BJ's: 30 years of good food Restaurant marks 30th anniversary by Amanda McGlynn, Editorial Assistant - Gaylord Herald Times Wednesday, October 15, 2003 GAYLORD - For 30 years, BJ's Restaurant & Catering, 990 N. Center Ave. (Old 27 North), has been feeding and entertaining the people of Gaylord. Bob Elam Sr. opened the business in 1973 as Vin's Bar. Elam and his wife, Juanita, retired in 1979, selling th bar. In 1986 their son, Bob Elam Jr., bought the bar, which had been turned into a rock 'n' roll bar, out of foreclosure. He turned it into a family restaurant, christening it BJ's, in honor of his parents. Elam Jr., now 46, worked at Vin's from the age of 15. While that time influenced his decision to re-open the restaurant, his own son is now in culinary school and plans to become the third generation of Elams to own the business. Over the years, the business has gone from a small bar that served a limitied menu to a full-fledged restaurant with lounge. A 2,600-square-foot addition, built in 1999, allowed for more dining room seating, as well as more opportunities for private banquets and meetings. BJ's now boasts an expanded menu and a daily "endless" buffet with a different featured food for each day of the week. The menu changes every six months, according to Elam, and new salads have been added in the most recent update. Elam says, "all-you-can-eat crab legs on Saturday night... and the seafood buffet on Friday and Saturday... are the two most popular (selections)." Each Saturday and Sunday morning, from 7 to noon, BJ's patrons can enjoy one of Gaylord's largest breakfast buffets. The restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. BJ's also offers a catering service, complete with equipment rental. Begun in 2002, BJ's Rental offers catering equipment, tents, tables, chairs, and supplies for the do-it-yourself caterer. If being pampered is more your style, BJ's caters breakfast, lunch, dinner, hors d'oeuvres, cocktail receptions, weddings and graduations."(People like to eat here) because we have good service and good food at a reasonable price," said Elam, emphasizing his dedication to serving the community through his business. "We give a lot back to the community in the form of charitable donations and community support."

BJ's Restaurant - Gaylord Landmark Gaylord's best - For the best dinner in the Gaylord area, visit BJ's, located on Old 27 North in Gaylord, across the street from Otsego Memorial Hospital. Owner of BJ's Restaurant, Bob Elam has hosted some pretty big names, but - as far as he's concerned - there are none bigger than is seasoned staff and the local folks and visitors they serve each day. That may explain why residents and tourists alike fill the restaurant. And all the great food doesn't hurt, either. During the Gaylord Herald Times' "The Best in the Gaylord Area" survey, readers voted BJ's Restaurant as the best place for dinner in Gaylord. The votes were unsurprising, BJ's is well known. Red Wing Gordie Howe and Tigers Mickey Lolich, Norm Cash, Bill Freehan and mark Fidriych are among celebrities who have stopped by BJ's Restaurant and Catering Service in Gaylord. Elam, however, sees the celebrities as only a footnote in a history that began when his parents, Bob and Juanita, bought the bar/restaurant in 1973. Initially, the business was a bar with entertainment and food. His parents sold it in 1979, but Elam, who had worked full time in the operation with his parents, got it back in 1986. That's when the emphasis was switched to food and an expanding meny, and what can easily be called an endless buffet. The bar, however, remains, with a new fishing decor and a new name: the Tackle Box Lounge. About 350 people can be seated comfortably in the casual, rustic facility, including a private banquet room that accommodates parties from 15 to 150 people. "Our emphasis is on local businesses and charities," said Elam. "And I feel we have the best wait staff in Gaylord." Ninety percent of BJ's employees have been on board more than seven years. The daily lunch and dinner buffets feature 25 hot items, four soups, 50 salad items and an ice cream sundae bar. The endless buffet is served beginning at 10:30 a.m. for lunch, and changes to an enhanced dinner buffet at 4:30 p.m. The dinner buffet includes snow crab on Tuesday and king crab and prime rib on Saturday. The Saturday and Sunday breakfast buffets run from 8 a.m. to noon. Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner specials are also offered. The banquet room is available for gatherings such as birthdays, weddings, business meetings, rehearsal dinners and athletic dinners. Elam said people should book the banquet facility early for holiday events. "If you haven't been in for a while, stop in," said Elam. "We have many new items."