Lou’s Diner, the popular restaurant and mainstay of downtown Woodward business and society, was sold Tuesday, but it will remain in local hands and continue to cater to local tastes.
Lucille “Lou” Wacker of Perry owned and operated the eatery for many years but since the death in 2013 of her husband, Paul Wacker, “her heart just wasn’t in it anymore,” said Lou’s daughter, Cherie Schuttler of rural Bouton.
Schuttler and her sister, Cindy Grimsley of Adel, have largely run the business in recent years, and Schuttler said they will continue to work there under the new owner, Kathy Butler of Woodward, a longtime customer and friend of the family.
Butler recently retired after 36 years as a resident treatment worker at the Woodward Resource Center. She said she is looking forward to trying her hand in the restaurant game.
Butler was dining Wednesday night in her new business with a couple of her old Woodward friends, Joan Miller and Andrew Flockhart, and she assured them their help would be needed in the new venture.
“It takes a village to run a restaurant,” Butler said with a laugh. She said she plans to get plenty of use out of the salad bar and chicken broaster and will make some changes to the menu while preserving its essence.
Lou’s Diner in located at 220 S. Main St. in Woodward and specializes in American food. It is particularly noted for its large pancakes.
We wish the best for you, Lou. Enjoy that retirement. Congratulations.
I haven’t been at Lou’s for a long time. I hope their tenderloins are still good and they keep serving breakfast all day. Dang, they used to have great liver and onions, too.