Elwood Bar and Grill

Standing in splendid isolation on a largely vacant block across Woodward Avenue from the Palms and Fox theaters, the Elwood Bar is significant for its well preserved streamlined Art Moderne facade of enamelled metal panels. The Elwood is a highly visible landmark in central Detroit and is a unique structure--because of both its modest size and fully developed Art Moderne character--in the city. The Elwood Bar is an outstanding example of Art Moderne commercial architecture with an extremely high degree of exterior integrity. Architectural features such as the wraparound corner with cylindrical tower, wall surface of square enameled steel panels, and the interplay of vertical and horizontal accents in pilasters and fascia boards are fully integrated with a decorative program of geometric designs that articulate the tower, recessed corner entrance and cornice and corner board trim. Even neon lights and signage are in keeping with the period style and add to the overall design. The result is a totally integrated and dynamic architectural composition that expresses the essence of Streamlined Moderne architecture. It is the best small-scale example of this style known in Detroit.

The Elwood Bar is a one-story, flat-roofed Art Moderne-style structure built in 1936-37. It is located on the corner of Elizabeth and Woodward, at the northern edge of the Detroit central business district. The structure is seventy-two feet in length by twenty-five in width, and a maximum of twenty-two and one-half feet in height. Its two street facades are clad in dark blue and cream colored enameled, steel panels. The southwest corner of the building is curved and extends above the roofline approximately six feet to form a cylindrical tower. The exterior is decorated with geometric designs and neon signage. The building's name is derived from its street location, 'El' from Elizabeth and 'wood' from Woodward. The main entrance is located in the curved southwest corner section. The enameled panels step back toward the doors and together with the horizontal and vertical color banding surrounding the door provide an abstract, fluted, column-like appearance. A stylized version of the street number is incorporated in the enameled panel above the door. The cylindrical tower above the roofline over the entry is ornamented with short blue horizontal stripes with four geometric diamond designs between them. It is topped with a two-tiered dark blue band. A dark blue band above a simulated dentil course surrounds the perimeter of the enameled paneled facade. A section on the east of the Elizabeth Street facade steps down in height and has slightly different detailing than the rest of the building. It is sheathed in enameled panels which match those on the other section of the building. The rear north and east walls are of common brick and have been painted. The windows have steel frames and sash. One large window overlooks Woodward and eleven smaller windows overlook Elizabeth. The eight windows of the main section of the Elizabeth Street facade have been boarded up since the late 1960s. The signage is of red-painted three-dimensional sheet metal with red neon spelling 'Elwood Bar' on both the Woodward and Elizabeth sides. The word 'Bar' above the entrance is constructed of red painted sheet metal also with red neon. All three of these signs sit atop a yellow sheet metal band which was, at one time, illuminated by small light bulbs. There is also a simple neon 'Bar' sign perpendicular to the building, above the exit door on the Elizabeth side of the building. The interior has a curved, hardwood bar with red and black inset panels along its base. The ceiling over the bar has been dropped and fabricated of acoustical tile. The remainder of the bar has a pine wood drop ceiling. The floor is covered in asbestos tile. There is a series of red and black vinyl booths along the Elizabeth Street side. Walls are covered with an inexpensive panelling and mirrors. Most of those interior features date from a interior remodeling in the 1960s. The lavatories have skylights and terrazzo floors. Past the lavatories, in the back, is a storage area closed off from the rest of the bar by double doors.