The former owner of one of the original buildings and businesses in Lighthouse Cove reminisced about the good times and how much it meant serving the area.
Since being built in 1947, the Lighthouse Inn has been a fixture in the community. Graduations, weddings, anniversaries and even christenings were held there and the restaurant's view of Lake St. Clair drew people in from out of town.
The business shut down roughly three years ago and was put on the market by owner Jim Cooke. His family purchased the business in 1968 and he recently found a buyer who will likely be demolishing the building.
The former Lighthouse Inn in Lighthouse Cove. June 2018.(Photo courtesy of Simon Crouch)
Cooke said the community was as important to the business, as it was to the community.
"Basically 95% of our customers we knew by name. They were friends of ours," Cooke said. "That to me was certainly the significant part to us and the emotional part."
One thing that made the Lighthouse Inn truly unique was the seven flagpoles set up facing the lake. Cooke said they played a pivotal roll in making visitors feel more welcome.
"If you called me to say your grandmother is coming in from Newfoundland, we'd fly a Newfoundland flag," Cooke said.
He added there were internationally owned businesses in the area and if people were visiting from other countries they would fly their flags alongside Canada's.
Cooke said he got the idea when he worked for a company that sent him overseas.
"I remember being impressed because every now and then if they knew you were visiting they'd put a little Canadian flag on the table you were eating lunch at in their cafeteria," Cooke said. "I always thought it was a nice tribute for your guests."
The former owner added the property started out with three flag poles facing the water, then upgraded to five and eventually seven in total. Cooke said he collected an inventory of roughly 80 flags ranging from countries, provinces and even branches of the military.
Cooke decided to sell the business because it wasn't viable anymore. He added the cost to run it was becoming more than the money coming in, especially because it was only really busy for less than half the year.
"From Mothers Day to Labour Day we were as busy as we could be, but that's only five months of the year and we had to pay bills for 12," Cooke said. "Our Hydro One bill, for example, was well over $2,000 a month. Like many small businesses that aren't chains, we just couldn't manage the costs."
Cooke isn't sure what the new owners' plans are for the property, but he said they took his inventory of flags. He has high hopes it is a sign they will carry on the tradition.
Ultimately, Cooke wanted to make sure the community knew how much he appreciated them for making the Lighthouse Inn last nearly 70 years.
"I just wanted to thank the greater community of Chatham-Kent and the far eastern part of Essex County, as well as some very loyal employees that helped build a little business out in the middle of nowhere," Cooke said. "We aren't even on a main road. You had to drive out here, off the beaten path, and when you were done lunch or dinner do a U-turn and go back to wherever you came from."
Cooke said he attributes the longevity of the business to the great employees who made local businesses feel welcome.