Local News

Saying goodbye

Adele's Place in Salem closing after nearly 30 years

SALEM -- Adele's Place will close its doors for the final time today after serving the community for nearly 30 years.

Fans of Adele's Place that want to visit the beloved family restaurant one last time will have until 2 p.m. today when the restaurant closes its doors at 509 Snyder Road for the final time and owner Adele Lake enters her well-earned retirement.

Lake said that she began working at the restaurant she would one day own in 1975 when she was 15 years old. At that time the business was known as Votaw's Restaurant, and Lake worked there for Russell Votaw until its closure.

"He called me up on a Sunday night and said, 'don't come to work, we filed for bankruptcy,'" Lake said.

Lake said that when the building was put up for auction in 1996, she was contacted by Jim Miller, who asked if she would be interested in running the business for him. The restaurant re-opened in its current form in 1997, and after running the business while renting the property for four years, Lake purchased it from Miller in 2001.

Since that fateful day in 1997, Lake has been serving the community for 29 years and six months, but the time has come for her to enter the next chapter of her life. She said that in the immediate future she'll be undergoing surgery on her rotator cuff, but once she's recovered, she'll be taking a long-awaited trip to Australia.

"I've worked since I was 15 years old and it's time to relax," Lake said.

Lake said that she loved running the business, and that while there were difficult times when the restaurant faced challenges like major equipment failures, if she were given the chance, she'd run the business all over again.

She's been joined in that journey by her five children, who work with her at the restaurant. She said that one of her 12 grandchildren also works there and that one of her six great-grandchildren has also worked with her at the restaurant in the past.

Lake said that working with her family through the businesses ups and downs has made hard times easier and the good times even more special.

"They're all good memories, they really are. Everyone's family. I've gotten to watch my kids grow up, get married and have kids…We can all go home and talk about things, and we know what they're talking about because we're there with them," Lake said. "It's not like working separately and trying to picture things happening. If something goes wrong their explaining what's going on to the customers and the customers are concerned and asking how they can help."

Lake said that customers have been incredibly supportive and loyal over the years and have come from every age and background imaginable. She said that their oldest customer will be 104 in May, and that she's had the pleasure of watching customers who were first brought to the restaurant as infants grow up.

"It's been wonderful. This community and all the surrounding communities have been awesome. I couldn't ask for any better people…If I had to do it over again, this is the community I'd want to do it in," Lake said.

Lake said that after nearly 30 years in business her advice for anyone considering opening their own restaurant is to spend their money wisely, and to always shop around to ensure they are getting the best price available. She also stressed the importance of thinking outside the box when faced with problems.

"Be frugal with your money and don't let people take advantage of you, and save every part of every machine because you never know if you may need it," Lake said.

When asked if she had anything she wanted to share with the community, Lake's answer was simple.

"I'm going to miss them," Lake said.