Driver gets 7 years in bar owner’s death

Brad Ruff

By Charles Sercombe
About two years ago, the former owner of Kelly’s Bar on Holbrook was out riding his motorcycle in Eastpointe with his wife when the driver of a car T-boned him at a sidestreet intersection ear Nine Mile and Kelly.
Brad Ruff, 64, who had just retired and sold the bar, was pronounced dead at the scene, and his wife, Patty, was badly injured but survived.
The driver of that car, Eric Compton, who has a history of traffic violations, including drunk driving, was arrested and charged. Alcohol was cited as a factor in the crash that killed Ruff.
Now, it appears Compton, 41, will serve at least seven years in prison in a plea deal with the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, according to a recent report by Jameson Cook of the Macomb Daily.
Back in August of 2021 we wrote about the accident and legacy of the bar in the column “Toast of the Town.” Here’s what we had to say:
“Both Patti and Brad had just closed that previous Monday on the sale of their bar, located on Holbrook Ave.
“They were both planning to retire somewhere out west, maybe Arizona.
“Kelly’s is one the last surviving dive bars in Hamtramck. Beers were cheap, and the bar enjoyed a reputation for its kitchen.
“Burgers, hotdogs, Friday fish fries, you couldn’t beat those good eats for the price.
“During the pandemic, when bars were closed down, they did a bustling takeout business.
“The bar was also known for hosting live music. We first became acquainted with Brad and Patti when their bar became the new home to local blues bands back in 2010.
“That was after the former Attic Bar on Jos. Campau, known back then as the ‘Home of the Blues,’ closed down.
“That scene moved on over to Kelly’s, and blues musicians and their fans were welcomed with open arms by Brad.
“’We kind of stumbled on it by accident,’ Ruff told The Review back then. ‘Now they (bar patrons) call it the new Attic.’
“Ruff looked like a blues cat, too: he wore his Kangol-style cap backwards, had a soul patch on his chin, and spoke with a distinctive raspy voice.
“He was a pretty good cook, and he was a consistent winner in the chili contests held by PLAV Post 10. His secret ingredient, he would tell anyone who asked: ‘Viagra.’”
The bar now has a new owner, and it re-opened a few months ago after remodeling.
Posted June 9, 2023