DINER LEGACY IN DISPUTE
New Hi-Ho owner aims to satisfy ex-operators
Excitement over a blast from the past — the return of local icon HiHo restaurants — has hit a bump in the road with some family members of the original owners not entirely happy about the plan.
The famed chain of burger restaurants, which first opened in the 1930s, will return to business starting some time next month at two of its most prominent former locations.
Restaurant owner Peter Dedvukaj has purchased the former Champions restaurant in the 3600 block of Walker Road with a HiHo sign already in place. He also will convert the former Ivy Rose restaurant in the 2800 block of Howard Avenue — another previous location. He currently operates that location as the successful Michigan Diner restaurant.
But a grandson of original owner Leo Fortin, who resides in Timmins, said Friday he and other relatives have not given their blessing and Dedvukaj’s plans “are not OK with us.”
The new owner has legally registered the restaurant name and previously agreed to instead call it Hi-Ho Classic Diner. There are no trademarks to protect such menu items as the well-known Grumpy Burger which he plans to sell, he said.
Dedvukaj has spoken with family members in Windsor, including Norm Fortin, another grandson of the original owners, who provided his endorsement and recognized everything was legally proper, he said.
Norm declined Friday to speak with the Star.
“I have registered everything, I have his blessing and he told me to go ahead,” Dedvukaj said. “I am hoping for the best, but I also want everybody to be happy or why do this?
“We will try our best to serve everything the best way we can. Anybody could have registered the name before me without asking anybody. I have a good name at the Michigan Diner and don’t want to change that.”
He has spoken by phone with John Fortin a few times — including again on Friday — and believes any lingering issues can be overcome.
Financial issues are a focus of the discussions, as is concern over food preparation.
“I know he has registered the name and it’s legal,” said John Fortin.
“As far as the food he has no idea how to make it. He is a great guy, but we are concerned about the right way to do this.
“It’s not just a thing to us, there is a lot of heritage behind this. I wouldn’t try to duplicate TBQ (restaurant) or Michigan Tavern without talking to family of the original owners. It would be nice for us to work it out with him and we are involved.”
Fortin mentioned royalties or a small consultant fee as possibilities.
“I am not talking about anything extravagant,” he said.
The two both said Friday they will continue talking next week.
The first local Hi-Ho restaurant was opened in 1937 by the Fortin family. Its concept of drive-up service where patrons would be served in their car was completely new and took off in popularity over the years.
At its peak in the early 1960s, there were seven Hi-Ho restaurants across the Windsor area with nearly 400 employees.
John Fortin once operated former Hi-Ho restaurant locations on Tecumseh Road East and Sandwich Street.
“We would have went after anybody the same way,” he said. “We hope to work it out.
“We don’t own the name, but it’s about the legacy. We don’t think customers would be happy if they found out the Fortin family have nothing to do with this.”