150 Years of the Two Way Inn
Celebrating 150 Years (1876–2026)
This year, 2026, we are celebrating 150 years of the Two Way Inn — and we’re celebrating all of it.
In 1873, Colonel Philetus W. Norris transferred ownership of the building to Hanford Holley, who served as postmaster. From its earliest days, the Two Way Inn was never just one thing. It functioned as a post office, stagecoach stop, general store, saloon, speakeasy, jail, inn, brothel, dance hall, physician’s offices, and homestead — adapting to the needs of the people who passed through its doors.
A traveler’s stop before Detroit
Remaining true to its heritage, the Two Way Inn has always been a destination.
If you were a traveler heading to the big city of Detroit, this was an ideal place to stop and regroup. You would secure your horse to the hitching post out front, step inside, and attend to your needs. Perhaps you’d send a letter home, letting a loved one know you almost made it.
The general store would provide horse feed and basic supplies. You forgot to pack your razor — hopefully they have the ones you like. Rumors of a storm front moving in might convince you to stay the night upstairs at the inn, while your horse rested safely in the stable out back.
Because you were at a Two Way Inn — a place designed with two exits in every room for safety in case of fire — you felt comfortable hanging your hat there for the night. You might enjoy the company of a charming lady, have a drink in the saloon, or take in the dance hall.
In the morning, you’d wake to the smell of coffee and bacon frying. The scent drifted through the gaps in the wooden walls, cigar smoke from the night before still lingering in the air. You’d settle any dues owed, mount your horse, and ride on toward Detroit.
Still standing
Established in 1876, the Two Way Inn is widely considered Detroit’s oldest bar — and it’s still standing because it has always known how to adapt. When Prohibition hit, the Two Way didn’t close. Whiskey was poured for “medicinal purposes,” and business carried on.
Through the early 1900s, the Vanneck family owned and operated the bar, shaping much of its character during a formative era.
In 1973, longtime patron Harry Malak purchased the Two Way Inn. It has remained in the Malak family ever since and is now lovingly run by his daughter, Mary Aganowski — preserving the spirit of the place while keeping its doors open for the next generation.
The bell
The bell hangs in the center of the bar — not as a relic of the past, but as a ritual of the present. When someone buys a round for the house, they ring the bell and earn bragging rights with their name written on the board.
Some folks chase legends.
Here, you become one.
One hundred and fifty years later, the Two Way Inn still stands proud on the corner of Mount Elliott and Nevada.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us through the years. We truly love this place and are proud to be part of Detroit’s history.
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