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Downtown Eatery opens in Marion

Staff writer

Rich Vogt’s favorite pastime Friday morning was to watch drivers conspicuously slow down in front of the Downtown Eatery at 211 E. Main St., Marion, and peer into the window. They needed to check that the illuminated open sign was not a ruse.

Vogt opened his restaurant for the first time 6 a.m. Friday. Breakfast hours were expectedly slow. Vogt did not tell anyone, except his employees, that he was opening. He wanted to allow his servers and cooks to work in a lower-pressure environment. He hired a group that featured many new local employees; none of them had worked together.

Word travels fast in Marion.

By lunch, the Downtown Eatery was filled to capacity with hungry patrons.

“I was not expecting how busy our lunch was,” Vogt said. “It was a little overwhelming; it was kind of a trial by fire.”

Although he understands the kinks of a new restaurant, Vogt was dissatisfied with the long wait for food customers encountered. Vogt did not receive any complaints; the patrons waited patiently just as they had for a new restaurant to fill the void left when Stone City Café closed this past fall.

Throughout May, Vogt worked seven days a week to prepare the restaurant. He cleaned the kitchen, planned the layout and scheme restaurant, painted, and constructed a wood bar. Vogt fielded inquiries about the restaurant, specifically when it would open, from many passing residents.

“People have been waiting for this to open up,” Vogt said.

The Downtown Eatery is offering a familiar dining experience to people who enjoyed Stone City and Mom and Dad’s Café because Vogt will offer similar food. Vogt described the menu as traditional diner fare. Breakfast will be served all day, seven days a week. The lunch menu features a variety of burgers.

Vogt is planning to offer a daily special — Friday it was hot turkey sandwiches — and is encouraging his cooks to add their favorite recipes to the menu.

“Everybody wants a hot meal at lunch time,” Shelli, Vogt’s wife, said.

Vogt has incorporated several recipes from Reign Anduss, the owner of Mom and Dad’s Café. Marlene Anduss will make the pies that were served at Mom and Dad’s Café.

Of the six pies made Friday morning, only seven pieces were left by 5 p.m.

There are unexpected items on the menu, including a breakfast burrito.

“We actually sold more burritos than biscuits and gravy,” Vogt said.

Vogt understands that the little things can provide familiarity for patrons. Coffee is an important piece of the puzzle for Vogt. While he said he might not bring customers in with the promise of quality coffee, Vogt said he could definitely lose customers if they receive a bad cup.

The details of his restaurant are important to Vogt because owning a restaurant has been a life-long dream.

He and Shelli moved to a home at Marion County Lake last year because they thought Marion was a good place to start a business. The native Californians did not know anyone in Marion County before moving.

“What drew me to it was its smallness,” Vogt said. “Kids were out and around riding their bikes.”

Soon after the Vogts moved to Marion, Stone City closed, giving the Vogts an opening. Shelli said it was a sign for Rich, a retired deputy sheriff, that it was time to become a restaurateur.

The restaurant will be a family operation with Rich and Shelli working together and their daughter, Courtney Arnce, working as a server.

Although the restaurant is open, Vogt said there is still work to be done — fixing up the back room for example.

“He’s never done,” Shelli said.

However, the top goal for Vogt in the immediate future will be to provide flavorful food and good service, while not sacrificing one for the other.

“We want to get better every day,” Vogt said.

Last modified June 16, 2011

 

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