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Mon, 27 Jan 2025 21:05:32 -0800
marlon from private IP, post #11742686
/all
shut down due to rats
https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/dining/2025/01/27/american-coney-island-lafayette-coney-island-rat-infestation/77974566007/
American Coney Island owner outraged over neighboring Lafayette's rat problem
Frank Witsil
Susan Selasky
Detroit Free Press
The owner of one of Detroit’s best known side-by-side — and rival — coney
island hot dog shops called a news conference and forcefully expressed her
concerns with a rodent problem in her next-door neighbor’s eatery.
"I’m pissed," Grace Keros said Monday morning inside American Coney Island at
114 W. Lafayette Blvd., at times sparring with reporters. She wanted folks to
know — for those who might not — her shop, and Lafayette Coney Island are
"totally different."
This was not the first time Keros has faced this kind of problem and, she
suggested, if something more isn’t done, it might not be the last.
Grace Keros, co-owner of American Coney Island, discusses the closing of
next-door neighbor Lafayette Coney Island, which the health department said was
due to evidence of rat droppings, and how that is hurting American's business
reputation in Detroit, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025.
At the same time, it wasn't clear Monday how much of the news conference was
owner frustration boiling over, how much was showmanship — or in this case,
showwomanship — between longtime rivals, and how much was to pressure a
competitor and the city to address the situation.
Denise Fair Razo, Detroit's chief public health officer, told the Free Press on
Saturday that Lafayette, at 118 W. Lafayette Blvd., was inspected Friday after a
consumer complained about seeing rats while dining.
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The health officer said evidence of rat droppings was found in the eatery's
basement.
Lafayette also was shut down in 2022 after a video of rodents in the restaurant
was shared on social media, sparking public outrage and disgust and prompting a
visit from the city health department.
The Free Press attempted to contact Lafayette Coney Island, which was closed.
See for yourselves
In many ways, the side-by-side restaurants — with a competitive yet symbiotic
relationship — have been part of Detroit’s alluring charm and history for
decades. A coney dog, every Detroiter knows, is a frankfurter nestled in a soft,
steamed bun covered with chili sauce. Visit Detroit, which promotes the city
tourism, calls them "some of the best dogs in the D."
Gust Keros, a Greek immigrant, opened American Coney Island on West Lafayette
Street in downtown Detroit in 1917, according to the Detroit Historical Society.
A few years later, in 1924, Keros brought his brother William to Detroit to join
the business.
William Keros opened Lafayette Coney Island when space opened up next door. It
was passed down a generation, and then, after years of family ownership, sold in
1991 to its employees.
It was difficult Monday, Grace Keros said, to tell in just a few days whether
her competitor’s woes had hurt or helped her sales.
ears, the neighboring eateries have become a unique tourist attraction, in a
similar way to Philadelphia's competing nearby cheesesteak shops. In Detroit,
instead of Geno’s and Pat’s, it’s American and Lafayette — with fans
proclaiming undying loyalty to their personal favorites.
Grace Keros acknowledged more than once Monday that the two eateries had a
long-standing "love-hate" relationship, but claimed that, for years, Lafayette
was constantly riding her shop's coattails.
Lafayette and American Coney Islands on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022.
She said she had invited the news media to hear her out and see for themselves
what her restaurant looked like, and even smelled like, noting that some
customers complain about an antiseptic scent, which they likened to what might
be found at an indoor pool.
But that smell, Keros said, means the place is clean.
In addition to news crews, Keros had a public relations representative on hand
to help manage the event. Clarence Gayles, executive director of the Detroit
Restaurant and Lodging Association, was there too.
He said that, in his view, despite the public concern, the quick closure of the
other coney island meant the health inspection program was indeed working, and
should instill confidence in it.
Keros also insisted to reporters, who questioned whether she was seizing the
moment to stick it to her competitor, that she had no such motivation.
She just wanted, she said, to make the distinction between the restaurants
clear.
'Fix it or get out'
Keros also took issue Monday with how some were telling the story of what
happened.
Some news outlets during the weekend had reported the Lafayette Coney Island's
closure was voluntary, which Keros chalked up to euphemistic language. The sign
on the Lafayette Coney’s door Monday, said it was “Closed for remodling,”
which Keros also took a swipe at.
The sign was, she implied, not only disingenuous, but it obviously was
misspelled.
And she made a news media analogy, explaining to reporters that she had to
defend her business because just as readers and viewers often can’t
distinguish between news outlets, diners often don’t distinguish between
similar eateries.
Even though she specifically said she was "not going to blame the city" for
anything, Keros indirectly took aim at a bureaucratic and confusing
health-inspection system that she indicated could be improved.
But as the news conference went on, Keros seemed to soften her tone. She took
journalists down into her basement, which she said had been a speakeasy during
prohibition. She pointed out how every crack and crevice had been sealed up.
Grace Keros, co-owner of American Coney Island, gives a tour of her basement
where her grandfather originally ran a speakeasy during prohibition in the
1920s, to show how clean it is in comparison to neighboring Lafayette Coney
Island on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025.
She also showed off her office, which is full of personal mementos, a profane,
yet self-deprecating nameplate on her desk, a photo of her with celebrities Lily
Tomlin and Jane Fonda, and a matchbox-size replica of the first car she owned, a
1979 Firebird.
At the end of her tour, Keros even offered the reporters mimosas.
Her ire stemming from the rodent problem mostly was reserved for her neighbor.
"You shouldn’t be able to get away with that," she said of the rat problem.
"Fix it or get out."
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.
Tue, 28 Jan 2025 03:32:28 -0800
Andy from private IP
Reply #18638151 "This thread is worthless without
pics." Fixed that for you.
Tue, 28 Jan 2025 09:43:23 -0800
whiteguyinchina from private IP
Reply #14781413 I was in Paris last summer and
the playground where kids played had rats running around. Paris has some big
initiative to get rid of rats since 2o17. Super gross to see rats running around
playgrounds.
New York city also has tons of rats. Saw a dead one in central park and a live
one running around.
To me the more disturbing thing is human beings shifting and pissong in the
streets. Not rats
Tue, 28 Jan 2025 21:57:19 -0800
marlon from private IP
Reply #16386058 https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2025/01/28/lafayette-american-coney-island-rat-claims/77991864007/
Lafayette Coney Island fires back at American, posts pest control report
Frank Witsil
Susan Selasky
Detroit Free Press
2:32
/
3:18
Lafayette Coney Island — which shut down this weekend, with a sign on its door
saying that it was closed for remodeling — took to social media late Monday to
refute inflammatory comments made by its next-door neighbor about a rat
problem.
The 200-something word post began: "We wanted to put on the record that we have
been diligent at taking care of things and we have our amazing Orkin team who
inspects and services our place weekly."
It included an Orkin pest control report, which "found no evidence of any
infestation."
A downtown Detroit rivalry between American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney
Island, which at times has seemed friendly and mutually beneficial, has long
been featured in the local and national media.
Lafayette and American Coney Islands on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022.
In 2013, for instance, Lafayette boasted on Facebook that it — and its "next
door neighbors American Coney Island" — would be "featured on the Travel
Channel's 'Food Paradise' show" and urged customers to check it out.
But the neighborly love wasn't there Monday, as the two quick service eateries
that offer savory hot dogs slathered with chili took shots at each other.
The Jan. 22 Orkin report posted to Facebook noted that Lafayette had been a
customer going back to 2022. Some information was redacted with black marker,
including a technician’s last name and license number, but most of it was
plainly visible.
Parts also were highlighted: "Upon inspection, there is no new activity to
report."
Lafayette's post added: "If they had found something we would of proceeded
properly. Detroit does have a rat problem. The city needs to help the businesses
that keep this beautiful city of ours running. I guarantee there are other
places with an infestation."
Orkin, an Atlanta-based pest-control company, confirmed with the Free Press that
it provided service, and verified on Tuesday that what was posted is "a real
service ticket," but did not comment on "specific services provided."
The company — named after its founder Otto Orkin who started by selling rat
poison door-to-door in Pennsylvania and now has branches nationwide — told the
Free Press on Tuesday it is committed to combating "rodent issues in cities
across the country."
Rat eradication, Orkin added, requires "a united front." The company said rats
"love to burrow, finding safety in tunnels or beneath and around underground
pipes," and in "hidden spots, a rodent population can grow if left unchecked."
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Orkin also pointed out that Detroit is No. 8 on its list of "rattiest cities."
Grace Keros, co-owner of American had called a news conference Monday, angrily
making accusations about a rat infestation in her neighbor’s restaurant,
touting her own eatery’s cleanliness and calling for swift action.
"I'll be damned," she told reporters at her restaurant while standing in front
of microphones and TV cameras, "if I'm going to allow them to hinder my business
or take me down along with their situation."
Grace Keros, co-owner of American Coney Island, holds a press conference to
discuss the closing of the Lafayette Coney Island next door by the health
department due to rats and how that is hurting their business reputation in
Detroit, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025.
Keros acknowledged Monday that some rats may be coming from a nearby public
park, which she said grows vegetables in the summer. She suggested that was
something that also should be addressed, but most of her criticisms were
reserved for her competitor.
Lafayette, at 118 W. Lafayette Blvd., was inspected by the health department
Friday, Denise Fair Razo, Detroit's chief public health officer, told the Free
Press on Saturday. She said a consumer had complained about seeing rats while
dining.
The health officer added that evidence of rat droppings was found in the
basement.
More:American Coney Island owner outraged over neighboring Lafayette's rat
problem
Lafayette also was shut down in 2022 after a video of rodents in the restaurant
was shared on social media, sparking public outrage and disgust and prompting a
visit from the city’s health department inspectors.
By late Monday, however, Lafayette defended itself, returning fire at Keros,
although not directly by name, and seemed to also mock the media's penchant for
an investigation and a good story.
The Free Press also sought to contact Lafayette on Monday and Tuesday.
"Yes, the building is old and we have decided to take this time to put in new
flooring, paint and make some minor updates to better serve our customers,"
Lafayette said in the post, a reference to the sign on its door. "We love all of
our customers and appreciate everyone who supports us and has our backs.
"And in light of the soapbox statement someone made earlier, unlike her we have
never been and are not into bashing and putting down other businesses, we
aren’t that desperate. The true Detroit Spirit is to help and raise each other
up!"
Lafayette added it was easy for American "to blame us," and implied an
accusation of its own: "But who can really say the rats aren’t coming from
them to our side? We might need to find and interview one of the rats just to
make sure."
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.
Wed, 29 Jan 2025 05:13:25 -0800
whiteguyinchina from private IP
Reply #16439993 I believe that is called clapping
back
Sun, 02 Feb 2025 19:18:25 -0800
marlon from private IP
Reply #11076602 https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2025/02/02/detroit-american-lafayette-coney-island-rats-michigan-history/78021802007/
Sun, 02 Feb 2025 19:22:55 -0800
marlon from private IP
Reply #12097708 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTpy5OWk-5Q
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