The Patio Restaurant to close Dec. 31
By Kris Leonhardt
Editor
MARSHFIELD — “It is with heavy hearts we have to announce that the Patio Restaurant as currently owned will be closing Dec. 31, 2016,” said building owner Jerry Miller.
The restaurant has a long history in the city of Marshfield, beginning in 1964 when construction was started on a brick building on the corner of St Joseph Avenue and West Arnold Street. Owner W.D. Connor opened a 15-unit apartment building with a family restaurant on the first level and a self- and full-service laundry in the lower level.
Past restaurant owners under W.D. Connor’s ownership included Phil Morris, Jim Glover, and Jim Lee.
Miller bought the business from Lee on June 1, 1980, and leased the space from Connor before buying the building in 1992.
Miller ran the restaurant from 1980 to 1995 before he sold the business to a variety of successors: Sue Swoboda, Sara Raleigh, and then Swoboda again.
“The local icon brought many families together for great food and camaraderie over the years,” said Connie Miller, Jerry’s wife. “Sort of like ‘Cheers’ where everyone knows your name.
“Many locals have been lifelong customers, coming in religiously one to two times weekly or even daily,” added Jerry. “In fact there aren’t many locals that can say they never visited the Patio Restaurant. Many people remember coming to the Patio with their grandparents or parents, and it became a part of their normal life. Many of these kids got their first jobs here and came back after to work.
“We are hoping we can fill the space with another restaurant or will have to look at different avenues, and the great restaurant location and clientele following may never happen again.”
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