Despite closing almost three decades ago, some Traverse City residents still recall the legendary Stacey’s Restaurant on East Front Street where Poppycock’s now stands. The Ticker talked to some of the "regulars" to see what made Stacey’s so special – and to learn more about the woman who called everyone “Fatso” or “Slim,” including Gov. Blanchard who once stopped in for a cup of coffee.

Chuck and Julie Stathakis opened Stacey’s – Chuck's nickname – in 1957. Within months it seemed like almost everyone knew of the waitress with the thick Greek accent, and sometimes sharp tongue, and her husband who would drive his Lincoln to the restaurant and sit smoking in a back booth.

“My mom was a spitfire,” says Tina Partlo. “She had no problem standing up to anyone, whether it be members of a Hells Angels group or a married man who brought his girlfriend to the restaurant.”

Julie was raised as an orphan in Greece. In the 1940s, she moved to the United States and eventually met Chuck. Three months later, they tied the knot and were married for 44 years until Chuck’s death in 1988.

“My mom knew what it felt like to go to bed hungry,” reflects Partlo. “Because of that, she was a very generous person and would make sure no one went without a meal.” 

While Stacey’s was a family restaurant, it also became a hangout for the “good old boys” around downtown.

“Every day at 10 a.m. we would meet up at Stacey’s for a coffee break,” recalls Hal Van Sumeren, who was president of the TC Area Chamber for 32 years. “Realtors, bankers, attorneys… it was a brotherhood of downtown workers.”

Bill-paying, he adds, turned into a game. “Someone would guess a number and whoever guessed it would foot the bill.”

The group started with just three men, but years later, approximately 20 regulars met daily, including the late Art Elsenheimer, Bill Golden and Pete Strom.

Strom calls Julie “a good Samaritan who trusted everyone" – so much so that customers made their own change at the register.

“Mom said if people were going to shortchange her, then they had to answer to God themselves,” says Partlo. But Julie was rarely shortchanged and usually ended up with more money than expected at the end of the day.

Sometimes, even customers got more than they expected.

“When I brought my wife in for dinner, right about the time we were going to leave, Julie would bring us peppermint stick ice cream for dessert and never charge us for it,” recalls customer Rick Stein. Strom also remembers eating his fair share of rice pudding on Fridays that he never ordered.

Stacey’s closed in 1984. Julie went on to run an adult foster home before passing away in 2005.

“Stacey’s was a very special place; there just aren’t many places like that around today,” says Strom.

What are some of your favorite Stacey's memories?