INSIDE THE OUTER LIMITS
Rock in Detroit recently spoke with John Szymanski, owner of Outer Limits Lounge–one of the coolest bars in Hamtramck (itself one of the coolest cities in Michigan). As a member of The Hentchmen and the founder of Outer Limit Records, John has deep connections with the Metro Detroit rock scene.
ROCK IN DETROIT: So, John, you go back to at least the early 90s with the well-known and highly regarded garage band, The Hentchmen. How did you go from club performer to club owner?
JOHN: Well, the answer is just living in this area for long enough. When I was seventeen, I moved to this corner of the world with my dad, about six doors out from the bar here and lived there about 20 years. I frequented this bar in the 90s over the course of a few owners. Then I saw the building for sale in the Wayne County auction, pursued it, and got it in 2012. About five years later, it opened up. So I didn’t really plan on being a bar owner in the beginning. But it turned out that way because the building kind of just fell into my lap.
ROCK IN DETROIT: But did you always have in the back of your head the idea of being becoming a bar owner, and if not, what put the idea there?
JOHN: I think everybody that’s ever been in a band dreams about owning a bar at some point because that’s where they spend a lot of their time. I used to be a plumber and I did lawn irrigation and other labor work before this. So when the building came into play here and it seemed like an attainable goal, I went in that direction. I was able to sell the old company that I had and put all my time into this place.
ROCK IN DETROIT: What was this place before it was the Outer Limits?
JOHN: I didn’t name it. It was called The Outer Limits since the 80s. It had several owners. It used to be called the Bob-A-Link Bar in the 70s, and before that, various other names. The building has been here since the 20s. It was a grocery store at first, and then it turned into a bar in the 40s.
ROCK IN DETROIT: So you didn’t change the name of the bar. Do you see yourself as changing the vibe of the bar?
JOHN: Oh, absolutely. The bar houses a lot of young bands. The bands that are 20-somethings all hang out and play here. In the past I don’t believe it was that kind of a vibe. It was mostly known as a karaoke bar in the 90s. But because I lived so close, my bands would play here occasionally.
ROCK IN DETROIT: What has been the hardest part of being the owner of a rock bar?
JOHN: Well, the lifestyle. The late hours and not the healthiest living at all times. That’s probably the hardest part. We have very little problems with people around here. The neighborhood is quiet. We’ve had no problems or run-ins with the law or anything. But we are kind of off the beaten path here a bit too.
ROCK IN DETROIT: Do you think that’s part of the reason this bar is called The Outer Limits? Because you’re at the outer limits of Hamtramck?
JOHN: Yeah, absolutely.
ROCK IN DETROIT: Tell me about the pandemic. It started in early 2020 and lasted for about two years. How did The Outer Limits survive?
JOHN: Since the building was paid for, the expenses were low during that time. We got relief from small business loans. It really wasn’t too bad. I live very close so we could just walk here every day and keep our eyes on the place. We were still using it during the pandemic as well. We did some recording down in the main bar area because we weren’t using it as a bar. There is no AC at my house in the hot summer months. We would sleep here because it’s cooler. So the pandemic wasn’t terrible on us. I hear the same things from a lot of the local small bars around here.
ROCK IN DETROIT: The Outer Limits. Is it a bar or record label?
JOHN: Well, it’s a bar. But we definitely try to be a label for the local bands. We have eighteen releases. I’m proud of all of them. Record sales have slowed down a little for the time being, but we are optimistic that will change, and we plan on continuing the label as long as we can.
ROCK IN DETROIT: The Hentchmen, Oscillating Fan Club, Cheetahs, Wiccans, Yeji Boys are all bands on the Outer Limits label. Do you consider yourself a garage band aficionado or are you into other types of music as well?
JOHN: I’m into a lot of different types of music. In general, the older you get, the less you are on top of it. At least for me. Definitely not an aficionado compared to the younger people that can learn so much more. It’s so easy to study a whole genre now just by jumping around Spotify, playlists or podcasts. I don’t get it into a whole lot of new things anymore. I like the nostalgic records of my own collection. Ha.
ROCK IN DETROIT: Do you do the booking for the bar?
JOHN: We all do the booking. Many local bands and promoters put together shows for us as well. I have a new spot opening later this year, and we will likely incorporate some larger booking organizations.
ROCK IN DETROIT: Can tell us a little bit about that new space?
JOHN: Yeah, it’s not titled quite yet. It may or may not be called Simpsons Records because that’s what it was formerly known as. It will be a bar and a venue. It’s on Six Mile and Joseph Campau. We’re in the long process of getting that one open. We’re two years in. We’re nearing the end of our approval process, and then it’s just gonna be a little bit of building permits and these kinds of things.
ROCK IN DETROIT: Well, it’s really exciting. How will it differ from The Outer Limits?
JOHN: I got it right after the pandemic when things were kind of jumping up more. I’m hoping to not divide our crowd here. I’d like to get some different kinds of artists up there. We’ll just kind of play that day by day. We’ll see who helps out with the booking and if they can reach out to some different types of groups in the area.
ROCK IN DETROIT: How would you finish this sentence? “If you’re thinking about starting a rock bar . . . .”
JOHN: . . . think again! It’s a lot of work. You hit me in a time when it’s a little draining. I’m booking the Labor Fest with some other guys. I think it’s rewarding in the end if you love the music. But it’s a lot of work, and you’re gonna spend a lot of hours. In terms of an old building in Detroit, there’s gonna be a lot of upkeep and maintenance. I would just say it’s not a job that you can just leave at work. You take it home with you every night. So be ready for the work and for a long ride.
ROCK IN DETROIT: You’ve been involved in the music scene in Detroit for 30 plus years, how has it changed, if at all?
JOHN: Not as much as I think people might think. There’s always been good bands in my opinion. There’s a lot of good bands that don’t get out of town to tour much these days, but they can be so much more present on social media platforms, so touring might not be as important. Live music I think everyone can agree isn’t going anywhere, performing in front of people is definitely part of the process.
ROCK IN DETROIT: Do you have any sense about where it’s drifting musically? For example, is metal increasing or decreasing?
JOHN: We have a lot of metal shows here. So it’s hard for me to say that. There is a strong metal scene in Detroit. We open our doors to many types of music, country, noise, punk, hip-hop, you name it. Adult contemporary?
ROCK IN DETROIT: Any high points come to mind in terms of shows or anything having to do with The Outer Limits?
JOHN: The shows we have are very rewarding. We’ve had classic bands like Faust, Chrome, and The Telescopes play here, which for one being a fan of those bands before the bar even opened, is pretty nice. Somebody came in there today and they want to book Chris Spedding here for his last tour. These things kind of kick you in the head. It’s a nice feeling when people come in here and say, “Hey I heard this is the place to check out if you’re in Detroit.” I think people in Detroit hold the bar in high regard. It’s the Outer Limits baby!
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