Grosse Pointe restaurateur David Pendy dies at 63
Longtime restaurateur David Pendy, who owned the newly opened Pendy's Grosse Pointe in Grosse Pointe Woods, has died.
He was 63.
Pendy's Grosse Pointe announced his death on its Facebook page:
"It is with the heaviest of heart that we share the sad news of the loss of our dear David Pendy," the post read. "Arrangements are pending … in the meantime wear pink in his honor. As always enjoy life and eat out often. His life and his legacy will continue at Pendy’s Grosse Pointe!"
No cause of death was announced and Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons in Sterling Heights are handling the arrangements.
Pendy owned Pendy's Grosse Pointe on Mack, which opened recently, with Susan Pendy, his wife of 24 years. The restaurant offered casual fare, steaks and fresh seafood and cocktails. A Grosse Pointe native, Pendy spent decades in the hospitality industry and was a former Hill Seafood & Chop House restaurant co-owner located at 123 Kercheval in Grosse Pointe Farms.
He opened the upscale Hill restaurant with Michael Connery in the former Bronze Door spot. Both Pendy and Connery had previously worked together at the Bloomfield Hills Country Club. Once open, the Hill garnered rave reviews, including a September 2000 four-star review from Sylvia Rector, the late Detroit Free Press Restaurant critic.
In the 2000 restaurant review, Rector noted the restaurant for its "excellent prime beef" and that its seafood came in daily from Boston and the restaurant delivered "professional" and friendly service."
Rector honored The Hill as the 2001 Detroit Free Press Restaurant of the Year. Rector noted that Pendy could be seen strolling through the restaurant, "saying hello to guests he doesn't know, as well as those he does." Having an owner on the premise, Pendy told the Free Press, was crucial for success.
"Our concept was to have a great piece of fish, a great steak, a great chop, delivered with value," Pendy told the Detroit Free Press in 2001.
Hour Magazine also honored the Hill in 2001 as its restaurant of the year.
According to the funeral home obituary, Pendy is survived by his wife, Susan; children David Kalb, Keeley Thomas, Nicky Pendy and Isabelle Pendy; and grandchildren Greyson and Parker. Details are pending for the funeral Mass, but it will be held at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, 157 Lakeshore, in Grosse Pointe Farms.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Grosse Pointe restaurateur David Pendy dies at 63
