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| It's back |
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| After struggling for a while and finally closing its doors late last year, a landmark eatery in Donald reopens thanks to the efforts of a familiar family |
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 | | Photo by John Gervais | | The Donald Cafe |
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By John Baker
There is an old saying that "what goes around, comes around."
In the case of the Donald Cafe, that ancient ditty came true. The original owners of the cafe, the people who started it 25 years ago, are now back in the saddle.
For the last 10 years Greg Collins had operated the popular breakfast and lunch cafe, but ran into trouble keeping it running, forcing the doors to close.
When the restaurant went up for sale, a name from the past stepped forward -- Bill McWhirt bought the landmark and then sold it to his son, Tom, and wife Lorelei, and her daughter, Jamie and her husband Scott Sukanen, all Donald residents.
On June 19, just prior to the Donald Daze celebration, the two families, after weeks of cleaning, held a soft opening to test the operating systems.
It has been running on all cylinders since.
The little cafe in Donald earned its reputation for its homestyle breakfast, quaint atmosphere, and a scenic drive through the country to get their.
Other than adding back the popular "country boy" breakfast, the owners have made few changes to the menu, though they are bringing back the old style coffee mugs, as well as T-shirts with the popular farmers logo on each item (the old logo).
Right now the plan is to stick to the breakfast and lunch format, and the restaurant has enjoyed the return of local farmers and old-timers to its ranks.
Ashley Sukanen, a 2005 graduate of North Marion High School, and her sister Morgan Sukanen, a freshman at NMHS in the fall (daughters of Jamie), will be round out much of the staff.
Located next to the Donald City Hall on the south side of Main Street, the hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. The restaurant will be closed on Mondays."
Tom McWhirt, Donald's Public Works Supervisor, will be cooking on Saturday and Sunday, much as he did when he and his mother, Shirley, ran the restaurant for 15 years.
"We are getting five to six farmers in every morning, waiting when they open up at 6 a.m., just like the old days," said Ashley, who added that the cafe will continue the familiar shelf of locals and friends having their own personal coffee cups.
Life is good in Donald again and everyone is excited that they have their popular gathering place back. |
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