SPORT'S HAVEN LOUNGE

   The Sports Haven Lounge, located at the corner of Southfield and Outer Drive, is a long time Dearborn institution.  If you are on old timer from the ‘hood ( hello Rob, Mallard and Nano), it will be forever known as Lem’s Lounge.  

   When it was Lem’s, it intrigued me for several reasons:  Reason 1. The bar was close enough to ride my bike by when I was a youngster.  Since I did not have to cross major streets, our paths would cross often.    Reason 2.  There is a door at the corner of the building at Southfield and Outer Drive.  It is no longer used as a functioning door.  Back in the day it would open.  In my memory burn, I can picture looking in, but it always seemed too dark to see inside.  This must be the genesis for my curiosity about drinking establishments.  Reason 3.  The name.  If you want to name a cozy neighborhood bar, Lem’s Lounge is a winner.  The name may have been changed to Sport’s Haven, but the feel of being a neighborhood bar has not. 

   Lately Sport’s Haven has been providing a bookend to my weekends.  It started a couple of months ago.  I had just arrived home, still standing on the landing when I heard Beth on the phone.  Some work we were having done had just jumped up in price.  I waited on the landing until she hung up.  Her face was ashen, knowing that she had to deal with my excitable nature.  I knew I was going to take the news badly and decide to take a walk.  Muttering and gesturing wildly through the neighborhood, I found myself at Sport’s Haven.

   I beer bellied up to the bar and ordered a Bud.  This was a surprise.  Not that I dealt with a problem with alcohol, but that I ordered a Bud.  When I’m out with Jimmy, it is Labatt’s Blue.  When I’m out with Bessie, it’s Michelob Light.  After downing a Bud or two, I was starting to feel a bit better.  I decided to call Bessie to see if she would join me.  My thinking is that she is in every situation with me, and may need to unwind.  Also, it was getting colder and I wanted a ride home.

   She came up and had a few.  We introduced ourselves to our new favorite barmaid at Sport’s Haven, Colleen, and had a great time gabbing.  That night, she told us they were going to start opening on Sundays.  This seemed like a bit of a predicament.  We were hitting the 3 Nick’s Bar in Allen park on Sundays.  The advantage of Sport’s Haven is that it is close and is in walking/staggering distance.  

   So, we decided to try out Sport’s Haven and have not been disappointed.  As I wrote earlier, it is a great neighborhood bar.  The inside is small and somewhat sheltered from the outside light.  That is unless you are sitting at the last two barstools, which has morphed into our spot when available.  I let Bessie sit by the small shaded window, so she can face me.  I sit at the next barstool, obviously.  I keep my sunglasses on and look her way.  Looking cool and being a gentleman is always a good combo.  

   The waitstaff, particularly Colleen and Melissa, are very attentive.  Rarely will a time go by that we have to inquire about our next round.  Our drink of choice is the aforementioned Michelob Light, in a bucket.  The bucket has four beers and will cost you nine dollars.  Also, if you know anything about my wife, extra napkins will be required.  She is a firm believer in extra napkins, no doubt due to her experience watching me eat and drink.  After getting my beak wet with a beer, and making sure the local team is not on the tube, it is time for music.  As written in a previous review, I love to monopolize the jukebox.  My theory is that I want to play the songs I like, that the patrons will also like.  Tooting my own horn, I have to say that I have been congratulated on more than one occasion for my selections.  At Sport’s Haven, I have been dubbed Music Man.  It is an awesome responsibility, but I am up to the task (I’d like to take a time out to give my brothers a shout out for being my college of musical knowledge).

   Our stools are also located by the pool table.  A game will set you back seventy-five cents.  If the table is open, we will play.  If not, we will become spectators, offering our opinions to nobody in particular.

   This brings us around to the Friday night portion of the bookend.  Lately, Jimmy and I have been making Sport’s Haven our last call.  It is close to home, and we usually get in a game or two of pool.  Sometimes the games go a bit longer and we are asked to leave so a tired barmaid can go home.  So off we go, Jimmy dropping me off, me trying to push eggs and pizza on him, a bit of soft porn on HBO or Sports Center, then time to go home.  

   All in all, I give Sport’s Haven my highest marks for fulfilling it’s duty as a neighborhood bar. 

Cheers! Tony