Ann Arbor Institutions: Mr. Spots
Even with football back on a lot of our favorite places in Ann Arbor are hurting. Hoping to soften the blow a bit, we're partnering this fall with Underground Printing to do a t-shirt a week for the places we love. All proceeds go to the restaurant/bar/whatever. Limited time offer: We'll keep the order open for a week (because ordering bulk means more for the institution).
Previously: Good Time Charley's, the Brown Jug, the Blind Pig and the State and Michigan Theaters. This week: Mr. Spots.
My closest group of friends are from my college years. My best bud and I were fraternity brothers, but he lived with guys from his freshman year hall who formed a mock student government political party (Yeza), so I knew all of those guys really well, and then when I was studying abroad he formed a band (Oblivion), and the band members and I all became best friends and lived together but for the drummer.
FRENN DIAGRAM
As northern Midwesterners are wont to do, my friends and I had an entire dialectical shorthand for our favorite activities. I'll share some highlights:
- Bears?: Would anyone like an American-style lager from my fridge?
- Whuchyaupta? Can I watch Comedy Central in your room because my TV is much smaller than yours?
- Bond?: Shall we play Goldeneye on N64, on License to Kill mode, with pistols, and no Oddjob or 2nd Scientist?
- Game?: Do you want to play NCAA [Year] on Playstation, where you pick a team that's not Michigan or Virginia Tech, the latter being because the programmers left an exploit where you can call a screen with Michael Vick then run him out the backside, and then we'll spend 15 minutes arguing over which team I can take that is on par with the one you chose?
- Fishbowl?: I have a paper/article to write. Wanna go to the computer center with me so we can
keep each other on taskwork on our screenplay for a Dark Tower film series/launch a Heisman campaign for Phil Brabbs? - Wings? Let's go to Spots.
These activities were interconnected, like so:
may have left out one of the activities.
I should point out that "Wings" doesn't necessarily mean we're going to order a plate of Mr. Spots Buffalo Wings. There are variables.
Also they later came out with wings that don't have bones in them, which threw off the numbers as well as my college physique. Also everybody on campus knew about Spots, especially the athletes...
...so it was sometimes tough to get in.
Of course that was 20 years ago. Today you can order online on your phone, and they deliver it. Which means if you're in Ann Arbor right now this is really going to mess with you.
And if you're not it's going to mess with you more. I'm not sorry, because next time we see each other one of you is going to be wearing this shirt and I'll look at a clock, and convince myself there's still time to make a run before kickoff. In the meantime let's celebrate Spots!
October 2nd, 2020 at 2:25 PM ^
Absolutely legendary
October 2nd, 2020 at 2:38 PM ^
We also had a Spots in BG. Though I worked for the most popular pizza shop in town, I frequently eschewed my 50% discount for one of their glorious cheesesteaks. 352-SPOT. Also delivered beer until 1AM. $9.99 for cases of Molson Canadian (yes, Im old)
October 2nd, 2020 at 2:41 PM ^
The BG Spots is actually the original location. AA location was started ~1 year later.
October 2nd, 2020 at 3:15 PM ^
You sir, were over charged $9.97 for the molson.
October 2nd, 2020 at 4:42 PM ^
LOL. In my defense, it was the middle of February and I didnt have to go outside :D
October 5th, 2020 at 7:34 AM ^
In his defense, Molson Canadian is not even close to the worst quality of beer a college student could be stuck drinking.
October 5th, 2020 at 4:20 PM ^
BG Spots!
So I'm nearly 32 now and can recognize I was a total slapdick in high school, but me and my friends would order beer delivery from spots, usually over $50 worth and pay via credit card. When the delivery driver would show up to a house full of high schoolers without an ID, most of the time they would just say fuck it and give it to us rather than take it all back and deal with the already accepted credit card charge.
The BG spot does BOGO cheesesteaks on Mondays and I try to hit that every time I'm home for Christmas.
Benoit, did you work at Pisos, Myles, or Pags?
October 2nd, 2020 at 2:43 PM ^
Just had some spots delivered last week for the first time in I cannot remember how long. Still glorious.
October 2nd, 2020 at 2:51 PM ^
Any order at Spots without a side of onion rings is a mistake. Best in AA. My senior year diet consisted of an order of Spots’ wings and onion rings at least twice a week probably (with the occasional cheesesteak to switch it up). That and GrillCheezerie (RIP) were my go-to’s.
October 2nd, 2020 at 2:56 PM ^
But those waffle fries though...
October 2nd, 2020 at 6:32 PM ^
Both lol
October 4th, 2020 at 2:55 PM ^
I used to go with my one of my buddies who lived nearby and one of us would order onion rings and the other waffle fries so we could split them. I am sure if I went back now, the wings would be really good, but the memory of them during the undergrad years will always be undefeated...
October 2nd, 2020 at 2:52 PM ^
Loved it in the early 90s...love it today. Whenever we go back it is the one must have above all others. Was there for the Iowa game last year and talked to owner for a while...know he was thinking of selling. Great guy and I'm glad the town was able to put his kids and their kids and their kids' kids through college.
October 2nd, 2020 at 2:52 PM ^
(double post...delete...must have been all the sauce dripping off my fingers that led me to hit return twice)
October 2nd, 2020 at 2:53 PM ^
Support local.
October 2nd, 2020 at 3:13 PM ^
First suicide wing. No problem. By the third, sweat dripping from my head.
October 2nd, 2020 at 3:23 PM ^
I worked at Spots all four years of college when I went to U of M. Was always insane working game days or major events, like the Obama commencement speech. Keith and Tim are awesome guys, and to this day whenever I'm in town I try and order Spots. It's a true blue blood Ann Arbor institution up there with Zingerman's, Coach & Four, and Charleys.
Pro-tip: get the Steak Hoagie with Suicide sauce. Not for the faint of heart but it's an absolute flavor bomb.
October 3rd, 2020 at 8:08 AM ^
It is really funny to see the student views of the top A2 institutions as opposed to those of townies which might include Zingerman’s but not the other three. Townie favs would be Knights, Casey’s and Old Town.
October 4th, 2020 at 2:56 PM ^
My mouth just instinctively watered reading this and thinking about how good (and hot) that suicide sauce was. So good!
October 2nd, 2020 at 3:56 PM ^
Our times had to overlap (95-00 for me), because I have a lot of similar memories. So much Goldeneye. It was my N64, but one of my roommates was always playing it when I got back from class.
I lived close and worked at Pizza Bob's for a bit, so Spots was a frequent option.
As I scrolled down the article my mouth literally started watering when the picture of those wings showed up. I am less than 30 minutes from A2...
Thanks for reminding me of some great memories on this crisp fall day.
October 2nd, 2020 at 4:00 PM ^
Wait what? When did you work at Bob's? I started in early summer 2000, same day as that guy who got caught stealing from the register.
October 2nd, 2020 at 8:09 PM ^
Sounds like quite the criminal mastermind.
October 2nd, 2020 at 4:12 PM ^
I remember drunkenly wiping spots wing sauce on the wall of my friends apartment during the weber timeout game. Good times.
October 2nd, 2020 at 4:22 PM ^
Love Spotts, just wish the shirt was a different color. Yellow shirts ain't it on me
October 2nd, 2020 at 4:27 PM ^
Makes my mouth water just thinking about it. A definite must whenever I'm back in town for a game.
October 2nd, 2020 at 4:58 PM ^
Those cheese fries were torch
October 2nd, 2020 at 4:58 PM ^
Didn’t Tom Brady get Spots take-out for some of the Patriots a few years back when they were in Detroit to play the Lions? I seem to remember some reference to that during the broadcast.
October 2nd, 2020 at 5:14 PM ^
Spots was a mainstay for me. However, I think it went they way of Backroom with regards to the sandwiches. Tried to keep prices decent, but had to sacrifice quality. Still not complaining though.
October 4th, 2020 at 2:59 PM ^
Dollar cheese slices at Backroom at 2am...very few foods in life to that point were as satisfying. I'd take that parmesan cheese shaker and put a second layer of cheese on the slice before heading out the door...
October 2nd, 2020 at 7:25 PM ^
I was at Michigan from 97-01. Spots was my favorite place to eat and first place i ever had a cheesesteak. Back in California and all we have is the poorly named Philly's Best, ugh. I miss Mr Spots! Also miss wrecking everyone at goldeneye and mostly getting wrecked at NBA LIVE <some year>.
October 2nd, 2020 at 9:20 PM ^
Back in the 1970’s, Mr. Spots used to run an ad with the cat holding the lid of a garbage can and looking inside. I always thought that was pretty bold. And probably pretty honest too.
October 2nd, 2020 at 10:36 PM ^
I used to order a ton of Spots at 1811 Washtenaw back in day.
Live Ever, Die Never . . .
October 3rd, 2020 at 10:17 AM ^
Ask John Gabriel about me and the "Pledge Pin"
October 2nd, 2020 at 11:27 PM ^
Spots was the last meal I had in Ann Arbor before I moved home following graduation. It was, after all, my favorite spot. Went in on that fateful day, and who came in right after me but Jake Long and Chad Henne. Both were playing for the Dolphins at the time, but were in town to visit.
Of course I had them sign the back of my Spots receipt, and I still have it framed on my wall. Perfect way to end my years at Michigan.
Double cheesesteak hoagie and waffle fries with cheese please! Ordering my shirt right now.
October 3rd, 2020 at 12:58 AM ^
I worked at Mr. Spots from 1991-1994. There were only 2 sauces when I started, mild and hot. People kept complaining they weren't hot enough, so Keith (one of the co-owners) invented the suicide sauce to mess with people. This was waaay before the days of ghost peppers and what not. Also, funny how many sorority girls ordered the cheese fries and a diet coke.
We had delivery all the way back then too. I was a driver and since most students were poor, the tips were not exactly outstanding. The athletes were especially bad. I often received exact change.
However, 2nd semester of his sophomore year when people were speculating whether or not he would turn pro, Chris Webber (who was living out by the Briarwood Mall) gave me a $100 tip. Seemed like a pretty good indicator which way he was leaning . . .
October 3rd, 2020 at 12:38 PM ^
Pizza Bobs was my go to living around State and Packard area.
October 4th, 2020 at 3:54 PM ^
Don't remember this place from my years there in the early '80s. At any rate I rarely ate out because what little coin I had in my pockets was going to beer. A Philly cheesesteak would have been an extravagance that happened maybe once a semester. When we did venture past the dorm cafeteria it was for cheap pizza. I seem to remember that Dooley's would sell a whole cheese pizza for about $5. It was horrible pizza, but when you are supposed to be studying but instead are stoned and drinking Altes beer on a cold January night, pizza never tasted so good.
October 4th, 2020 at 9:18 PM ^
Mr. Spots is my go-to restaurant if I ever want to order a delivery. Cheesesteak, fries/O-rings and wings hits the spot for me. I miss Mr. Spots so much
October 5th, 2020 at 7:47 AM ^
So I have a question; is the Fishbowl still around? As someone who matriculated in the early 90's, I remember many a night sitting around the Fishbowl, waiting for your number to get called when a Mac would finally become available. Given how ubiquitous laptops are among students these days, I imagine community computer centers have gone the way of the buggy whip?
October 5th, 2020 at 8:54 AM ^
*triggered*
October 5th, 2020 at 8:53 AM ^
Spots' location near Yost was fortunate or unfortunate depending on your perspective. This and Backroom pizza are my nostalgia stops anytime I'm back in town.
October 11th, 2020 at 12:37 PM ^
Oooooh damn, I just saw this and missed the cutoff.
Why not leave them up for two weeks?
The more the merrier.
Do love my other shirts so far.
Comments