Mike's Place

Mike's Place (מייקס פלייס)
Industry Bar
Founded Israel (1992)
Headquarters Israel
Number of locations
 7 (as of August 2014)
Area served
 Israel
Products Hamburgers, chicken, french fries
Website www.mikesplacebars.com/

Mike's Place (Hebrew: מייקס פלייס‎) is an Israeli chain of sports bars, in 6 bars around the country and 1 pizza shop.

History

In 1992, Michael Vigodda, a photojournalist, opened Mike's Place in downtown Jerusalem. Vigodda named the bar after another bar called "Mike's Place" located at the Carleton University Student's Center in Ottawa, Ontario. This was, in turn, named after former Canadian Prime Minister and statesman Lester B. "Mike" Pearson,[1] who won the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in defusing the Suez Crisis.

In 1995, Assaf Ganzman, an Israeli blues musician, vocalist for a band called SOBO became an owner of the bar after Vigodda returned to Canada.[2]

Locations

Mike's Place bars

In 1999, the bar moved to Jerusalem's Russian Compound and in 2005 to Jaffa Road. In 2001, a second branch was opened in Tel Aviv, next to the American Embassy. The Jerusalem branch closed on January 4, 2009, when the 19th century building in which it was housed was demolished.[3] In October 2010, Mike's Place re-opened in Jerusalem at a new location also on Jaffa Road. The Jerusalem branch is the first Mike's Place Franchise, owned and operated by Jerusalem Architect Reuben Beiser.

As of August 2014, there are 6 branches of Mike's Place:[4]

Mike's Pizza Place

On 12 March 2014 Mike's opened their first pizza shop[5] called Mike's Pizza Place located in Tel Aviv, next to their Tayelet Mike's Place location.[6]

Similarly to the Mike's Place locations, Mike's Pizza Place is centered around the main bar. Instead of burgers and fries, this location offers Pizza and ice cream.[7]

Kashrut

As of August 2014, Mike's Place's Jerusalem location is their only kosher location.[4] The other locations are in primarily secular areas of Israel where Jews do not typically keep the laws of Shabbat. Therefore if the locations were to be kosher they must close on Friday nights, a very popular night for bars in these secular areas.

Suicide bombing

On April 30, 2003, a Palestinian suicide attack, perpetrated by British Muslims killed three civilians and wounding 50 in the Tel Aviv location.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Carleton University#Mike's Place
  2. ↑ Mike's Place History - Retrieved 28 August 2014
  3. ↑ Zohar, Gil (January 8, 2009). "Here's looking at you - one last time". Jerusalem Post (Jerusalem, Israel). Retrieved January 11, 2009. Though the Nahalat Shiva bar had 36 months remaining on its eight-year lease, last fall the landlord Darinel Business Inc. invoked a demolition clause in that agreement to force the bar out.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Locations - Retrieved 28 August 2014
  5. ↑ Day 3!!! Looking better each day. - Retrieved 28 August 2014
  6. ↑ Location - Retrieved 28 August 2014
  7. ↑ Take Away Menu - Retrieved 28 August 2014
  8. ↑ Details of April 30- 2003 Tel Aviv suicide bombing-3-Jun-2003 - Retrieved 28 August 2014