western


I think there may be at least one more old Henry's still standing in Chicago (though considerably altered). You know that little building next to Wrigley Field on the east side of Clark a block north of Addison? A few years ago it was Yum Yum Donuts and before that a Byron's. In the early/mid 1960s I believe it was a Henry's. I don't know how much, if any, of the structure is original.

3639 N Clark

Thanks, ReneG. Who knew? Like I said, it coulda been McDonald's. For a time, I guess it sort of was.

I'm with Mike: someone needs to restore the Wrigley Henry's to its original splendor, with sign of course. It would be a big improvement over the generic Micky D's and the eyesore Taco Bell with Cubs cap.

PS, note the similarity between the "HAMBURGERS" on Henry's sign and the typeface used by Fatburger. Not identical, but very close.

Rene G wrote:Are you sure it wasn't a block south on the other side of Western? At least at one time there was a Henry's at 5200 N Western, the northwest corner of Western and Foster where a 7-Eleven is now. San Soo Gab San is at the southeast corner of Western and Farragut.

Yes. I'm pretty sure. There was another early burger joint there as well, The Red Barn (or maybe it was the Big Red Barn). It could be that I've got the locations of those two places reversed.

stevez wrote:

Rene G wrote:Are you sure it wasn't a block south on the other side of Western? At least at one time there was a Henry's at 5200 N Western, the northwest corner of Western and Foster where a 7-Eleven is now. San Soo Gab San is at the southeast corner of Western and Farragut.

Yes. I'm pretty sure. There was another early burger joint there as well, The Red Barn (or maybe it was the Big Red Barn). It could be that I've got the locations of those two places reversed.

I lived at Berwyn and Washtenaw from birth until 1982, and I remember the following:

A. Henry's was definitely where the 7-Eleven is now.
B. Beefy 19 was either at the SE corner of Berwyn and Western or possibly the SE corner of Farragut and Western, not sure.
C. The long gone Red Barn was in fact, where the Dominick's is now. (Lincoln north of Foster) The Dominick's was built in 1975 ( I worked the Grand Opening ) The property originally consisted of an A & P Grocery, a couple of other small stores, the Red Barn, and also a neighborhood saloon called The Bee's Tavern. All of these stores were razed in order to build the Dominick's.

Yes. Beefy 19. I remember it now. (I also grew up within blocks of that zine).

Yes. I'm pretty sure. There was another early burger joint there as well, The Red Barn (or maybe it was the Big Red Barn).


The Red Barn! Was this not the only burger place that also served fried chicken? I believe they also had a Big Mac style burger called the Big Barney, and a Whopper copy called the Barnbuster. So they took on all the major chains in their menu. These are at least 30 years ago recollections. Whatever happened to the franchise?

Here's the best link about the history of http://barnbuster.homestead.com/

I'm on record admitting I liked Henry's Hamburgers as a child. I was recently in Benton Harbor and had a chance to visit the only remaining Henry's. The signs, with the somewhat sinister grinning hamburger, are magnificent and lived up to my memories.







The burger, not so much. I'd like to think it was a little better back then but I'm not so sure. Henry's basic cheeseburger sells for $1.99, maybe the worst burger deal anywhere. I'm only a little ashamed to admit the next time I'm in Benton Harbor I'll almost certainly stop for another one.

Henry's Hamburgers
1832 M 139
Benton Harbor MI
269-926-6757

This thread reminds me I had a good burger the other day in Michigan City,In.

Hand packed and oversized,but not overly thick, with good crispy fries,choice of grilled or raw onion,a bunch of lengthwise pickle slices,and some lettuce on the side.

Said to be the oldest tavern in the city.
Ritz Klub‎
124 W 4th St
Michigan City, IN 46360
(219) 879-9956

In September 2008 Rene G wrote:I think there may be at least one more old Henry's still standing in Chicago (though considerably altered). You know that little building next to Wrigley Field on the east side of Clark a block north of Addison? A few years ago it was Yum Yum Donuts and before that a Byron's. In the early/mid 1960s I believe it was a Henry's. I don't know how much, if any, of the structure is original.

3639 N Clark

It's gone now.

March 2010

There is still one old Henry's standing that I know of. It's the used car lot on Western just north of Belmont approximately at the base of the viaduct on the east side of the street.

JeffB wrote: And not too far away, a much different burger in a decidedly more rural area, next door to the first-run (!!) 5 Mile Drive-in movie theatre.

The bacon cheeseburger here is quite good, much more in the hand-packed and griddled style of some of our own (Kevin's, Top-Notch).

Well almost five years later I was finally able to stop in which I've been meaning to do forever now. Before I was always in WI I was always in the Indiana Dunes/SW Michigan area over summers. I had to go get something up in Benton Harbor last week and made a day trip out of it and spent the morning and early afternoon at Warren Dunes on the perfect day to do so, it really is one of the countries best beaches during hot July and August days. After some sun and fresh water dips were were off to BH before Dowagiac for dinner and then home.


Dowagiac, MI

Some good friends of mines families have a nice place up in Sister Lakes which isn't far from Dowagiac. I've spent countless days there over the summer just riding around doing what teens do and never came across Lutz's but did know about it thanks to JeffB's rec. I was surprised how close the Drive In is to my friends place on Lil' Crooked lake. It was a much overdue visit.


There were four classics in the lot when we pulled in

They still have carhop service (on foot) and also an indoor dining room and picnic tables outside for people to eat at. We parked and walked over to the girls working the carhops and placed an order to eat at one of the picnic tables outside. I knew what I was going with thanks to the OP and got a double bacon cheeseburger with no ketchup and also spied a sign in the window for fresh strawberry shortcake and had to have some of that too since they grow strawberry's just down the road.


Double bacon cheeseburger from Lutz's Drive In

The burger was $5 and packed quite the punch, well worth it. The bacon was fried to a crisp perfection and they didn't skimp on it. The fresh griddled patties with mustard, onions and pickles topped it all off. I've been eating around this way for years and this was the best burger of the Harbor Country I have come across, better than Henry's, Roxy's and yes Redamak's too. There's nothing fancy or even unique about it, it is what it is which is a classic burger in a classic setting. The strawberry shortcake was also excellent, I would get the exact same order again next time I'm there.


Fresh Strawberry shortcake

Maybe next time I'm out there I'll sneak my order into the show next door, rare for a town to have both a Drive In restaurant and theater these days, let alone right next door to each other. Lutz's also makes homemade pizza which smelled good when we were sitting there eating the burgers. Cool place for lunch or dinner if your up there this summer.


Might have to go check out a movie there this summer...

Lutz's Drive In
28102 Michigan 152
Dowagiac, MI 49047
(269) 782-5676

I am a big fan of the Blue Star highway. My family has a place in nothern Michigan and I usually get off 196 around Saugatuck and cruise down Blue Star for a bit before picking either 196 or 94 back up further south. There's usually a ton of traffic on the holiday weekends so this makes for a perfect detour.

Reading through these posts, I wanted to throw in my burger recommendation in the area - M&M Blue Star Cafe & Ice Cream. It's just off of exit 36 of 196, just south of Saugatuck/Douglass on Blue Star. They have a walk-up window as well as a small diner. The burgers are fresh ground daily and griddled to order. Nothing fancy about them, but the big cheeseburger (1/3 pound I think) with ketchup, mustard, & onions with a shake or float always hits the spot on a hot summer day. Fries are your standard frozen variety, but usually get fairly crisp and are often fried to order, so you get a nice hot & crispy batch. This place hardly exists online, I can only find one site that has anything on it, and it's just this pathetic pic and the address:



If you are coming from the north and heading back to Chicago, I'd recommend staying on Blue Star as you head south and stop at the large fruit stand (Lyons Fruit Market) about 2 miles south at the corner of Blue Star and 124th Ave. They usually have a large selection of MI fruit and have Sherman's Ice Cream. You can pick up 196 about a half mile west on 124th, or you can continue westward on 124th to Adams road and cruise south along lake Michigan (there is a beach access spot on Adams just south of 124th), Adams meets back up with Blue Star around South Haven.

M&M Blue Star Cafe & Ice Cream
141 S Blue Star Hwy
Douglas, MI

Lyons Fruit Market
6831 124th Ave
Fennville, MI 49408

Da Beef wrote:Well almost five years later I was finally able to stop in which I've been meaning to do forever now.

Lutz's Drive In
28102 Michigan 152
Dowagiac, MI 49047
(269) 782-5676

Nice post. Glad it worked out and that the burger ranked for a true aficionado like Da Beef.

As always, Da, loved your report! And what are you using for a camera? Your pix are just super!

Geo