PORT ANGELES — After finishing her last shift as a food service worker aboard the MV Coho ferry, Sheri Mackrow was greeted by a surprise.
A white limousine was parked at the dock to pick her up from her old job and take her to a new one — co-owner of Shirley’s Cafe in Port Angeles.
“This whole thing was a big surprise,” said Mackrow, 47, the daughter of retiring Shirley’s Cafe owner Shirley Cargile.
“It’s been a big, long day.”
Cargile will stay in Port Angeles and “have fun” after spending 15 years owning and operating the landmark breakfast and lunch eatery at 612 S. Lincoln St.
She sold it to her daughter and son-in-law, Jim Mackrow.
“I wanted to keep it in the family,” Cargile said.
“I wanted to keep it local. . . . They wanted to buy it.””
Cargile changed the name from Gordy’s Restaurant to Shirley’s Cafe and Memorabilia Museum in 2007.
It is filled with photographic memorabilia and the Peninsula’s best license plate collection, plus a toy train that circles above the heads of diners.
The Mackrows said they will keep Shirley’s Cafe’s name and continue to offer the popular breakfast items on the menu.
“It’s the only place in town that serves breakfast all day,” Sheri Mackrow said.
Jim Mackrow, Coho ferry chief mate, said they may add some new twists after the transition period but will mainly stick to a proven formula.
Shirley’s Cafe has built up a following on the North Olympic Peninsula, in part because it’s “family-run,” Cargile said.
Cargile took it upon herself to ban smoking in the establishment, much to the joy of nonsmokers, according to a 2004 rave in the Peninsula Daily News’ Rants & Raves forum.
During her 28 years aboard the Coho, Sheri Mackrow would offer salads from her mother’s restaurant.
She put in her notice with the ferry company when she purchased the eatery at the end of the summer.
Shirley’s Cafe is open every day from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“I’ve had so many loyal and wonderful customers,” Cargile said.
“They are so loyal to me.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
