TOP HAT HAMBURGER

Anyone remember Top Hat hamburgers, in Detroit? They were like White Castle. Are they still around?

sure do the one on woodward was great, i think they lasted untill the late 60s

Hi....oh my god...I actucally buy them frozen now that I have lived in CA for 30 plus years...went to school at Pierson Jr High and the Top Hat on the corner of Grand River and Beech Daly was our hang out....No one out here knows of them....I do not think there are any left in MI either according to my sister...
so....I dream on with the frozen
Linda

allow me to correct myself...I buy the White Castles frozen....cannot find the Top Hats
Linda

Yes, I loved Top Hat, the last one closed on 8 mile and Van Dyke in the mid 90's. I grew up as a kid in the 70's going to the one on Telegraph and Joy. I still travelled way crosstown just for Top Hat, even passes a few White Castles long the way. BTW, the site of last Top Hat is now a White Castles, go figure.

quote:

Originally posted by lucie

allow me to correct myself...I buy the White Castles frozen....cannot find the Top Hats
Linda

My poor, deprived son-in-law is reduced to buying frozen White Castles because they live in Phoenix.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

quote:

Originally posted by lucie

allow me to correct myself...I buy the White Castles frozen....cannot find the Top Hats
Linda

My poor, deprived son-in-law is reduced to buying frozen White Castles because they live in Phoenix.

I tried that once. Never again. I'll have to wait for my next trip to the East Coast.

Brays in Westland is still open and Bates at 5 mile and Farmington is even better than Top Hat!

Russ, I live 4 miles from Bray's in Westland, they aren't anywhere in the class they were since they built new building and the owner died, they are just another greasy spoon on Ford Road now.

quote:

Originally posted by thediningroom

Russ, I live 4 miles from Bray's in Westland, they aren't anywhere in the class they were since they built new building and the owner died, they are just another greasy spoon on Ford Road now.

I have to agree, it's not the same. But we are lucky enought to still have Giant's, Bate's, Carters and one Daly's left in the area. I forgot about Bate's and Daly's in my other post. Top Hat was far better than the W/C. Anyone remember the White Tower chain? I beleive one of the last one is still down near the Detroit Masonic Temple. I haven't gone looking for it !

On the Level, By the Square,

Dale
a traveling man ...

Hey Dale... Welcome to Roadfood!
73- KC8CKZ

quote:

Originally posted by UncleVic

Hey Dale... Welcome to Roadfood!
73- KC8CKZ

Glad to find this site, Keeps me thinking of road trips for 2008.

73 OM,

Dale

quote:

Originally posted by N8IWS

quote:

Originally posted by thediningroom

Russ, I live 4 miles from Bray's in Westland, they aren't anywhere in the class they were since they built new building and the owner died, they are just another greasy spoon on Ford Road now.

I have to agree, it's not the same. But we are lucky enought to still have Giant's, Bate's, Carters and one Daly's left in the area. I forgot about Bate's and Daly's in my other post. Top Hat was far better than the W/C. Anyone remember the White Tower chain? I beleive one of the last one is still down near the Detroit Masonic Temple. I haven't gone looking for it !

On the Level, By the Square,

Dale
a traveling man ...

Here is a link I'd posted to sites with some good photos of these and similar places. Each of the first 3 pages have Michigan locations on them.
http://www.roadsidepeek.com/roadusa/midwest/mweats/mwburger/index.htm

When I was a kid I spent many Saturdays at the Top Hat at 12 Mile and Gratiot. It had those little jukeboxes on the counter that ran along the outside windows, but the music came out of the one speaker that was over the cash register. They later built one on Gratiot near 15 Mile, but that one was torn down a few years ago.

Why is there NO information about Top Hat hamburgers on the internet??? Conspiracy, indigestion, or alternate universe? Hmmm.....

I am looking for Top Hat Hamburger locations preferably along 8-mile Rd in Detroit. There is a debate going on and I say one was on 8-mile and Livernois and he says it was 8-mile and Schaefer. Plz, someone settle this dispute! And if they weren't Top Hat, what were they?

quote:

Originally posted by ddukes

I am looking for Top Hat Hamburger locations preferably along 8-mile Rd in Detroit. There is a debate going on and I say one was on 8-mile and Livernois and he says it was 8-mile and Schaefer. Plz, someone settle this dispute! And if they weren't Top Hat, what were they?

8 Mile near DeQuindre is the one I remember.

  The one i frequented the most was on 12 and Gratiot...

we used to have little gang fights

with the guys who hung out at the one on 8 and gratiot..

nothing serious ..just little dust-ups to impress the girls

big fun..

the one on 12 closed in the seventys.. now is churchs chicken i think

or was at least..

interestingly the one on 8 and gratiot was moved..

yup the whole building right up gratiot to van dyke

by the vigilanti M/C clubhouse...

had the pleasure of watching some of that day.



closed now too...

sad.. but there is now a white castle at 11 and Gratiot..

same great taste.. less  the 1960;s  greasy hair ,pointed shoe ambiance

ddukes


I am looking for Top Hat Hamburger locations preferably along 8-mile Rd in Detroit. There is a debate going on and I say one was on 8-mile and Livernois and he says it was 8-mile and Schaefer. Plz, someone settle this dispute! And if they weren't Top Hat, what were they?

There was definitely one at Livernois/8 mile.

this looks like a new contigent from Detroit.
Me suspects something is up.

Top Hat vs White Castle in our Detroit neighborhood households was an  arbitrary preference, it seems; like being Catholic vs Lutheran.  We were a Top Hat household.  We used to visit the one on 8 Mile Rd and Ryan, often on the way home from Northland on Saturday evening (1950's).  Working there was a classic hamburger stand employee named Betty who worked the counter.  She had horn rimmed glasses, a southern accent, and seemed to work there forever.  Even though I only weighed 45 pounds I could guzzle 7 or 8 "Hats" at one time, sometimes by the time we got home.  Hats and Castles are (or were) NOT equivalent.  Hats tasted different - and boy what I'd give to have a sack of those today.  I still remember the way they tasted, and even though I still visit White Castle, it just doesn't quite make it 100% (unless I'm totally zonked on beer). 
 
And...by the way, Telway in Madison Hgts has (at the current time)  the very best french fries you've ever tasted - try 'em sometime - and do yerself a favor, get two orders. 
 
Oh, and trivia time:   Anyone out there who can remember the ORIGINAL 8 cities/metro areas served by White Castle (as was printed on the side of the burger box)?  I  memorized it years ago -  just from staring at that box while having a "white castle orgy,"  in a dizz, after a night on the town.   I think they were:  Detroit, Columbus, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Chicago, Louisville, New York-New Jersey, Minneapolis.
 
Bon Appetit!