2640 Junction Street
Wojcik Building, Leprechaun Bar, Lepricon Lounge, Iglesia Cristiana Emanuel, Immanuel Christian Church
The corner of Junction & McGregor has changed dramatically in the last 120 years. First, it shifted rapidly from wide-open farmland to a Polish industrial community. Then, as industry fled, things slowed down, and vacant lots became the norm again.
2640 Junction (originally 914 Junction) spent a plurality of its life as a bar. I’m fairly sure that it was built in 1923, but I don’t know its original purpose. The structure features multiple storefronts and apartments.
It may have been built for Louis F. Wojcik, a banker, publisher, and businessman well-known in the Polish community. He ran the Wojcik Savings and Industrial Banks of Hamtramck and Detroit. The plaque on the top of the building reads '19-W-W-S-L-23.' If it were built for the bank, I would guess this stood for ‘Wojcik & Wojcik Savings & Loan.’
Wojcik built and operated a cafe, bowling alley, and pool parlor at 894-896 Junction (2600-2608 Junction after the address change) in 1915, which is on the same block as this structure. If this building had been built for Wojcik, it would have been taken out of his hands in the 1930s when all his banks went under. I’m not sure when, but at some point, it became a bar.
The building is across the street from the former Ternstedt Manufacturing Company plant, which would eventually become a subsidiary of Fisher Body that made parts for nearby assembly plants. In 1929, there was an ad in the Detroit Free Press for the sale or lease of a cafeteria at 2640 Junction. I assume, given that the Ternstedt plant was completed in 1921, that factory workers were the most common patrons at the cafeteria.
In the Free Press in 1942, there was an article about the death of Walter Kucyba. He had fallen down the stairs at a bar at 2640 Junction, fractured his skull, and died.
By at least 1975, the Leprechaun Bar occupied the main floor. I’ve also seen this listed as the Lepricon Lounge, which is an interesting spelling. The bar had traditional pub food, Irish staples, and big parties on St. Patricks Day every year.
At some point, after the Leprechaun ran out of gold, Iglesia Cristiana Emanuel (Immanuel Christian Church) moved into the property and used it as an outreach center. Given that the sign was in Spanish, I assume this church was non-English speaking.
Around 2010, a men’s barber moved into one of the units off McGregor Street. It would only last a few years in that location before leaving.
The building was last sold in 2018 for $150,000 to the company that owns the former Ternstedt Manufacturing Company plant, Classic Storage Detroit. It is currently available for lease. The main floor appears unrenovated, but the listing says work should be completed in the spring. The space available is 2,000 square feet.
I haven’t been able to find a photograph of the structure before the paneling was added.
