Marian Bayoff Ilitch
Encyclopedia
Marian Bayoff Ilitch was born and raised in Dearborn, Michigan
, USA, the daughter of Macedonian
immigrants. She met her future husband Mike Ilitch
in 1954 when the two went on a blind date arranged by his father. A year later, they were married. They have seven children. The Ilitches founded Little Caesars Pizza
in 1959 and have expanded their interests to include restaurants, entertainment, sports and gambling.
, Marian Ilitch realized an opportunity to purchase total interest in the casino resort complex from various minor stakeholders and Mandalay Resort Group
in 2005. Michigan gaming laws prohibit one company from owning more than one Detroit casino property. With Marian Ilitch as owner, MotorCity Casino is reportedly one of the largest independently owned casino enterprises in the United States—likely the largest woman-owned casino in the U.S.http://www.macombdaily.com/stories/041305/bus_ilitch001.shtml
Marian Ilitch and a partner, Michael J. Malik, Sr.
, have pursued other casino gambling interests outside of Detroit, and from coast to coast. Among them: the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
and Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, MI. Ilitch has partnered with the Shinnecock Indian Nation
in Hampton Bays, New York
to develop a recent casino in New York. Ilitch also a partnered with Barwest, LLC and Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians
to develop casinos in Barstow, California
.
her family's parent company which includes Little Caesars Pizza, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program, Champion Foods, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, Olympia Entertainment, Olympia Development, Uptown Entertainment and various food service and entertainment venues within these businesses.
The Detroit Red Wings
have won four Stanley Cup
s - 1997, '98, 2002, and '08 - under Ilitch family ownership. Marian Ilitch and three daughters are among only 12 women to have had their names engraved on the trophy.
Mike Ilitch's Detroit Tigers
have logged losing records in 12 out of 13 seasons but has turned the team around in 2006, making the playoffs for the first time since 1987. The Ilitch's successfully spearheaded a public/private partnership with the taxpayers of the greater Detroit area to build a new home for the Tigers in downtown Detroit. The $300 million plus Comerica Park
opened in April 2000. Ilitch Holdings, Inc. manages the stadium and parking.
In 1985, Marian and her husband established the Little Caesars Love Kitchen Foundation, which consists of a mobile pizza restaurant. The Love Kitchen has fed more than 2 million people, aiding the hungry and disaster victims across the U.S. and Canada. Three presidents, President Ronald Reagan, President George Bush Sr, and President Bill Clinton have recognized the Love Kitchen.
Besides donating millions of dollars to charitable organizations, Marian and her husband have established Ilitch Charities for Children, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in the areas of health, education and recreation. The Charity has sponsored numerous programs in the Detroit area including amateur sports sponsorships for hundreds of thousands of children.
; daughter Denise D. Ilitch (born November 1955) is an attorney and former co-President, with her brother, of Ilitch Holdings. Other children are Ronald "Ron" Tyrus Ilitch (born June 1957), Michael C. Ilitch, Jr., Lisa M. Ilitch Murray, Atanas Ilitch (born Thomas Ilitch) and Carole M. Ilitch Trepeck.
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
, USA, the daughter of Macedonian
Macedonians (ethnic group)
The Macedonians also referred to as Macedonian Slavs: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness...
immigrants. She met her future husband Mike Ilitch
Mike Ilitch
Michael "Mike" Ilitch Sr. is an American entrepreneur and owner of the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Tigers. In addition to his sports ownerships, he is the founder and owner of Little Caesars Pizza since 1959, which has become an international fast food franchise...
in 1954 when the two went on a blind date arranged by his father. A year later, they were married. They have seven children. The Ilitches founded Little Caesars Pizza
Little Caesars
Little Caesars is a pizza chain, estimated to be the 4th largest in the United States. The Little Caesars headquarters is located in the Fox Theatre building in Downtown Detroit, Michigan.-History:...
in 1959 and have expanded their interests to include restaurants, entertainment, sports and gambling.
Casinos and Indian gaming
One of the original investors in Detroit's MotorCity CasinoMotorCity Casino
MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit, Michigan is one of three casino resort hotels in the city, and one of four in the Detroit–Windsor area. The $825 million complex incorporates the historic Wagner Baking Company building designed c.1915 by architect Walter W. Ahlschlager, who went on to design the...
, Marian Ilitch realized an opportunity to purchase total interest in the casino resort complex from various minor stakeholders and Mandalay Resort Group
Mandalay Resort Group
Mandalay Resort Group was a hotel-casino operator based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Its major properties included Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur and Circus Circus, as well as half of the Monte Carlo. In terms of market capitalization, it was one of the largest casino operators in the world. It was...
in 2005. Michigan gaming laws prohibit one company from owning more than one Detroit casino property. With Marian Ilitch as owner, MotorCity Casino is reportedly one of the largest independently owned casino enterprises in the United States—likely the largest woman-owned casino in the U.S.http://www.macombdaily.com/stories/041305/bus_ilitch001.shtml
Marian Ilitch and a partner, Michael J. Malik, Sr.
Michael J. Malik, Sr.
Michael J. Malik, Sr. is a developer and entrepreneur from Detroit, Michigan who resides in Birmingham, Michigan.Since the early 1990s he and his partner Marian Ilitch have been catalysts for legalization of gambling and development of gambling halls from coast to coast and in Hawaii with mixed...
, have pursued other casino gambling interests outside of Detroit, and from coast to coast. Among them: the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians is a federally recognized tribe of Ottawa Indians whose headquarters are located on their 1836 reservation in Manistee, Michigan. They also own lands in their 1855 reservation in Mason County, Michigan. They represent 9 villages or bands of the original Grand...
and Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, MI. Ilitch has partnered with the Shinnecock Indian Nation
Shinnecock Indian Nation
The Shinnecock Indian Nation is a federally recognized tribe, headquartered in Suffolk County, New York, on the south shore of Long Island. Shinnecock are an Algonquian people from Long Island...
in Hampton Bays, New York
Hampton Bays, New York
Hampton Bays is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 12,236 at the 2000 census.Hampton Bays is in the Town of Southampton.-Geography:...
to develop a recent casino in New York. Ilitch also a partnered with Barwest, LLC and Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians
Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians
Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians of the Los Coyotes Reservation is a federally recognized tribe of Cahuilla and Cupeño Indians, who are Mission Indians located in California.-Reservation:...
to develop casinos in Barstow, California
Barstow, California
Barstow is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 22,639 at the 2010 census, up from 21,119 at the 2000 census. Barstow is located north of San Bernardino....
.
Ilitch Holdings, Inc.
Marian Ilitch is vice chairwoman of Ilitch Holdings, Inc.Ilitch Holdings, Inc.
Ilitch Holdings, Inc. was established in 1999 to provide all companies owned by Mike and Marian Ilitch with professional and technical services...
her family's parent company which includes Little Caesars Pizza, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program, Champion Foods, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, Olympia Entertainment, Olympia Development, Uptown Entertainment and various food service and entertainment venues within these businesses.
The Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
have won four Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s - 1997, '98, 2002, and '08 - under Ilitch family ownership. Marian Ilitch and three daughters are among only 12 women to have had their names engraved on the trophy.
Mike Ilitch's Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
have logged losing records in 12 out of 13 seasons but has turned the team around in 2006, making the playoffs for the first time since 1987. The Ilitch's successfully spearheaded a public/private partnership with the taxpayers of the greater Detroit area to build a new home for the Tigers in downtown Detroit. The $300 million plus Comerica Park
Comerica Park
Comerica Park is an open-air ballpark located in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It serves as the home of the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball's American League, replacing historic Tiger Stadium in 2000....
opened in April 2000. Ilitch Holdings, Inc. manages the stadium and parking.
Investing in the Community
Giving back to the community is Marian’s trademark. Like most projects developed and owned by Marian, the MotorCity is actively involved in the community by contributing about $1 million to local charity groups in Detroit.In 1985, Marian and her husband established the Little Caesars Love Kitchen Foundation, which consists of a mobile pizza restaurant. The Love Kitchen has fed more than 2 million people, aiding the hungry and disaster victims across the U.S. and Canada. Three presidents, President Ronald Reagan, President George Bush Sr, and President Bill Clinton have recognized the Love Kitchen.
Besides donating millions of dollars to charitable organizations, Marian and her husband have established Ilitch Charities for Children, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in the areas of health, education and recreation. The Charity has sponsored numerous programs in the Detroit area including amateur sports sponsorships for hundreds of thousands of children.
Nation's Top Business Woman
Marian has earned a reputation as a dynamic force in the restaurant and entertainment industry. She continues to blaze new trails and respond to the changing needs of the marketplace. Marian Ilitch has received many awards. Ilitch was named one of Detroit’s Enterprising Women by the Detroit Historical Society in partnership with the Women’s Economic Club, National Association of Women Business Owners, Greater Detroit Chapter and Crain’s Detroit Business in 2004. In 2005, Ilitch earned Crain’s Detroit Business Top Women in Business Honoree. She was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in 2001 and in 2008, she was elected to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and will be inducted on Sept. 13, 2010, in Novi. Ilitch was named Michigan Executive of the Year by the Wayne State School of Business Administration in 1999, received the Hospice of Southeastern Michigan Council Crystal Rose Award for leadership, compassion and dedication to the community in 1997, and American Red Cross of Southeastern Michigan for aiding emergency services and the work of the Red Cross friends in 1996. She was also recognized by Working Women Magazine as the number one women business owner in the nation and the Greater Detroit Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners recognized Marian as one of Michigan’s Top 25 women business owners in 1994. Ilitch received the Roundtable for Women in Foodservice Pacesetter Award in recognition of lasting and outstanding contributions made by women in foodservice in 1988.Ilitch family
Marian and Mike Ilitch have seven children: son Christopher Paul Ilitch (born June 1965) is CEO and President of Ilitch Holdings, Inc.Ilitch Holdings, Inc.
Ilitch Holdings, Inc. was established in 1999 to provide all companies owned by Mike and Marian Ilitch with professional and technical services...
; daughter Denise D. Ilitch (born November 1955) is an attorney and former co-President, with her brother, of Ilitch Holdings. Other children are Ronald "Ron" Tyrus Ilitch (born June 1957), Michael C. Ilitch, Jr., Lisa M. Ilitch Murray, Atanas Ilitch (born Thomas Ilitch) and Carole M. Ilitch Trepeck.