Paczki Day celebrations will go on, but it won’t be the same

There won’t be much of a party on Paczki Day, next Tuesday, and there definitely won’t be the sharing of a “shotski” these revelers enjoyed a few years ago. But despite the threat of COVID, some bars will be open for business – but with limited capacity.

By Charles Sercombe

Paczki Day isn’t going to be what it usually is.
Blame COVID, of course, which has altered many of our lives.
Local bars can be open, but they won’t be able to pack in all the paczki revelers who would normally come out to celebrate.
In Hamtramck, Paczki Day, you know, is considered a holiday.
This year’s party is scaled back because the state has imposed strict guidelines on how bars and restaurants can operate, in an effort to reduce the spread of the disease. Bars and restaurants can operate at a maximum of no more than 25 percent occupancy.
Our bakeries have been open, but you are encouraged to pre-order to expedite service, and cut down on long lines.
If you don’t mind jumping ahead, order your paczkis at least a day ahead to avoid the wait.
At New Palace Bakery (9833 Jos. Campau), a variety of paczki flavors are available, starting today (Feb. 12) through next Tuesday. The bakery’s special hours are: Sunday, 9 a.m.-3p.m.; Monday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tuesday, 3 a.m. until all the paczki are gone.
Place your order ahead of time by calling (313) 875-1334.
Up the street at New Martha Washington Bakery (10335 Jos. Campau), paczki were available starting on Wednesday. Its special hours are: Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; Monday, 5 a.m.-7 p.m. and Tuesday, 3 a.m. until sold out.
Phone your order in at (313) 872-1988.
Need a place to grab some paczki in a couple of minutes and be able to hit the road? Check out Detroit Donut in the Hamtramck Town Center, or Family Donut at Conant and Caniff.
Hamtramck’s bars will also be operating on Tuesday, but they will be at limited capacity, per the state’s health orders.
One of the more popular bars to hang out at has traditionally been Whiskey in the Jar, on Yemans at Jos Campau. There won’t be a big tent party or live music this year, and there will be a door person taking a head count to limit the number of people who can come in.
Given the small size of this neighborhood hangout, that will only be a handful. But there is a heated patio with two tables.
New Dodge Lounge, on the southend of Jos. Campau, is another popular drinking hot spot, and it’s larger than the Whiskey. But again, it’s not going to be the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd as in years before.
Owner Cathy Gordon is calling her party the COVID Paczki Palooza, and will offer Polish food, with music provided by DJ Reverend Tire Iron.
Her party starts at 9 a.m.
Smalls, at Caniff and Conant, is another favorite for paczki lovers.
As usual, the bar will be offering its “paczki bombs” – paczki infused with vodka.
Fan favorites Captains of the Head will be live-streaming their raucous sea shanties beginning at 7 p.m. You can also get Polish food to help balance out those boozy paczki.
The bar opens at 10 a.m.
PLAV Post 10, on Jos. Campau at the northend of town, usually plays host to a number of bands, and is also the home of the annual Paczki Eating Contest.
Well, all of that is canceled this year, but you can stop by for drinks and good company.
Post 6, at 9545 McDougall St., will open its doors at 10 a.m., and will offer paczki.
Hamtramck’s Moose Lodge, at 9421 Conant Ave., will be open at 7 a.m., and will offer breakfast until noon. There will be a DJ and drink specials.
To get your party juices flowing, stop by today (Friday, Feb. 12) starting at 2 p.m. The kitchen will be dishing up corned beef sandwiches and corned beef eggrolls. Call in your order at (313) 871-9115, or (313) 753-2026.
Also getting into the spirit of the day, Polish Village Café is making paczki pierogi, which might just be the perfect marriage of two Polish favorites.
And, well, here’s to next year!
Posted Feb. 12, 2021

Edited on Feb. 13, 2021