49 • Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019 - Rock Valley Publishing
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Addison
Winter Spring
Independent
VOL. 16 • NO. 48
Registration Begins
Dec. 3
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WWW.THEINDEPENDENTNEWSPAPERS.COM
THURSDAY, NOV. 21, 2019
Millie’s Pancake Shoppe celebrates 60th anniversary Iconic Addison restaurant still family owned
FOR THE ADDISON INDEPENDENT
Ask anybody in Addison where to find the best breakfast and chances are the answer will be Millie’s. Known far and wide for their made-from-scratch buttermilk pancakes, waffles and especially the apple-cinnamon filled German Dutch Pancakes, Millie’s Pancake Shoppe has had fed hungry patrons for six decades. Perhaps the most remarkable feat, however, is the fact the small restaurant located at 605 Lake St. (southwest corner of Mill and Lake St.) has been family owned for the entire 60 years. “When my Aunt Patti decided to retire in 2015, I bought the restaurant from her,” said current owner Jim Duda, Jr. “I was a 5th grade teacher at the time.” Duda said his decision to become the owner was a natural one. “This business has been family-owned since the beginning,” he said. “Everyone in my family has worked here. My Uncle Rusty still cooks on Sundays.” Duda said his first job was bussing tables when he was 13. He worked on and off in the family business ever since. “I’ve done everything from bussing tables to cooking, waiting tables,
running the cash register,” he said. “I was fired three times by my uncle!” The family-centric nature of Millie’s extends to the employees as well. There is a bus boy who has worked there for more than 30 years. Jerry the cook has been in the kitchen for 20-plus years. When extra wait staff is needed, Duda doesn’t have to look far. “We never advertise, or post help wanted signs,” the owner said. “Some of our servers are the kids of servers who have worked here years ago. We are all family here.” Leveraging his life-long experience with Millie’s, Duda has kept the restaurant largely the same, but has also expanded the business with ideas such as breakfast catering and by bringing in an experienced couple to run the attached gift shop. “The gift shop opened in about 1970,” Duda said, “and is a great part of Millie’s history.” The gift shop is a great place to browse while waiting for a table during the (very!) busy weekend breakfast hours or for those seeking unique presents, but the secret of success for Millie’s Pancake Shoppe is the food. “We still use the original recipes
Gabriela and Elias Salazar post their reading pledge with excitement at the PCA Family Literacy Night and Open House on Thursday, Nov. 14. It was one of the different literacy stations, where students could receive a sticker to win a prize.
See MILLIE’S, Page 4
Inside:
Police Reports...........6 Sports..................... 21 Viewpoint.................8 Classified................ 24
SUBMITTED PHOTO Addison Independent
Making a pledge to read
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