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| 1975 Clarion ad for Petker's Place |
This week's post is a blast from the past for those of you who grew up in the Rochester area in the 1970s and '80s. The Campus Corners shopping plaza on the southeast corner of Walton & Livernois held its grand opening on July 19, 1975, and one of the charter businesses in that shopping center was Petker's Place, a restaurant and bar owned by Steve Petker. A former teacher from Lake Orion who had also operated a restaurant in Florida, Petker debuted his restaurant several months ahead of the Campus Corners grand opening, and wasn't able to sell liquor at the beginning. That was just fine with Steve Petker, however; he wanted his establishment to be thought of as a restaurant that also served liquor rather than a bar that also served food. He wanted it to have a reputation as a family restaurant, and boasted that a family of four could have pizza and soft drinks at Petker's for a total tab of about six bucks.
Petker's location directly across Livernois from Rochester High School made it a natural hang-out for the high school set during my teen years. As I recall, it was the bar of choice for senior class members who were of legal age (eighteen in those days) and looking for a liquid lunch. It was also the favorite after-rehearsal watering hole for a certain church choir that I know of. If you have memories of Petker's and would like to share them, please post a comment.
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I believe this is the place that served "Little Folk's Chicken" on the children's menu. It was one of my favorites!
ReplyDeleteI remember going to Petker's after school to hang out back in the early 90's, when I was in high school at Rochester. I forgot all about this place, thanks for the memory!
ReplyDeleteThis feature brings back a lot of nice memories from a particularly happy period in my life. Thanks for posting it, Deb!
ReplyDeleteJohn Mohr
Loved this place as a kid. I remember the gaming area and also "Spuds MacKenzie" on the bar. Thanks for the memories :)
ReplyDeleteUsed to go to this place after work at Crittenton Hospital ER afternoon shift with fellow co-workers.Larry McLean used to do a updated version of Alice's Restaurant song with Crittenton Hospital and employees in the song! Good memories.
ReplyDeleteI had long forgotten about Petkers until recently. Now all i can do is reminisce. This was one of many Rochester classics that no longer exist. Thanks Steve Petker!
ReplyDeleteWOW! I worked at Petker's for a long time in the 70's. Great customers,co-workers (friends) and Steve you were the best boss I ever had. Treated us all like family. Still remember a EBA pizza, everything but anchovies.
ReplyDeleteI lived nearby in the early nineties and as a fourth grader loved that they had a video arcade. In particular I remember a fighting game and the pinball games but I don't remember their names. My family would usually get their pizza which I seem to recall as being rather uniquely made for the Rochester area at the time. Once my older brother burned one of the knobs of a pinball machine with a lighter and I was mad at him for doing it but didn't saying anything about it. You should make a post about Sero's restaurant too. I remember times in that bygone era my parents giving me money to run to a cigarette vending machine to get them a pack of smokes, lol how times have changed.
ReplyDeleteYou are thinking of Pit Fighter. They also had Hit the Ice, which was a hockey game. I think the Pinball was called Wacky Wheel.
DeleteThe pizza was locally-famed, specifically (for some) due to its crust, which was tasty. The location was known for a performer who did John Denver cover songs, rather well, and I enjoyed at least a few visits there.
ReplyDeleteSpent a lot of time in there after work at Shoppers Drug Mart. Larry Mclean was great
ReplyDeleteI met my wife of 36 years at Petker's Place back in 1978 at a Christmas Party for Ponderosa (Pondo) employees! It was a snowstorm in December and Petkers lost their power, so we drank strawberry daquiris that were made by hand without a blender. The next time we went out, was our first date and we got married about 7 months later. Thank you Petkers for the memories! :)
ReplyDeleteWhen did it close and why?
ReplyDeleteRemember going their as a kid - my mom would take me and my brother and we loved the pizza lunch buffet with salad bar - good memories from the early 80's...
ReplyDeleteMr. Petker was my 4th grade teacher at Carpenter School in Orion (Pontiac back then). I distinctly remember him trying to teach 3x4 to me at the chalkboard in front of everyone. It did not end well. Good times.
ReplyDeleteMy husband was a friend of Steve's and we talked him into having our wedding reception at Petker's! Steve really helped make our wedding a memorable one. We all had a great time. Besides our reception, I remember the French onion soup was terrific at Petker's.
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