"I feel this is like an institution up here in Sault Ste. Marie. My dad started a formula of making good, fresh burgers and that hasn't changed in 75-years. Everybody enjoys Clyde's," said manager, Linda Jesionowski.
And it showed today that people love Clyde's. The iconic restaurant is open for the next four days until they close up until April.
One customer arrived over 30 minutes early to have the honor of being the first one in line.
Maurice Dunn ordered lunch for him and his wife this Valentine's Day.
"I ordered chilli-cheese fries, deep-friend mushrooms, bacon-cheese burger, mushroom-swiss burger. I love Clyde's. They should do it more often because people will come. You can get hamburgers elsewhere but these just stand out," Dunn said.
Salina Toms was one of seven smiling employees who were eager to open up today. Toms is in her second season working at Clyde's.
"I am excited to be back with my Clyde's family, for sure. It brings something exciting for the wintertime here. We get cabin fever and this brings people out. We are excited to see everybody and we are ready to get these orders going and make everybody some food," Toms said.
Clyde's is a staple in this area.
"We were coming up on 75 years of my dad having this restaurant and I wanted to continue that legacy. I didn't want to see it close. I wanted to keep it going. We celebrated the 75th anniversary last year. We said we could do it for five years. We are hoping to get the staff that is here to eventually take it over and manage it. This is our fourth season after my cousin Bob Spencer retired from Clyde's," Jesionowski said.
This is the first year Jesionowski has opened Clyde's for Valentine's Day. Spencer did if four or five times before he passed the torch to Jesionowski.
All their meat is bought from Neville's Superette in the Soo with the exception of their bison which is purchased from Circle K Ranch in Rudyard.
Clyde's will be open today until 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday they open at 11 a.m. and will stay open until they run out of food. Clyde's will reopen for the season in mid-April.
For those who don't know where Clyde's is located (rare, but it might happen), it is located at the Sugar Island Ferry Dock/Rotary Park entrance at 1425 Riverside Drive.
