In early 1922, a 26-year-old Greek immigrant by the name of Harry Andros opened a restaurant called “Star Café,” now known as “Harry’s Place.” At the urging of his friend, Billy Durant, who owned an auto factory called “Durant Motors” on the west side of Lansing, Harry launched his cafe directly across from Durant’s factory on Verlinden Street, giving the Durant Motors employees a close and conven
ient place to enjoy lunches and dinners. Durant was so confident the Star Café would be successful, he loaned Harry the $8500.00 it took to construct the building for the café. The Verlinden Street Durant Motors factory, which had opened in 1920, remained active in various capacities until August of 1931, when the last Durant brand automobile rolled off the assembly line (at that facility). The Star Café, named after the Durant “Star” brand automobile – one of three signature Durant brands, kept its name until 1934, when Harry rechristened it “Harry’s Place.”
In 1935, the closed Durant Motors facility was purchased by General Motors, and began operating as GM’s “Fisher Body” division. After several operational and name changes the factory doors closed for good on May 5, 2005. (Although Billy Durant had business ties to several automobile companies in the Lansing area and a truck manufacturing facility, he died nearly broke at the age of 85 in 1947, the same year as Henry Ford, who was 83.) Harry continued to operate Harry’s Place until he retired in 1965. At that time he sold the business to his nephew (by marriage), Art Arvanites. Against Harry’s advice and scoffing, the first change Art made was to add air conditioning to the facility, to provide a respite atmosphere for factory workers who toiled daily in often oppressively hot conditions. Art operated the business, including expanding the building to its present size, until 2006. Upon Art’s retirement, his daughter, Harea Bates stepped in to continue the business. Today, Harea, her husband Hugh, and their three children are successfully and gratefully enjoying a supportive constituency of Westside community and Lansing area patrons, whom they are proud and delighted to serve. Their son, Matthew, has made the decision to eventually carry on the family ownership. Harry’s Place is currently the longest family-owned restaurant business in the greater Lansing.
