Berkley City Council To Honor Two Former Business Owners

It’s always sad to say goodbye, especially when it comes to good people and delicious food.

On Monday, January 22, the Berkley City Council will recognize the achievements of two local restaurant owners: Ruth Hoenle, owner of Sila Italian Dining & Pizza at 4033 W. 12 Mile Road, and Becky Bone, owner of the Nip N’ Tuck Diner at 3170 W. 11 Mile Road.

Both restaurants, longtime favorites in the Berkley community dating back to the 1950s, closed in 2017.

“I was a regular customer at both places,” Mayor Dan Terbrack said. “They were a big part of Berkley for so many years, and we just want them to know how much they meant to our community.”

Becky Bone started working at the Nip N’ Tuck when she was 11 years old. Her family had purchased the popular diner in 1972, and she spent many an afternoon at the restaurant with her dad, Bob Arthur. She took over the business in 2003.

“My customers watched me grow up there, and I watched their families grow up,” she said. “It was an awesome part of my life.”

Ruth Hoenle started out as a dishwasher at Sila’s in 1970. She worked in various roles throughout the decades, until she decided to purchase the business in 2001 to run with her family.

“I made the dough, I made the sauce,” Ruth said. “The restaurant actually started out as a carry-out on the other side of 12 Mile. It definitely was the ‘hot spot’ for many years.”

Both owners decided to sell so they could step back and spend more time with family and friends. The Nip N’ Tuck is closed for renovations and will open under a new name. Green Lantern Pizzeria will open at the Sila’s location.

Want to take a stroll down memory lane? Both businesses donated souvenirs to the Berkley Historical Museum, located inside City Hall, 3338 Coolidge Highway. The Museum, free to the public, is open most Wednesdays from 10 am to 1 pm, and most Sundays from 2-4 pm.

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