Cheryl's Dream Comes True- The Blue Rose Cafe
By Scott A. Sumner
Thunder Bay Business
Some of our dreams happen right away, some never happen and some take awhile. For Thunder Bay's newest restaurant owner, Cheryl Lockert, her dream took 33 years to come to fruition with her opening of The Blue Rose Cafe located at 218 West Frederica Street. I got my chef or culinary papers in 1974, apprenticing at the Airlane Hotel after taking a course at George Brown College in Toronto. Then I had children to raise but now it is a lifelong dream that has come true 33 years later, smiles Cheryl Lockert with a gleam in her eyes.
The Blue Rose Cafe restaurant is fully buffet with buffet breakfasts, lunch and supper as well as an a la carte sandwich and all day breakfast menu. After the breakfast buffet they start to
introduce lunch items. The buffets operate from Monday to Friday 6am to 8pm, Saturday 9am to 8pm and Sunday 9am to 3 pm.
Cheryl's husband Joe Lockert is proud of her accomplishment. We started on the former Robins facility in early October and had a lot of cleaning and remodeling to do.When we first decided to open the doors, we couldn't due to the fire systems that had to be updated.
Finally we said we are opening on March 26th and at 6 am that day it
all began, notes Joe Lockert. It is my wife's business, her dream. Part of my wedding vow was to support her in her dreams. I am a good cook and between us we are an
unbeatable team.
What is special about The Blue Rose Cafe? You will get a home cooked meal with no preservatives, very little salt and healthy food with good portions. We don't have a deep fat fryer because it is not an healthy choice, states Cheryl. Business has gone beyond what I
thought it would in our first three weeks- very busy and it has been everything I dreamed of in opening a restaurant and more. We have had to hire 5 staff. The buffet is ready so you can come in, eat and run.
We have take out as well you so you can phone ahead or come in and pick
it up yourself.
The new restaurateurs changed the colors of the former Robin's Donuts location from orange and yellow to blue and beige. You can have a full buffet or half buffet at the Blue Rose Cafe.The breakfast buffet will include bacon, ham, sausage, an egg dish, home fries, toast, fruit and other misc items. The lunch buffet will have soup, salad, wraps and misc items.The feature suppers will have a main course item (potato, pasta or rice) vegetable, sauces, soup or salad and dessert. The buffet's are very reasonable priced from $4.25 to $10.95. There is also all day breakfast items and a sandwich menu.
You can experience a home cooked meal in a very clean, modern setting right in the downtown of Westfort. This unique restaurant concept is a great addition to Thunder Bay. Go on in, try the food and see Cheryl's dream become a reality.
