TOLEDO, Ohio — A west Toledo restaurant that has been in business for more than four decades is expecting to close its doors for good at the end of June for retirement.
Eddie Lee's, located at 4700 Nantucket Drive, is tucked behind the Monroe Street shopping plaza that houses Bar 145 and RESET. Its location may not have been easy to spot, but the restaurant thrived on word of mouth and serving generations of families as a proud "Toledo tradition."
Appropriately, the restaurant is currently owned and operated by Eddie Lee's sons Howie, Melvin and Willie.
Willie Lee is often the first to greet customers upon their arrival and knows most of his customers by name. Like Eddie Lee's customers, the staff is known for the same loyalty, with many having worked at the restaurant for years. Three of his employees have worked there since day one, Willie Lee said.
"The time has come to turn the page to a new life chapter to enjoy free time, family, friends and new adventures! ... We are deeply grateful for our outstanding staff whether they have been with us for a short term, for decades or since day one!" the Lee family said in a statement, posted Sunday on social media. "This 44-year achievement has truly been built on your commitment to our family and dedication to our customers. To our friends and customers (some of you since the day we opened), we can only express our heartfelt appreciation for you."
The restaurant serves American fare in an upper-scale atmosphere and is prized for its friendly service and meal specials, such as its house specialty prime rib and its French onion soup.
Prior to opening the restaurant that shared his name in June of 1980, Eddie Lee was a co-owner of The Colony Restaurant for several years.
The Lee family will be retiring with the timing of the restaurant's closure to end the era of Eddie Lee's on a high note.
"Our family is so grateful to Toledo and our customers," Willie Lee said. "Business is great, going out on top to enjoy retirement. Please support local businesses like ours."
George Simon, one of the co-founders of the ownership group of nearby Omni Plaza, told WTOL 11 on Monday that the group will be the next owners of the restaurant. However, Simon said that they are still uncertain what may come of the location.
"I can tell you one thing, we can't call it 'Eddie Lee's,'" Simon said.
Speaking with WTOL 11, Willie Lee added, "Eddie Lee's restaurant is retiring with us."
The Lee family announced the upcoming closure on social media on Sunday. A final day for Eddie Lee's has not yet been announced.
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