Longtime Cedar Rapids restaurant owners of Willy Woodburn’s set to retire

CEDAR RAPIDS - Rita Pechota said she felt like crying when she heard the news: Bill and Linda Woodburn, longtime owners of Willy Woodburn's Café in Cedar Rapids are retiring.

'I will miss it,” she said of the restaurant under the ownership of the couple. 'They really treated everyone like family.”

The Woodburns plan to serve up their final meals at the restaurant, 232 16th Ave. SW, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Easter Sunday.

'I've worked in the restaurant business in some capacity since I was 26 years old,” said Bill Woodburn, aka 'Willy.” 'I'm 74 now. And while this work is a lot of fun, it is getting harder and harder at my age so it was just time.”

The couple opened Willy Woodburn's in 1994 after purchasing what was then called Tommy's Restaurant, located on First Avenue NE. Bill Woodburn remembers that space fondly.

'It was one long table down the middle that welcomed everyone to enjoy breakfast along with talk of the Hawkeyes, the weather or whatever the news of the day,” he said. 'Folks sat beside one another with no idea who the person next to them was but they always struck up a conversation and laughed and enjoyed great food.”

In 1996, Woodburn opened a second location on Ellis Boulevard.

While the First Avenue location closed in 2003, the Ellis Boulevard location remained open until it was inundated with floodwaters in 2008. At that time, Woodburn wasn't sure he would reopen, but after prompting from customers, he found a new location - the restaurant's current home - where he began operations in October 2008.

Since that time, Woodburn could be found most days at the restaurant and Linda Woodburn, who also works at Hy-Vee, would join him on Sundays.

'We have always tried to offer the best possible food we could for the money,” said Bill Woodburn, noting a taste for 'above-average” portions. 'We are probably best known for our breakfast, which we serve all day. I always liked cooking and enjoyed the challenge of getting the food out quickly and presented nicely when we were busy.”

Bill and Linda Woodburn announced their plan to retire via social media and at willywoodburns.com. A stream of bittersweet well wishes has followed.

'This week, I've seen people I haven't seen in quite a while,” Bill Woodburn said. 'People have been stopping in all week to wish us well.”

Among them is Judy Wallig, who called Willy Woodburn's 'a great mom-and-pop restaurant.”

'They ... are great people. They treat people with respect and their food is the best, especially breakfast,” Wallig said. 'I stopped in Thursday night to get the fall-off-the-bone ribs they serve. Bill was there, so I got to see him and give him a hug to wish him well.

'He will be missed.”

The restaurant has been sold to another local family, according to Bob Butschi, a Skogman real estate broker who handled the sale. He said the new owners are not ready to step forward at this time, but provided a few details of their plans.

'They plan to keep many of the traditions and same menu items as if Willy Woodburn's never closed down,” Butschi said. 'While they do plan an infusion of new menu items eventually, they want to keep it a family owned restaurant to respect and honor what Bill has done for the community over the years.”

Bill Woodburn said he hopes his customers support the new restaurant when it opens. In the meantime, he shares his gratitude.

'It has been a long and grand journey filled with many memories,” he said, 'We have appreciated all the support over the years. I just enjoyed cooking and fixing things up for people and we've always had a good rapport with our staff.

'I'll miss seeing them.”

If you go

What

: Last day of business for owners Bill and Linda Woodburn at Willy Woodburn's Café

Where

: 232 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids

When

: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday

Info

: (319) 365-6768 or willywoodburns.com