To friends, family, and anyone that met him, Tom George Thomas was more than an average guy. Born in Detroit, Michigan on June 12, 1928 to two Greek Nationals, Thomas learned to “seize the day” from an early age. When he was only nine years old, Thomas was spotted jumping off the Belle Isle Bridge into the Detroit River to join his older brother Manuel who was swimming across the channel. He was
mentioned by name in Neil Shine’s famous book about a family growing up in Detroit during the 1930’s and 1940’s. Thomas entered into the winter sports with great fury as well. He was a champion speed skater in his day. The story was told that one time he traveled to Alpena, Michigan as a young man for a statewide skating competition. When he walked into the arena and saw the first place trophy, he boldly told the large man behind the desk, “I’m going to win that trophy tomorrow.” The man suggested that he should put that in writing if he was so confident. So Thomas did. He borrowed a crayon and wrote on the back of the flyer that he would take the first place trophy the next day. Thomas made good on his promise and won first place, carting the large trophy all the way back to Detroit. As time went on, Thomas began working in various capacities. He started as a shoe shiner in Detroit and later became a bellhop at the Book-Cadillac Hotel. He eventually started his first business, Tommy Thomas Drapery on Chalmers and Outer Drive in Detroit. However, his whole world stood still for a moment in 1951 when he attended a Greek dance and first met Helen. She became the love of his life and they were married shortly thereafter. Adding to the joy in his life, they soon had three wonderful children: Tommy, Gregory, and Andrea. In 1976, Thomas made the transition from drapery cleaning to restaurateur by purchasing his first Ram’s Horn on 12 Mile and Gratiot. Within a few years, he owned six different Ram’s Horn locations in Roseville, Southfield, Rochester Hills, Port Huron, Redford, and Frasier. His success in business was overshadowed in 1985 when he lost his beloved Helen to a battle with breast cancer. His family recalls the somber look on his face and how they wondered if he would ever smile again. Thomas had eight grandchildren to continue to light up his life and bring him joy, and as time heals all wounds, Thomas returned to his restaurants doing what he loved, serving the people. Frequent customers would comment that Thomas was always the nicest dressed person in the room; from his clothing to his smile, he always looked his best. His customers approached him and asked to start a “Classic Car Night” at his restaurant in Rochester Hills. People drove from all over to be together and fellowship at his Ram’s Horn every Tuesday in the summer. A photograph of Thomas’ first car that he owned is still proudly displayed in the lobby of the Rochester Hills Ram’s Horn. On October 1, 2010, at 82 years old, Thomas went home to be with the Lord and be reunited with his Helen.
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Thursday, 10 February 2011 00:46
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Thursday, 10 February 2011 00:04
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Marvin Berlin opened New York Carpet World in 1967. Along with his partner, Irving Nusbaum, Berlin grew the chain to an impressive 250 stores in 17 states, including Michigan, making it the top source for household flooring.
Harry Levine added;
“I worked for this company for 6 years and have been in the flooring industry for 40 years. My family was in the flooring business since the late 40′s. “New York Carpet World” was started as “New York Linolieum” , a small store on Haper rd., in the 1940″s. Irving Nusbaum, the son of the original owner, had controlling interest in the buisness. In 1967 Marvin Berlin joined the company. He was a buyer for Federals prior to joining NYCW. Mr. Berlin was infact a minority parner in the business along with Mr. Nusbaums sister. Mr Berlin was, in fact, the driving force behind the increible sucess of the business untill it was sold to Shaw industries a few years before Mr. Berlins death. If you need to verify any of this I am sure you can contact Irving or Rob Nusbaum, both of whom, I believe, still live in Frankin.”
Wednesday, 19 January 2011 23:41
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The Ernst Kern Dry Good Company, was a department store established in Detroit in 1883. In 1886, the original store was consumed by fire and was rebuilt at Randolph and Monroe. In 1900, the company purchased a five story building at Woodward and Gratiot to accommodate increasing business. After World War I, additional space was once again needed for expansion, and the department store acquired the adjoining nine-story Weber Building. In 1929, the store was demolished and a new store was erected. In 1957 the family decided to sell Ernst Kern Co., by then Detroit’s third-largest department store, to Sattler’s Inc. of Buffalo, New York. Following numerous corporate problems and changes in management, the store closed its doors for the final time on December 23, 1959. 
The block was torn down in 1966, along with Detroit’s old City Hall, and the Paradise Building across the street, as part of Detroit’s downtown urban renewal. The site remained an undeveloped park until 1999, when the Campus Martius Park project began development. The former site of Kern’s is now occupied by the corporate headquarters of Compuware. Although the store may be gone, the beloved Kern’s clock has been reinstalled at the corner of Woodward and Gratiot Avenues in downtown Detroit. Information found at Wikipedia.com

