Violet Paluch, who founded Dan & Vi's Pizza in Detroit's Poletown, dies at 83

Dan & Vi’s Pizza on Detroit's east side is fixture on Detroit's east side in what once was a vibrant Poletown neighborhood.

But more than just its pizza, the eatery on Chene that's served as a neighborhood staple will be remembered for its founder, Violet Rose Paluch, and her generosity.

Violet started the business with her husband, Dan Paluch, in 1963. She worked there until 1990, when she retired.

"Dan and Vi's has been there for 50 years,'' said John Pazarena, 60, controller at F.H. Martin Constructors who grew up in the area. "I was in grade school when they moved to town. My dad was their bookkeeper and my mom bowled with Violet.

"The food was good because there was a lot of love involved. Everything was hand made and they cared about delivering a product to the community, providing a service to the locals there.''

The restaurant is located near Detroit's border with Hamtramck -- an area hit hard after a contentious land battle that resulted in much of the neighborhood being razed to make way for the General Motors Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly plant in 1981.

"They still survived,'' said Pazarena. "They had a love for the neighborhood. Everyone in the neighborhood was family. They maintained that building and they took care of everyone, providing jobs and provide a place for people to come to.''

On a hot summer nights, people would be outside and the restaurant would be hopping. It was hailed as a working class area with something always going on.

When her husband died in 1979, Mrs. Paluch kept the business going.

Today, most of the buildings on Chene Street are gone, and aside from a gas station at the freeway there's virtually nothing open. But the restaurant still stands tall.

"People talk about how great their slices were,'' said Pazarena. "There's no place better to get a pie on that side of town.''

Today, Dan & Vi's is known for its famous Deli Slice sandwich – two pie-shaped slices of Parmesan pizza crust holding layers of shredded lettuce and Italian deli meats, cheeses and vinaigrette.

Mrs. Paluch was well-rounded in her passions: sewing, knitting, painting, crochet, and fixing anything that needed repair.

Her favorite pastimes were watching her grandchildren play sports, keeping tabs on the Detroit Tigers, traveling to Greece and Spain, and trips on the Princess Cruise Line to Alaska and South America.

She was a member of the 20th Century Club.

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Surviving are her daughter Janice and son Thomas.

Visitation is 3-8 p.m. Nov. 24 at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack, in Grosse Pointe Woods. A 3 p.m. funeral service is scheduled for Nov. 25 at the funeral home.