West side restaurant memories

(An Aug. 1959 ad recreation from Dale Maley of Old Susannah restaurant)

Many Fairbury citizens remember the Old Susannah Restaurant and its successor, the Westgate Supper Club.

 In 1957, Edward Metz (1900-1985) owned 80 acres of farmland in the northeast corner of Section 9 in Indian Grove Township. This land was originally owned by two members of the Creek Native American tribe who fought on the side of the United States in the Seminole Wars in Florida. Mr. Metz was 57 years old in 1957.

In 1958, Raymond H. Crook managed the Honegger House on West Locust Street. Fairbury's new City Hall now occupies the place where the Honegger House used to be. Before operating the Honegger House, Mr. Crook and his brother managed the Gabriel Tea Room in Oak Park, Illinois.

By 1958, Darol Johnston (1918-2019) had a successful dental practice in Fairbury. "Doc" Johnston was a World War II Navy Veteran. Doc Johnston was 40 years old in 1958.

In 1958, William "Bill" Weber (1921-1996) was a 37-year-old plumber working for the E. L. Payne Plumbing Company. Five years later, E. L. Payne retired and sold the plumbing business to Bill Weber.

In 1959, these four men decided to build a new restaurant on land owned by Edward Metz, and they named their new restaurant the Old Susannah. Mr. Crook announced the new restaurant would have an Early American theme, similar to the Gabriel Tea Room in Oak Park.

The new restaurant would be located in Livingston County and not within the city limits of Fairbury. At that time, Livingston County had a maximum of 10 liquor licenses, and they were all utilized. The Green Parrott tavern in Pontiac had a county liquor license, but they no longer needed it when the tavern was annexed into Pontiac city limits. Old Susannah was granted the county liquor license the Green Parrot used to have.

In 1959, the latest record-playing technology was called a stereophonic record-playing system. Stereophonic sound was a method of sound reproduction that recreated a multi-directional, 3-dimensional audible perspective. Mr. Crook announced the Old Susannah restaurant would be equipped with this latest technology.

In July of 1959, Mr. Crook placed ads in the Pontiac Daily Leader to hire waitresses and cooks for the Old Susannah restaurant. The ad stated that waitresses should make about $75 per week. This pay would equal $774 per week in today's dollars.

The Old Susannah restaurant opened around August of 1959. Record Printing printed grand opening brochures in Fairbury. These brochures listed the four corporate officers of the Old Susannah restaurant. These officers included Bill Weber, President; Ed Metz, Vice-President; Darol Johnston, Secretary; and Raymond Crook, Manager.

In 1961, a new eight-lane bowling alley was added to the Old Susannah restaurant. The bowling alley owners were Bill Weber and Dr. D. H.  Johnston. Many local businesses sponsored bowling leagues for many years.

The Old Susannah was a very popular restaurant in the 1960s. Many family events and business meetings were held at the restaurant. The October 3, 1968, edition of the Blade announced that Bill Weber and Doc Johnston sold the restaurant and bowling alley to Chuck and Ella Holforty. By this time, Ed Metz and Raymond Crook were no longer in partnership with Bill Weber and Doc Johnston.

In the early hours of Sunday night, April 28, 1974, the Old Susannah restaurant caught fire and burned down. The fire department was able to save the bowling alley. The Old Susannah restaurant was rebuilt and continued to operate as a restaurant.

In 1981, the Blade reported that the Old Susannah restaurant had been sold and would be renamed the Westgate Supper Club and Bowling Lanes. The restaurant had been closed for several months when the former owner, Kris Rejonen, left Fairbury. The new owners were Mr. and Mrs. Don Janney. They operated Janney's Supper Club & Bowling Alley in Flanagan. Sam Pica of Abington was in partnership with Mr. and Mrs. Janney. Westgate continued to be a popular restaurant.

In 1992, John Strong started his Marchelloni Pizza business on the east end of Locust Street at 405 E. Locust. This location was convenient for high school students because the high school was only a few blocks north of the Locust and Seventh Street intersection.

In March of 1998, the Blade reported the Westgate restaurant had been sold, and the name would be changed to J & D's Place. Westgate owner Sam Pica sold the restaurant to Jeff and Debbie Seyller of Peoria. Mr. Seyller was previously the head of operations of a Long John Silver's franchise for six years. The Seyllers considered Fairbury the ideal location for a restaurant because it was a financially secure small town, had friendly people, and was on a commuting trail.

Around 2002, Mr. Strong decided to buy the much larger Westgate restaurant and move his pizza business to that location. The pizza buffet at the new location of 1005 W. Oak Street was very popular with customers. The name was changed from Westgate to Marchelloni Pizza.

In 2004, John Strong invested $100,000 to upgrade the kitchen so he could begin to offer fried chicken and steak on his menu. The restaurant was open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Prices were $2 to $5 for breakfast and $4 to $9 for lunch.

In 2018, John Strong decided he wanted to downsize his business. Marchelloni Pizza moved from the Route 24 location back to its original location on the east end of Locust Street. On April 4, 2018, the Dos Fuentes Mexican restaurant opened for business. In it's first five years in business, Dos Fuentes has proven to be a very popular restaurant with its customers.

In 2019, the bowling alley was closed. All of the bowling related equipment was sold and removed from the building. The bowling alley had been in business in Fairbury  for 58 years.

The restaurant and bowling alley have provided food and entertainment to Fairbury area customers for over six decades. Dos Fuentes continues this tradition and offers excellent food and service to area customers.

(A late 1950's menu from Fairbury)