AMBOY – After 25 years of providing unique meals in a comfortable setting on the main street of Amboy, Lisa Lindberg and Steve Kittleson have announced that Sunday will be the last day of operations. The tiny building that gave the restaurant its name is for sale.
The reason, they write, is to care for Lisa’s mother, Maria.
“It was a privilege to have celebrated countless birthdays, anniversaries, first dates, proposals, weddings and many more significant life events with you,” the couple posted on Facebook Thursday night.
“We will miss the cozy mornings, the laughter over lunch and the candlelit dinners that you enjoyed with us over the years,” it said. “You, dear customers and friends, have been so good to us for 25 years that we leave with full and grateful hearts. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!”
Built as a cottage gas station in 1928, the building was moved in August 2000 to its current location at First Avenue North and Maine. The building was gutted while up on stilts, creating dining space for about 30, when adding outdoor seating and a gazebo. It opened Jan. 31, 2001.
Over the years, it has been known for its home-cooked meals, standard items with an elegant twist. The dining room provided a mixture of kitsch and classic farm décor, with shelves where regulars could keep their coffee mugs between visits. And they still held smorgasbords and served Swedish pancakes.
When contacted on Friday, Lindberg noted that their lives are crazy as they move toward closing, but that she will sit down to talk more soon. In the meantime, she was off to pick up an order of smoked pork chops that are customer favorites.