Page 44 - 2011 Lake St. Clair Guide Magazine
P. 44
50th After being closed for almost 10 years, Henry's Restaurant, located right on the St.
Anniversary Clair River in Algonac, was torn down last October to build a parking lot for passengers
Ad in 1987 riding the Ferry to Russell Island.
Since 1962, on every 5-year anniver- A fond rememberance for a lot of people... Henry's has been such an icon on the
sary, Henry rolled back the menu water for so long, and so many thousands of people have eaten here, that even if you
prices to 1937. In 1982, a news never knew about it, I bet you know some-
article from their 45th anniversary one who ate here....ask your mom or your
reported Henry's served 4,000 din- grandma!
ners during their two-day celebration! The owners, Henry and Ann Kersten
were quite beloved by their customers who
Henry's Tavern, a gas station and traveled from as far as Detroit and St. Clair
lunch room with four tables in 1937.
That's when they started their slogan... Shores to dine. The Kersten's always
made people feel welcome.
"Its nice to be nice."
But besides having great food,
Henry also was a mentor to the 100's of
young men that worked in his kitchen
throughout the years. He required a lot
from his employees. One of Henry's past
employees said one of the standards as
a youth was being on time. Most of the
guys arrived 20 minutes early to not get
note the same dumb power pole ruining in trouble. Also, you had to go to school or
every shot... your couldn't work in the kitchen. Several of
his kitchen boys he mentored went on to their own restaurant careers.
The final demolition last October
Henry dropped out of Marine City High School in 1925 but then returned in '28 to
graduate. He had no money for college so he shoveled coal on Great Lakes freighters
for 2 years. After moving on and then working at the local grocery store, and worked his
way to manager, he resigned and then borrowed $500 to rent the combination gas station
lunchroom. His wife Ann worked along side Henry cooking together for many years to
build their renowned restaurant on the river.
Many additions were added over the years to accomodate the increasing patrons.
Maybe you remember eating in the "Shangri-La Room" in '46, the "Gale and Sail" room
in '56, the "Anchor Room" in '58, the "Boat House" or the "Pilot House" in '63? Or, do
you remember getting your salad from the 22' boat that was modeled after the famous
"Cutty Sark" sailing ship in '79? By the way, you can still see this salad bar. It is now
located at the Algonac Harbour Club Restaurant.
A Letter to Henry
Dear Henry,
I started to work at Henry's in 1949 as a dishwasher 4th class. In the next six years, we of the kitchen
Brigade learned a great deal about cooking, cleaning, and - more importantly - life in general. We had
more than a job. We had a great experience provided by GREAT PEOPLE - Henry and Ann.
There is one service to the public that Henry may not know that he provided. Henry had the first (to
my knowledge) sail-in food pick-up service. Some of us River Rats got the idea of sailing by and calling
an order to our fellow working cooks, who would bag the order and toss it to us as we sailed by. We, in
turn, would toss the money back to the cook (most of the time).
Henry had a very good Employee Benefit Program in 1949. We had all we could eat (that had to be
expensive), free water skiing on Monday, and cold baths, at will, in the good old St. Clair River. Another
benefit provided was vacation. One of the best vacation trips I ever had started as a joke in Henry's
kitchen. We were Juniors in Algonac High at the time and were dreaming of a trip to Florida over the
Christmas holidays. The best car we had available was Bob Gronlund's "Model A" Ford. We didn't know
it, but Henry had overheard us talking about this trip to the Southland. Later that night Henry called me
into the back room and offered his new Plymouth station wagon to us for the trip. We could not believe
it- we had a new car to take to Florida! So, we went - Bob Gronlund, Carl Avers, Don Rosso, and yours
truly. What a super trip! and what a super boss to let four teenagers take his new car on a 3,000 mile
trip!!! Another benefit was the use of the Plymouth Convertible for the big dance of the year.
Now that I am out in the "real world" with seven children of my own and a job with Pontiac Motor
Division in Houston, Texas, I wonder if by chance Henry might need an extra cook for the summer?
Very truly yours, Robert J. Durand
