What was once a local bar has now become a premier restaurant in Northern Michigan. A featured seafood specialty of the El-Bo Inn Bar and Restaurant are the famous El-Bo Inn Mussels sautéed in a white wine sauce and soaked in a heavy whipping cream of butter, garlic, shredded parmesan cheese, and green onions along with several ‘secret’ ingredients are a featured seafood specialty at the El-Bo Inn.
According to Rod and Adele Timerowski, owners of the El-Bo Inn the El-Bo Inn Mussels are their most popular seafood specialty. They suggested that many of their guests have driven from afar just to purchase the El-Bo Inn Mussels.
Hearing this, I decided to try the Mussels for myself. I already knew from my research that Mussels are often referred to us as a culinary miracle. They are cheap and easy to cook and take very little time to prepare. They are nutritious and go well with a multitude of flavors. Most of all, they are delicious, plump and meaty, without that thick, gooey quality that keeps some people away from oysters and clams.
The last Sunday evening of summer, I stopped in at the El-Bo Inn to taste this famous Mussel seafood specialty. The Mussel dish presentation was perfect. Almost 40, half-opened mussels on a large white soup platter appeared before me. The Mussels were dripping in a flavorful white wine sauce and sprinkled with real parmesan cheese and green onion tops making my mouth water. Mussels, a glass of Riesling, a slice of homemade French bread and a wedge salad with blue cheese dressing, made for a lovely summer meal.
The EL-BO Inn is located in the center of Elk Country and situated on M-33 North, 13-miles equidistant between Atlanta and Onaway. The El-Bo Inn was built near the entrance to Canada Creek Ranch, a 13,000-acre private sportsman’s club, started in 1936. History reveals the El-Bo Inn has had several names and owners throughout its history.
John Weber, the former Editor & Publisher of the Montmorency County Tribune, recalls the bar being named the ‘Canada Creek Bar.’ Barb Steele, of Canada Creek Ranch, suggested it was originally a store called “Carl’s because it was owned by Carl Siegrist. At that time, Barb stated, “It was one room, had two gas pumps, a chair and table and sold homemade bread. Carl sold the store in 1944 to Glen & Jean Erity, who renamed it “Glen’s.” It was then sold to Russ & Lea Hammond.
In 1961 it was sold to Bob & Elsie Loewe, who named the bar the “El-Bo Inn.” “EL” for Elsie and “Bo” for Bob. In 1981, Tom and Pam Jones purchased the El-Bo Inn and kept the name.
According to Tawny Jones Hissock, “The Jones sold the bar to Malcolm and Nancy Castle around 2006.” The Castle’s also kept the name the El-Bo Inn. The Castle’s sold the bar in 2011 to Julie and Gil Olds, who retained the title, the El-Bo Inn. In 2016, the Olds sold the bar to the present owners, Rob and Adele Temerowski.”
The El-Bo Inn is no longer just a bar or what locals referred to as the ‘old watering hole.’ Still, with a bar-like setting, the restaurant is now serving a customized full-service menu with original entrees, desserts, beer, and all kinds of fancy drinks. It is what I would label a Destination Restaurant. It reminds me of a cross between Zingerman’s and the Gandy Dancer, both located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Anyone who has ever visited Ann Arbor is quickly made aware of Zingerman’s. It is the ‘place’ to go giving one bragging rights about having been to Ann Arbor. Zingerman’s started out as a Jewish delicatessen selling dishes and sandwiches in 1982. It has long ago gone beyond the delicatessen and sandwich stage. It is still owned by Paul Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig, who netted $40 million last year. And, the Gandy Dancer, located in the old train depot is most memorable for its excellent dining and seafood specialties.
I recalled my own awareness of the fame surrounding the El-Bo Inn some thirty-one years ago. While wandering through Viaduct Harbor in Auckland, New Zealand. I heard some holler, “‘Ahoy’ Mate!”
I turned my head abruptly to see who might recognize my friend and me while wandering through the Harbor in Auckland, New Zealand. I didn’t recognize the couple, but my friend from the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) introduced me, stating I was from Atlanta, Michigan. The couple smiled quickly, asking, “Do you know where the El-Bo Inn is located in Atlanta?”
Of course, I responded, my children basically grew up there. Dr. Whu went on to say when traveling through Michigan, he and his wife once dined at the El-Bo Inn and loved both the food and atmosphere. The bonding process began, as we all ate together in Auckland while discussing amongst other things, our connection to the El-Bo Inn.”
When interviewing the Temerowski’s for this article, I not only learned about their personal history in the restaurant business but also a lot about operating and managing a bar/restaurant.
The Temerowski purchasing of the El-Bo Inn reminds me of one of those late 1940 and early1950 Humphrey Bogart romantic movies where two people fall in love and live happily ever after.
Although, a bit unrealistic for today, but right-on when Rob and Adele married in 1988 and honeymooned at Adele’s parent’s cabin at Canada Creek Ranch. On their honeymoon trip, while dining at the El-Bo Inn, Rob turned to Adele and said, “I want to own the El-Bo Inn, someday.” At that time, it was owned by Tom and Pam Jones.
Owning the El-Bo Inn was a life-time goal for the Temerowski’s. Living in the Detroit area, they continued with their traditional life duties where Rob was the General Manage for Steak & Ale restaurants in southern Michigan. Which he left in 1998 to own and operate a car dealership until 2015 before purchasing the EL-Bo Inn in 2016. The Temerowski’s have two adult daughters, Sarah, who is married and lives in Florida, and Clara, who is attending Grand Valley State University.
One can sense Rob’s general manager skills clicking in as he describes owning and operating the El-Bo Inn. He states, “Judy, it’s all about the margins. In this business, you are doing well if you can obtain a 10% margin. It’s a tough business with long hours, six days a week. We are fortunate with several changes we have made in the industry. Our margins are well above the standard 10%. And, here’s how we do it; Good Food, Good Staff, Hard Work, and a Commitment to Quality with the Customer always at the forefront of our decision making.”
“First comes the staff or employees. They are the key to our continued success. We have a minimum turnover in our staff as we continuously develop our people and accommodate them whenever possible. We treat our team as family and vice versa, and it works. If our staff makes a suggestion or wants something changed, we listen to them. Our staff is given a lot of autonomy to make decisions on their own. Everyone here is cross-trained. My wife, Adele, and I try to always greet our customers and touch base with them to lend a personal touch to our customer service. As owners, Adele and I are not afraid to get our hands dirty and often find ourselves in the kitchen cooking pizza or washing dishes. Our employees are the secret to our success!”
El Bo Inn Recent Changes and Additions.
- Every 6-months, the El-Bo Inn gets a new menu. In the interim between menu changes as they are flexible and creative willing to try almost any original recipe that might please their customers.
- This summer, they introduced the build your own Bloody Mary Bar on select Sundays such as Mother’s Day. The Bloody Mary’s come with the Sunday Brunch served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Spring & Summer Only)
- They added Florida Gator Tail to the summer menu. It tastes like chicken tenders and is either pan-fried or sautéed on the stovetop.
- Frequently, on the weekends, they have a variety of live entertainment acts such as music, comedy, or Karaoke.
- Their chef often surprises them with daily lunch and dinner specials such as Shrimp Zoodle with spiral cut zucchini, vegetables, and garlic butter in a sauce.
- In addition to their regular desserts, Sandy, the Pastry Chef, makes several sugar free desserts for those that are diabetic or watching their weight. She has a secret recipe for peanut butter pie.
- Their onion rings and mozzarella sticks are all hand-dipped rather than out of a frozen container.
- Last year, they introduced an outdoor beer garden with round tables and colorful seating. During the summer months, they will often have a band playing in this new area.
- The El-Bo Inn has celebration parties for special holidays. On St. Patrick’s Day, they feature corned beef and cabbage. New Year’s Eve is a reservation only party. And Valentine’s Day is celebrated with a special meal and rose for your sweetheart.
- The pool table that once was a focus of attention is no longer. It was replaced with dining tables and chairs as the bar transitioned from a bar to a restaurant that serves alcohol.
- The El-Bo now serves 9 craft beers on a rotating basis. Adele highly recommends the ‘Right Brain’ brew that is a local beer from the Austin Brother’s Brewery in Alpena.
- The $15 Bucket was introduced this summer. You can take home the bucket as a souvenir. It is filled with a specialty summer drink for you so you can take it to the beach or bring it back for a party. I was enticed by the names on these bucket drinks; Red Wine Sangria, Margarita, Carnival Cocktail, Cajun Lemonade, Cranberry Spritzer, Mojito, Fruit Snap, and Rum Runner. Make sure you have a designated driver with you after downing one of these tasty buckets.
Minor but essential management tools that Rob uses to increase their margins:
Rob checks and records the weather every day. This often determines the number of customers they will have that day. The kind of food and supplies they will need, and how many wait staff that will be necessary. If something works well and isn’t broken, they keep it using that old rule of thumb, “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” “Our management philosophy,” according to Rob is to “Be flexible in your planning. Always plan and prepare for the best and worst possible scenario, then you are not shocked when something goes wrong. Keep your sales figures in his head at all times, which allows you to be flexible in planning and scheduling. Remember Beer distributors are essential for any bar-restaurant and stay in constant contact with them, making sure all deliveries are on time. Niche market advertising by using local Church Bulletins, Newspapers and Radio Stations along with social media that you constantly update.”
The El-Bo Inn has a devout following of young and old, neighborhood locals and folks that travel from afar to hear the tunes and sample the cold brews, stiff cocktails, and delicious eats. It is known as one of the North’s best places for fun and good food. Even in the winter, it is packed as this past winter, I counted 57 snowmobilers parked in and around the El-Bo as they took advantage of the last snow of the season.
Editor’s Note: This is a local story about one of the food and beverage businesses in Montmorency County. Throughout this next year, I hope to provide you with similar stories featuring many dining establishments in both Montmorency County and outlying areas.
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