A long-time Clarkston business family will soon be leaving one of the best known establishments in the area.
A purchase agreement is currently underway for the sale of The Nickelodeon Restaurant on M-15. The restaurant and store have been Clarkston landmarks since the late 1970s.
The well-loved landmark has been family owned since 1981. Brothers Michael Asim, Demetrious Asim and Steve Gabriel are the current proprietors. They are native born Michigan men who were raised in the Pontiac and Detroit areas.
The family has been in the restaurant business for years.
‘Michael and I were in the restaurant business in California,? explained Steve. ‘We sold that establishment out there and then Demetrious called us and said this one was available. We came back here.?
Demetrious said he learned about the business through a real estate agent. He knew his brothers were looking for another store, and felt this one was a good buy.
‘We were attracted to the uniqueness, the individuality, the green (garden) room,? explained Demetrious. ‘That room is wonderful. It’s like eating outside all the time.?
The Nickelodeon started as just a gas station/convenience store on M-15. When the property was purchased in the late 1970s by Mr. and Mrs. Krause, the couple built the restaurant. Just over a year later, the couple along with Leo Perez sold the building to the three brothers. The name came with the purchase.
‘The Krause’s had the antiques,? explained Steve. ‘They started that and it’s simply carried on.?
‘This has been a fantastic area to run a restaurant,? said Demetrious. ‘The people are pleasant. They are very relaxed out here, not the hustle and bustle of the city. People know their neighbors here.?
The Nickelodeon is known for giving back to the community. The brothers would work closely with the schools and often participate in downtown events despite being a distance away.
So why sell such a well known area business. The brothers agreed the timing was just right.
‘We felt it was time,? said Demetrious. ‘We want to explore a little different avenues each of us.?
‘It was time,? Steve agreed.
‘It needs young blood, and my kids didn’t want it,? he joked.
Not only will the three brothers be leaving The Nickelodeon, but they are also retiring from the restaurant business.
Demetrious wants to move to a warmer climate. He plans on semi-retiring and hopes to travel extensively. He stated Michael will be staying in the area and working on family projects.
Steve will also be entering semi-retirement, but also plans on keeping his fingers in several family projects. ‘We have other things in the works,? he said with a smile.
All in all, the one thing the brothers feel they’ll miss the most is the people.
‘My favorite part was meeting all the people throughout the years, different people from different aspects of life, famous, not famous, everybody,? said Steve. ‘I’m going to miss the people – the employees, the customers.
‘I’ve had some great relationships throughout the years. You can replace a business, you can’t replace the people.?
The sale of the restaurant is still pending and all parties currently wish to keep the details confidential. Steve and Demetrious said the process has been a long time in coming. The owners have spent the past eight months alone working with the current buyer.
‘It’s a lot more than selling a house,? laughed Demetrious.
Steve and Demetrious welcome everyone to stop by The Nickelodeon and say farewell to a beloved family.
‘We’d like to thank all of our faithful customers throughout the years,? said the brothers. ‘We hope we’ve made your evenings a little more enjoyable now and then.?