The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

The Grays River Cafe is open!

Ken and Sandy Ruch, who have resided in Grays River for 17 years, recently re-opened the restaurant which has sat empty for awhile. Their staff, aged two to 15, live in their home.

Not that the two year old is doing much, except keeping mom busy.

"Yesterday was fun, yesterday is what it was all about," Ken Ruch said of Sunday afternoon in the restaurant. "The family working together is fun. What adds to it is when I hear people out here talking and community happening. Guys were hiring guys to buck hay. There were some men ordering loads of gravel from another guy. They were laughing and talking. We needed that around here again."

This isn't the Ruch's first foray into the restaurant business. They once owned the Comet Cafe in Naselle and worked in restaurants for many years.

"It's home cooked food," Ruch said. "We make our hamburgers by hand. We're not a fast food restaurant. We're pretty happy about our cheeseburgers. It's a good benchmark. We had fried or baked chicken last night and roast beef last week."

They are asking customers questions to see what they like and what they don't like while they develop their menu. Ruch stated that they buy quality food.

"We're not making bagged salad," he said. "We buy what we want to eat, what you wish you could afford at home. Good food will bring people back."

He also points out that they are the only restaurant between Cathlamet and Long Beach or Astoria that does not sell alcohol.

"There's nothing wrong with that," Ruch said, "it's just not the atmosphere I want for the kids to be in."

Jack,14, and Amelia, 15, are waiting tables, washing dishes, and learning to cook. Coral, 10, and Dallas, 11, are on dish duty.

"They're still having fun," Ruch said, "and making some good money for their age. They fight over who is going to do the dishes. I wish they'd do that at home."

The kids are homeschooled and to make sure they have some balance in their lives, the restaurant is only open four days a week, Thursday through Sunday.

Ruch's next concern is the building.

"It needs a lot of work," he said. "It has a history and we're good for continuing it and adding our piece to it."

As business allows, he plans to level the building back up and eventually lift it up on a new foundation so it won't flood when the water rises.

One day they want to add a general store and provide a home delivery for older shut ins in the area.

"We're not going to get rich," Ruch said, "but we want to serve the community and it's the right and smart thing to do with the space we have."

The Grays River Cafe is located just east of Loop Road on SR 4 in Grays River. It is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.