The bar formerly known as Chill and Mingle and, prior to that, Cactus Pete's, has a new lease on life as Skipper's Hamtown. Owner Nolan "Skipper" LaFramboise II owned Skipper's Downtown -- also known as Stray Dog Cafe at one point -- in the Michigan Building on Bagley from the early 1980's until 1996. He recently decided to return to pub proprietorship, this time in Hamtramck. "We established a nice niche down there. ... it was a good hang out with a nice, eclectic crowd," says LaFramboise. "I hope to duplicate that here."
The bar has been scrubbed from head to toe and is currently stocked with a full range of liquor and beer, including six non-alcoholic varieties. LaFramboise plans to increase his selection of non-alcoholic options, including coffee and tea. "I want people who don't drink to have selections," he says. "I'm aiming for anyone to come in who wants to hang out and meet some people."
A jukebox, pool table, electronic games and TVs will be offered, but Skipper's is emphatically not a sports bar. "I've been calling it an 'almost-dive'," says LaFramboise. A kitchen will be added down the road.
Skipper's Hamtown is located at 9735 Conant Street at Evaline. The bar opens at 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, but hours will continue to expand.
Source: Nolan "Skipper" LaFramboise II, Skipper's Hamtown
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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