5569 Townsend Street
Grocery, Meat Market, Severino Andrea’s Beer Garden, Soul Seekers Outreach Ministry, Greater Heights Ministries Int’l, Gardens of Gethsemane Full Gospel Christian Center, Shalom Temple of Apostolic Faith
This address includes 5569 and 5571 Townsend Street.
I shot these photographs nearly two years ago, but I am just now going through them and researching the structure. This one has always intrigued me; however, I haven’t found much information. Here’s what I’ve found:
By 1907, there was a neighborhood grocery here. I think it’s the same structure that stands there today; however, I think there was an addition completed between 1910 and 1915 based on the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps. In 1907, the owner of the grocery was selling the joint. According to the advert in the paper, they had a “good reason for selling” and would “sell at a sacrifice if sold at once.”
In 1908, the operation was still for sale, but they had added ‘meat market’ to the listing. It appears that the grocery stock, fixtures, etc., were for sale, not the whole building and the space was available for rent.
In 1909, the store fixtures were still for sale. The advert instructed interested parties to come to the apartment above the storefront. This was additionally the first time a phone number was listed for the property.
In 1914, Charles H. Chapman’s address was listed here when he passed at 62 due to the dilation of his heart (dilated cardiomyopathy).
In November 1917, one of the flats above the storefront was for rent. It appears that there may have been two or three at one time. The advert listed that it was near the Packard Plant, was the upper corner flat and was newly decorated. The price was $18 monthly, or roughly $440 in 2024.
In 1934, someone was selling off fixtures at the storefront again. A soda fountain, cash registers, mixers, a clock, and other materials were for sale. At this point, it likely transitioned from a grocery corner store.
By 1940, the building was being used as a beer garden. Severino Andrea, the owner, was charged with serving minors that year and received a maximum $50 fine for his crime.
After that, there’s a large gap between my knowledge of what went on here. By 2009, it had become Soul Seekers Outreach Ministry, a church founded in 1999 by Reverend Bobby Quincy. In 2009, the Pastor was Vernon Quincy.
By 2011, it was Greater Heights Ministries Int’l, a church founded in 2002 that may have originally been based in Highland Park.
More recently, it was the Gardens of Gethsemane Full Gospel Christian Center, about which I haven’t been able to find much information.
Today, Shalom Temple of Apostolic Faith, the church across Palmer, owns the structure. I don’t think the church uses it at this time, but I’m hopeful that they will continue to maintain it and utilize it in the future.
This is a unique corner of Detroit, bounded by Van Dyke to the east, Grand Boulevard and the crumbling Packard Plant to the west, people speeding on 94 to the north, and Gratiot Avenue and St. Anthony to the south. In theory, the new Dakkota Integrated Systems facility could provide jobs to residents, and the former Kettering High School could be converted into a community center or business campus. I’m unsure how realistic either idea is; however, they’re possible!
