Located in Traverse City, Michigan, is the beloved Sleder’s Family Tavern.
It was established in 1882 and is Michigan’s oldest continuously operating restaurant.
That’s a lot of years of slinging hash!
Sleder’s has long been housed in this very location in northern Michigan in this fabulous historic building.
The two-story structure is the original saloon but a side dining room extension was added in recent decades.
The legendary restaurant serves up casual fare – American comfort food – including home-style dinners, fresh-daily burgers, an award-winning fish fry, soups, salads, and even some vegetarian options!
For a little fancier dining experience, patrons can dine fireside in the new addition which is also used for special events.
When the weather is nice, guests can sit on the lovely outdoor patio.
The original building is actually quite large as you can see from the sideview at the corner of Randolph and Vine streets.
Below is a view of the back of the building.
Apart from the new side addition to increase the square footage, Selder’s has changed very little over the decades.
According to the business’s website, Sleder’s history began in the heart of what was once known as Slabtown, a working-class neighborhood on Traverse City’s west side. Vencil Sleder (1850-1904), a Bohemian immigrant and wheelwright, wanted to build a tavern where everyone could relax after a hard day’s work.
With the help of the neighborhood men, Vencil began construction using wooden slabs from nearby sawmills.
The tavern took three years to build because the crew could only work on Sundays – they were busy working their regular jobs the rest of the week.
When you enter Selder’s Family Tavern today, you will see much of the original character intact, including the original slab flooring and tin-stamped ceiling. The vintage parlor chairs, antique lamps, mahogany bar, booths, and historic photographs create a nostalgic atmosphere.
The stately bar is impressive – 21 feet of solid mahogany sided with cherry wood and fronted with a brass rail.
And look at this fun relic placed behind the bar:
Sleder’s is such a fun treat for those who love to bask in a vintage atmosphere.
The beautiful original tin ceilings are 12 feet high.
The restaurant is filled with memorabilia and local bric-a-brac.
It’s difficult not to notice Sleder’s extensive collection of taxidermied animals.
The Sleder’s website explains that each piece has a backstory and even a catchy name.
Perhaps the most famous of the bunch is Randolf the moose – presumably named after the street on which the tavern is set: Randolph Street.
Randolph the moose is known for his kissable snout and over the years it became a thing for guests to pull up a chair and, yes, kiss the big moose nose.
Hence the Selder’s slogan “Come smootch the moose!”
For customers who want to class it up a bit, there’s always the newer Victorian-styled dining room which was added in the early 1980s.
This part of the restaurant is a popular venue for private parties, receptions, banquets, and weddings.
Fun fact about Sleder’s tavern: prior to 1930, women were not allowed in the main barroom but had their own social area in the back room with a separate door. There was also a small, private “courting” room, but the owner in the 1930s opened up the rooms to all patrons.
That same owner converted the Columbia Hall Ballroom upstairs into living quarters.
Here’s how Sleder’s looks in the dead of a northern Michigan winter:
The building is eye-catching at any time of year.
Sleder’s Family Tavern is a nostalgic favorite for locals but people come from all over to experience its period charm and quaint atmosphere.
If you ever visit Sleder’s, don’t forget to lay a big one on Randolph the moose!
Sources:
https://www.facebook.com/Sleders
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