Engine 22 / Casa de Espana
The former Detroit Fire Department engine 22 firehouse on Michigan Avenue was built in 1895. Engine 22 became operational in July of 1896, responding to an area that included Michigan Avenue and Livernois. Deputy Chief 2 was assigned to the station from 1927 to 1940. After nearly 90 years of operation, including the transition from horse-pulled fire apparatus to vehicles, the station closed in 1983 due to budget cuts and was put up for sale a few months later. The crew and rig of Engine 22 were used to reopen Engine 27 in Southwest Detroit, which had closed in 1979.
For a time in the 1980's the station was used by McKenzie's Auto Painting. In 1990 the building was sold for $34,000 to Juan and Eva Lobell, who operated the Bagley Cafe, a popular Mexican restaurant. They renovated the former firehouse an opened the Casa De Espana in April of 1991. Members of the DetroitYES forums remember Casa de Espana as a good place to eat with excellent entertainment, such as flamenco dancers. Unfortunately, Juan died tragically in a car accident around Christmas of 1997. For a short time Eva tried to keep the restaurant going, but eventually closed it around 2000.
Aside from some minor work in 2009, the building has been vacant.
Hat-tip to Flickr user DetroitDerek for information.
