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BJ’s Restaurant celebrates 35 years serving Gaylord area
By Jil Schult, HT Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 21, 2008 3:31 PM EDT
Customers line both sides of the salad bar during Monday’s lunch hour at BJ’s Restaurant and catering. They offer a breakfast buffet on Saturday and Sunday, dinner buffets and menu items. HT - Jil Schult
GAYLORD -- The year was 1973. The barcode was invented, Watergate hearings began, Pink Floyd released “Dark Side of the Moon” and BJ’s Restaurant opened its doors in Gaylord.
BJs was named from the first letter of the owners’ first names, Bob and Juanita Elam.
In those early years, the seating capacity was 75 and the staff consisted of the Elams and their 16-year-old son, Bob Jr., who continues to run the expanded business.
The bar featured music seven nights a week until Elam Jr. took over the business in 1986 and turned the business into a full restaurant. In 1996, he added banquet rooms and catering, which expanded seating to approximately 400. The growth has increased the business to include 95 employees, with the majority employed with Elam for 10-plus years.
“We’re the second biggest employer in Gaylord, other than the hospital,” Elam said.
BJs was named from the first letter of the owners’ first names, Bob and Juanita Elam.
In those early years, the seating capacity was 75 and the staff consisted of the Elams and their 16-year-old son, Bob Jr., who continues to run the expanded business.
The bar featured music seven nights a week until Elam Jr. took over the business in 1986 and turned the business into a full restaurant. In 1996, he added banquet rooms and catering, which expanded seating to approximately 400. The growth has increased the business to include 95 employees, with the majority employed with Elam for 10-plus years.
“We’re the second biggest employer in Gaylord, other than the hospital,” Elam said.
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Nowadays you can find Elam’s son, Jason, who graduated from culinary school in 2004, grooming to take over the business as third-generation owner.
With the inclusion of a mobile kitchen, BJ’s Restaurant, Rental and Catering has earned the title, “preferred caterer” from Castle Farms in Charlevoix, the largest wedding venue in Northern Michigan; Knights of Columbus in Gaylord; and the Black Bear Golf Resort in Vanderbilt.
“We’ve worked really hard to get that title,” said Ronda Amborski, general manager. “We’re capable of doing all that because of the mobile kitchen.”
BJ’s Restaurant, winner of People’s Choice Awards for best family restaurant, best salad bar and best caterer, offers both high-end menu items as well as the popular buffet.
“We’re known for the good comfort food,” said Elam of the buffet selections. “We’re one of the last restaurants where everything is made from scratch.”
The banquet rooms host a vast array of local groups and Elam supports many local nonprofits and churches. Ninety percent of his business is local customers, he said.
Elam reported national chain restaurants as being the greatest change in the business during the last 35 years.
“We’re a dying breed if people don’t start supporting local businesses, not chains,” he said.
Breakfast buffets are available Saturday and Sunday; the Friday diner buffet features fish; and the Saturday dinner buffet offers prime rib and Alaskan king crab.
BJ’s Restaurant is open seven days for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hours are Sunday through Thursday: 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
Visit BJ’s Restaurant at 990 N. Center Ave. (Old 27 North) or call 732-4010.
Contact Jil Schult at 748-4518 or jil@gaylordheraldtimes.com.
With the inclusion of a mobile kitchen, BJ’s Restaurant, Rental and Catering has earned the title, “preferred caterer” from Castle Farms in Charlevoix, the largest wedding venue in Northern Michigan; Knights of Columbus in Gaylord; and the Black Bear Golf Resort in Vanderbilt.
“We’ve worked really hard to get that title,” said Ronda Amborski, general manager. “We’re capable of doing all that because of the mobile kitchen.”
BJ’s Restaurant, winner of People’s Choice Awards for best family restaurant, best salad bar and best caterer, offers both high-end menu items as well as the popular buffet.
“We’re known for the good comfort food,” said Elam of the buffet selections. “We’re one of the last restaurants where everything is made from scratch.”
The banquet rooms host a vast array of local groups and Elam supports many local nonprofits and churches. Ninety percent of his business is local customers, he said.
Elam reported national chain restaurants as being the greatest change in the business during the last 35 years.
“We’re a dying breed if people don’t start supporting local businesses, not chains,” he said.
Breakfast buffets are available Saturday and Sunday; the Friday diner buffet features fish; and the Saturday dinner buffet offers prime rib and Alaskan king crab.
BJ’s Restaurant is open seven days for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hours are Sunday through Thursday: 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
Visit BJ’s Restaurant at 990 N. Center Ave. (Old 27 North) or call 732-4010.
Contact Jil Schult at 748-4518 or jil@gaylordheraldtimes.com.
2 comment(s)
The Golden Hornet wrote on Oct 22, 2008 3:07 PM:
" The last time I was in BJ's, which was early this last summer, my wife and I were deeply disappointed in their food quality, which appears to us to have slipped considerably from just a couple of years ago. The taste of our entrees was bland. Items that were to be kept
hot were cool or cold, and the Buffet was not well kept up with some pans being completely empty for several minutes and others looking rather unappetizing from other food items being dripped or dropped in.
The wait staff was lackadaisical at best and ignored our repeated requests for additional drink refills and our comments concerning shortages of food on the buffet. We were also unpleasantly surprised at the low level of cleanliness at our table. The table top was greasy and food crumbs were all over the benches. This table had just been cleaned by the way as we were being led toward it. We decided at the time that if BJ's can not keep a high standard for it's buffet business such as Golden Corral does, then we would eat at other restaurants in the Gaylord area such as Bob Evans.
We may have been victims of a bad day at BJ's. We know it happens. None the less, from such experiences are expectations dashed and it's likely we will not plan on a dining experience at BJ's again any time soon. "
hot were cool or cold, and the Buffet was not well kept up with some pans being completely empty for several minutes and others looking rather unappetizing from other food items being dripped or dropped in.
The wait staff was lackadaisical at best and ignored our repeated requests for additional drink refills and our comments concerning shortages of food on the buffet. We were also unpleasantly surprised at the low level of cleanliness at our table. The table top was greasy and food crumbs were all over the benches. This table had just been cleaned by the way as we were being led toward it. We decided at the time that if BJ's can not keep a high standard for it's buffet business such as Golden Corral does, then we would eat at other restaurants in the Gaylord area such as Bob Evans.
We may have been victims of a bad day at BJ's. We know it happens. None the less, from such experiences are expectations dashed and it's likely we will not plan on a dining experience at BJ's again any time soon. "
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Stanley wrote on Oct 24, 2008 11:53 AM:
I am sorry to hear of your disappointing experience; however, this is not the forum to air your dissatisfaction. My mother taught me "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything." Instead of complaining, let's congratulate BJ's on their 35th anniversary. "