.... Or "Sveden House" if you prefer. I've seen it spelled both ways.
The postcard I found above is one of the few bits of ephemera I could
come across anywhere online. I remember the place having the fireplace
and unusual decor that made me feel like I was in a castle or something.
Was it really this over the top?
I think of this place every so often and wish I could go there and eat and eat and eat until I become physically ill, like I did my junior year of highschool. Our class won some kind of sweepsakes put on by the company that made our class rings and the prize was having our whole class bussed out to Sveden House in Grand Rapids. I am pretty sure it was the one on 28th St.
I went to school out in a little town in the cornfields so this was kind of a big deal, getting to come to the metropolis of Grand Rapids and feast at this place.
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| Sveden House restaurants were in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin |
I went looking to see if there were any of these restraunts still left anywhere. I would seriously get some people together and road-trip out of state if need be to dine at Sveden House once more. Alas, the most info I could find was for one in Livonia on a few different restaurant listing/review sites. The one and only review is dated 2005. I am guessing that it can't have stayed open much longer after that year. Google street view shows a depressing-looking plaza with abandoned buildings.
The only other info I could find about it was that the owner of the chain, Keith Maxwell passed away in 2011 at age 88.
After finding most traces of Sveden House erased from existence, I was happy to score this on ebay...
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| With the "w" spelling." That Valkyrie is kinda hot. |
We used to go to the one that was on Plainfield after church on Sundays. It was so magical to me as a child. My grandma would smuggle home the meatballs in her purse.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid in the 70's, I used to go to the Sveden House on Plainfield Ave NE with my family. I remember it being the only buffet -style place in town (that I knew of). The food was good, and I remember the Swedish meatballs and other meats being smothered in creamy tomato sauce, and being delicious.
ReplyDeleteMy family used to go to the one on Telegraph (US24) in Redford Township MI when I was a kid. It closed in the early 90's and is now a Salvation Army store.
ReplyDeleteIt was in Dearborn Heights, Redford started across Joy Rd.
DeleteMy parents liked it and I'm sure I would today, too, but when we were 4-8 years old my sister and I weren't thrilled with it. We'd get excited about going "out to eat" until we heard we were going to the Sweden House. We wanted burgers and fries, not "the same food we get at home." :-)
ReplyDeleteYESSSS!! I FEEL THE SAME WAY! EXCITED -- UNTIL -- WE GOING, WHERE?? NOT MCDONALD'S??? LOL!!!
DeleteMy family and I often went to the one on Plainfield in GR. I remember the tasty meatballs. And for some reason the candied carrots and tuna salad stand out in my mind. Today the building is a thrift store.
ReplyDeleteWhere exactly is the thrift store where it use to be?
ReplyDeleteBy the secretary of State.
DeleteI grew up in Muskegon and we would eat at the one on 28th street, this was 1974-1979. I loved the meatballs and bread pudding! Everything there was good.
ReplyDeleteYes please!
ReplyDeleteWe used to go to the one in Kalmazoo, I have a friend traveling there today I told him to find it :/ I didn't know it was closed R.I.P. Sveden house
ReplyDeleteWe used to go to the one in Kalmazoo, I have a friend traveling there today I told him to find it :/ I didn't know it was closed R.I.P. Sveden house
ReplyDeleteMy family and I used to go to the Sweden House on Lee Road in Orlando occasionally when I was a young man. I remember being very excited whenever we'd go there because it wasn't McDonald's, Burger King, or Burger Chef & Jeff. It was a real treat! I remember all of the awesome chicken, beef, and seafood. I sure miss the place. Don Ripley Jr, Sanford, Fl.
ReplyDeleteWe used to go to the Sweden House in the 1970's. It was located on Rt. 7 in Boardman, OH, about a mile south of the Southern Park Mall. The building is still there and is now a magistrates office.
ReplyDeleteThere was one in the Bay City Mall when it opened in 1991. It closed sometime around 2002 or 2003 if I remember correctly.
ReplyDeleteHi. As a teenager in the mid 80's, my first job was at the Sweden House in Dearborn heights behind the Wendy's restaurant. My evening manager was David Robinson. He was really cool and once took me for a ride in his black Ford turbo Thunderbird, boy was it fast. Used to joke with Randy on days when he'd come in and do some work.(hope he got better). Their father Floyd was very nice and looked so wealthy in his suits. All these years later I've often wondered about you guys and the other guys and ladies I worked with. Boy would it be cool if there was a list to look everyone up on Facebook. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you guys for being a happy moment in my life.
ReplyDeleteGood memories. We used to go to the one in Maple Heights on Northfield Road. A fond memory was some of the diners trying to get one of 4 booths near the hot food and dessert lines.
ReplyDeleteThe one in Allen Park was awesome
ReplyDeleteSveden Houses Smorgasbord and Sweden House were two completely different companies
ReplyDeleteSveden House Smorgasbord was the Michigan based buffet restaurant.
Always used to go to the one across from Parmatown Mall back in the seventies. My grandmother used to call it The "Sweetie House" Lol.
ReplyDeleteMy family would visit the Sweden house on Plainfield. I loved the fat balls!
ReplyDeleteSvedberg House was my first job in Utica Michigan. This was in the 1970’s. I stayed with that job far too many years because it was hard but fun. I did all the positions there and some of the recipes are still engraved in my head. That was some of the best food. We made everything from scratch.
ReplyDeleteSveden House (good old spellcheck)
DeleteI went to that one once or twice to help out. I started working at the one in Farmington and stayed there 7 years. When it closed i transfered to the one in Livonia and worked there 4 more years. I loved that job. I did all positions and was a full in manager when needed. Met some wonderful people there. And yes. Some of the recipes are still in my head too
DeleteMy Mom would take me and my younger sister there from time to time. We hardly ever ate out so it was a huge treat. This one was in Toledo out on Reynolds Road i think in the early 70's very good memory of the stuffed cabbage and the atmosphere of the place.
ReplyDeleteI remember working at the Sveden House in Dearborn Hts. when it first opened in 1971. It was my first job and stayed there for two years. It was a great experience and enjoyed my time there.
ReplyDeleteI recall there being a Sweden House somewhere in the Twin Cities (St. Paul & Minneapolis) MN. My dad would sometimes take in the buffet back in the early 1970's as a break in his mail route. Based on the comments here, it would be a kick to see some level of resurgence of this particular restaurant / establishment.
ReplyDeleteI was the proud owner of the Sweden House in Pontiac Michigan for 10-years I had many many many great customers and I also had many great employees those are the two things that I miss the most it was really hard work we had Bank what's a lot and I blame just about everybody was happy Pontiac Sweden House had about 100 employees mostly part-time employees it was a great High School job many adults work there also people I had working for me I love and I believe they like me too many many good memories I miss the place it was after sold it a bingo hall there were four Sweden houses that were not owned by the Robinson and Maxwell family and I own two of them one in Flint the other in Pontiac I love Floyd Robinson and the boys they were always honest and hard workers Floyd Robinson passed away a few years ago as well as Keith Maxwell I'm sure if you talk to them they have many many good memories also
ReplyDeleteMy dad and mom was one of original owners, Jack and Mardell Hopson. My mom was the manager for many years, and made the the restaurant thrive.
DeleteWe used to go to the Sweden House to celebrate or as a family with my parents and grandparents. My Mom was a teacher and her school was across the street.
DeleteI have pics of me there after a dance recital.
I wish they would consider reopening or even publishing an cook book������
ReplyDeletedoes any one have the recipe for the pink rice pudding?
ReplyDeleteI'm looking for the same thing. Been looking for years with no luck.
DeleteSweden house great food and my first job as a teenager being a dishwasher Mr gansler was my boss and Mrstockman at maple hts ohio
ReplyDeleteHello I have a question. We used to go visit the one 28th street religiously every Saturday. The dessert area had these warm delicious round donut hole looking treats. What were they? I for the life me can’t kind anything similar or what they even were called.
ReplyDeleteMany fond memories of eating at the Sweden House Restaurant off of Reynolds Road Toledo Ohio during the 70s and 80s. It was a break from cooking for mom. And our families way to pig out on great food and with 6 kids and two adults to feed daily. It was a special treat to be able to eat at this great buffet restaurant. Wish it could be brought back to life. There was a 2nd location in Toledo off of Alexis Road. It was also a great place to eat together with my family.
ReplyDeleteI also remember eating at this very same location. Loved it as a kid. My favorite believe or not was the stuffed cabbage rolls....sooooo good. My Mom and Little sister would go here on occasion. Super fond memories.
DeleteAfter eating there for years as a kid I got my first job in the Warren Mi. location as a busboy. I worked there for 2 years in High School and one summer between my freshman and sophomore years at MSU. Hard work but great coworkers and managers. We had so much fun during work and after hours also. I think about those days often and fondly. Thank-you to the family Robinson and Mr. Pope who hired me.
ReplyDeleteMr Bob Pope recent passed. God bless him. He was such a great man.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.macombcocremation.com/robert-wayne-pope/