A ‘Place of Community’
For nearly a century, Dick’s Pour House in Lake Leelanau has been a staple business for generations of patrons.
The iconic bar marks its 90th year. It opened for the first time July 1, 1935.
“Come for a quick lunch if you are onthe- go, or sit back and relax and enjoy a nice leisurely dinner. You will always feel right at home with our great friendly staff,” Co-owner Ron Plamondon said.
Established in 1935 by Ralph (Dick) Plamondon and owned and operated by Richard (Dick) Plamondon from 1978 until July of 2005. Today, the third family owners, Ron and Tina Plamondon own the local restaurant and bar. The current building of Dick’s Pour House has been active since 1940, after moving from across the narrows that same year.
On Sunday, the iconic watering hole celebrated 90 years of business right from the Narrows of Lake Leelanau.
Richard Plamondon ran the bar until 2015 when his brother, Ron and wife, Tina took over the business. Ron retired as IT director at Leelanau County Government Center three years ago.
“The bar has been very important to me all these years,” Ron said.
In the early-to-mid 2000, Dick’s added food to the equation, like many drinking establishments, in reaction to heightened awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving.
Plamondon said the same great food residents and visitors alike have come to enjoy is still a top priority for the local restaurant and bar.
Ron admits his time running the bar coming to an end as he wishes to retire and pass the business along to daughter, Ronda, and longtime barkeeper, Adam Sleder.
“When the age went from 21 to 18. I actually was bartending nights. My dad, my brother was buying it.
He hadn’t bought it yet, so my dad was retiring. My brother Richard, was working days, and then I would work nights.
I would be here from 5 p.m. until 2 a.m... No matter if there’s somebody here or not.”
Ron remembers bartending in exchange for his tuition at Northwestern Michigan College.
It’s been a long while since the bar has closed at 2 a.m., and since COVID, Dick’s has been closing as late as 10 or 11 p.m.
Ron thanks all the patrons who helped keep the business afloat during the pandemic and without generous donations they might not have made it to 90 years.
Admittedly, the bar has grown into more of a family oriented from a rough and tough bar that always had its own dance moves.
“Now it’s more just relaxing ... most of (the roughhouse) was out this back door,” Ron said. “(One time) two of our patrons were arguing right over there (end of bar).
And I was bartending, and they were just going at each other, and one of them turned his head and talked to somebody next to him, and the other guy picked up a bar stool and was gonna whack him. I reached over the bar, grabbed the chair. I said ‘come back tomorrow when you sober up.’” “The last few years, we’ve seen a lot of losses (lives) of our regulars overtime ... it’s been bittersweet in that regard,” Sleder said. “But it’s more sweet than bitter because those people’s families still come in here and cherish the space that their loved ones were in for so many years. It’s kind of just woven into the tapestry, I think of this place as a community.”
