Comerica Park is hiding the history of a Russian restaurant and club, but the building still exists just a few blocks away.
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You would never be able to tell that this location was once home to a Russian club. The building, now known as the Gem Theatre, went through several name changes, owners, and periods of vacancy before the land in front of you was coopted for the new home of the Detroit Tigers. Unusually but fortunately for everyone, the building’s owner, Charles Forbes, decided that instead of demolition, he would save the building by moving it five blocks to the east. This was a record-breaking feat and a nice parallel to the building’s pioneering beginning.
The Gem was built to be a meetinghouse for the Twentieth Century Club, a women’s literary club. They made history in 1902 when they were issued the building permit; it was the first to be issued to a woman in Detroit! Sadly, the club failed during the Great Depression and lost the building. In 1930, Anton Poznanski, a Russian immigrant, opened the Russian Bear Inn in the Century Club. Poznanski and his Polish wife Mary lived at 1964 E. Canfield, behind the historic St. Albertus Church in Poletown and three miles north of the Russian Bear Inn. The Russian Bear Inn was a restaurant and club for Russians and non-Russians alike. A giant slightly moth-eaten stuffed bear greeted visitors before they settled in for a Russian meal and music or dance performance. The Poznanski’s operated the restaurant through the 1940s when the Century Club was then transferred to the German Concordia Singing Society.
The building has had many owners since the Concordia Singing Society, but it still exists as a restaurant and theater today. You can visit the Gem Theater at 333 Madison today and enjoy dinner and a show while checking out the beautifully restored building.
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The Russian Bear Inn opened in the Century building in 1930 under the ownership of Anton Poznanski. He had emigrated from Russia in 1910 and was about to marry a first-generation Polish woman named Mary Kurzyniec. Poznanski is sometimes listed as Anthony, but usually Anton, and his name was spelled Posnanski in the Ellis Island record. He and his wife moved to Poletown at 1964 E. Canfield in 1931, directly behind St. Albertus Church. Their home no longer exists but the church is still in operation. Mary worked at the Russian Bear Inn with Anton, and several people of different ethnic backgrounds mention the club in memoirs as a place they frequented. It was Russian in style and cuisine, but welcoming to people from all sorts of ethnic backgrounds.
The Russian Bear served traditional Russian food and often featured traditional Russian dancers and live music. Jazz musicians Benny Goodman, Arthur Rollini, composer Leonard Bernstein, and artist Sarkis Sarkisian all frequented the Inn for dinner and entertainment. Young musician Mary O’Brien Callaghan recalls a “12’ stuffed black bear” at the entrance to this “café for Bohemians” (Callaghan 2005:141). It was a place for creative types to spend an evening.
Before the Russian Bear occupied the Century Building, it was owned by the club that built it. The Twentieth Century Club was a women’s literary club that made Detroit history when a member took out a building permit in 1902 to build their club. She was the first woman to be issued a building permit. The club built a theater adjoining the Century Club and screened artistic and foreign films. Unfortunately, the club could not withstand the Great Depression, and the building went into foreclosure. This was when Poznanski took over. While the Russian Bear was in operation, the theater portion of the building went through several owners. The German Concordia Singing Society took over from the Russian Bear Inn during the 1950s.
By the 1970s, the building was vacant again. Charles Forbes bought the building in 1991 and renovated the theater half. The Gem Theatre was in operation until 1997 when the Detroit Tigers were looking for a new home. They intended to demolish the Gem for Comerica Park, but Forbes decided he would rather move the building than have it demolished. The Gem moved five blocks to 333 Madison in 1997, entering the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest building to be moved such a distance. Forbes began restoration on the Century Club portion of the building, and now both sections are open today. The restoration incorporated salvaged parts from historic buildings such as Pewabic tile and leaded stained glass.
