Updated: February 4, 2025
Edward Bayer bought the large two story home located in the heart of Dundee at 4916 Underwood Ave in 1951. The house, which had been the home to Fred Larkin’s Toy Shop, had been split into two apartments and was being advertised for business use. After adding a two-story storefront, Edward relocated both his family and his business, Bayer Electric.
By 1961 he was on the move again and from that point forward for the next 40 years, it had seen a number of different businesses call it home including Dundee Antiques, The Finishing Touch, Primetime Sports Cards and Great Harvest Bread Company among others.
The storefront with its large windows overlooking Dundee’s main street proved to be the perfect place for a neighborhood restaurant called Mark’s Bistro. Opened in 2003, it placed an emphasis on wine and cheese and offered a limited menu that changed seasonally.
The restaurant was on the second and third floors of the 1906 house. Inside it had multiple small dining rooms which were even smaller on the top floor where the bedrooms were once located. The bar was located in the center of the main dining room which had the benefit of the large, south facing windows. Just outside the dining room was a garden patio that was among the best outdoor dining spaces in town with its colorful flowers, plants and its intimate spaces. In 2016, the owners opened a cocktail bar called Jumbo Cat on the first floor in the space that had been the Dundee Gallery after that.
Jambo Cat closed in 2019 as it wasn’t making enough on its own to make it viable. One year later the pandemic forced the closure of Mark’s. Even after restaurants were allowed to fully reopen, its owners felt it was in their best interest to remain closed rather than put its customers at risk. Mark’s did open a market and bottle shop selling wine in addition to vinegar, sauces, condiments, grains and pasta. They even offered recipes in order to make a home cooked meal with the ingredients.
I don’t think the market and bottle shop was ever considered to be a long-term venture and it closed in 2022 after the building was sold. This wonderful site in the heart of Dundee became the home to a new restaurant concept called Ooh-De-Lally in 2024. Its name inspired by a carefree children’s song from the 1970s in Disney’s Robin Hood cartoon. From its small kitchen, the restaurant offers New American Cuisine from a small menu that includes Mark’s signature mac and cheese. In the fall of 2024 they opened, La-Bo, a bodega on the first-floor space. It offers wine, cocktails and small bites to go.
Photo on the left of the ground floor entrance to La-Bo courtesy of Shelby J on Yelp. Photo on the right of the patio at Ooh-De-Lally courtesy of LaRue on Google.
Ooh-De-Lally’s mission is to rally around the power of food and celebrate the hands that make it. They aim to amplify stories and to connect the community so everyone can have a seat at the table. To that end, they support individuals impacted by the justice system by helping them transition into the culinary industry. They’re doing this in collaboration with Metropolitan Community College and their 180 Re-Entry Assistance Program. These individuals will work alongside professionals and will have the opportunity to enroll in Metro’s Institute for Culinary Arts. They also have the opportunity to try different roles within the restaurant in both the front and the back of the house. This experience offers a breadth of experience to help them excel working in the restaurant industry.
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