Missing Jackson’s “Ritzee Hamburgers”: 1954-1987

Another lamented restaurant missed by many Jacksonians is Ritzee Hamburgers.

The Ritzee was not unique to Jackson – it was one of a few franchises, opening downtown next to the Capitol Theatre in 1954 in the space formerly known as the Nut Shoppe. Located at 128 W. Michigan Avenue, it snugly fit under the theater marquee, thus snagging customers who came out of the movies.

There were a good number of movie houses downtown at the time. Along with the Capitol there was the Michigan, Family, and the recently closed Regent, Majestic, Rex, and Bon Ton. The Ritzee catered to not just the Capitol customers, but to all theater-goers who wanted a late-night bite.

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According to MLive, Ritzee operated seven days a week, sometimes staying open 24 hours a day to accommodate the late-nighters. With the slogan “the snack that brings you back", how could anyone not be tempted to stop in? One of the highlights on the Ritzee menu were the “orange potatoes”. What made them orange? Wanting not to reveal too much, the owner said he used paprika and “other spices”.

In 1967 Ritzee was purchased by Melton and Leah Bradshaw and continued for a few more years. When the folly known as Progress Place Mall opened in the 1960s, it turned out not to be the downtown saviour that was hoped. Progress Place closed down Michigan Avenue with very little parking space. Not wanting to park a good distance away just to walk around downtown, it ended up slowing businesses down to a crawl...including Ritzee Hamburgers.

The Capitol Theatre shut down in 1975 and was purchased by Jackson County along with the still-open Ritzee. With business not as booming as it once was, Ritzee was sold in 1984. It attempted to rejuvenate until lack of business and jacked-up rent caused it to close for good in 1987.

Later, an attempt was made to turn it into a second International Dog House, but it didn’t last long. After other businesses came and went like Oh! And the Junkyard Dog, it is currently housing the Luna Lux Lounge, bringing a whole new cocktail experience to the former ‘greasy spoon’ known as Ritzee Hamburgers.

There is one last Ritzee Hamburgs that we know of, still operating in Battle Creek. Located at 1463 W. Michigan Avenue, it would be a nice gesture to take a drive over and enjoy a burger in remembrance of Jackson’s Ritzee.