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Mar 15, 2021
History of the Owl Cafe includes dining, dancing, drinking, and explosions from Alpena News
Courtesy Photo This photo provided by the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan shows the Owl Cafe after a 1959 explosion.
ALPENA — Across Northeast Michigan are many long-term and memorable businesses, including manufacturers, educational groups, houses of worship, retailers, service industries, and numerous others.
One, with nearly 100 years of heritage, is the legendary Owl Cafe.
The Owl’s roots go back to the early 1900s, when Daniel John MacDougall immigrated to Alpena from Canada. He established the Exchange Hotel near the former Fletcher Paper Co.
MacDougall died in 1907, and his wife, Mary (Garrity), carried forward the hotel’s operation. The couple had four daughters and four sons. The MacDougalls also established a U.S. mail delivery route into Presque Isle Township.
With an early investment by MacDougall brothers, Earl, Bud, and Gus, the first Owl opened in or around 1919.
Courtesy Photo This photo provided by the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan shows the Owl Cafe in downtown Alpena circa 1950s.
The building was located on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Chisholm Street, where the former Knight Theater complex and J.C. Penney department store used to operate. In the early 1900s, the Owl was known as a 24-hour operation. The MacDougall sons continued operation of the U.S. mail delivery contact.
According to research by Don La Barre, of the Alpena Public Library’s Special Collections Section, a massive city block fire (known as the Alpine Block) occurred on Feb. 18, 1927, leveling the Owl and adjacent buildings.
The Owl soon relocated around the corner to 123 W. Chisholm St.
Special Collections materials reveal that, at that time and well into the mid-20th century, the Owl was noted as the place to be, featuring a large dance floor and live music. Some of the known musicians to perform there were Bill Jerome, Jim LaCross, and Sid Pugh.
Earl MacDougall’s grandson, who still lives in Alpena, said that, to the best of his recollection, the Owl offered a 60-foot-by-80-foot seated dining area. He added that, as you entered through swinging doors, there was a 40-foot-by-50-foot room featuring the bar and dance floor. To the rear was the kitchen.
Courtesy Photo This photo provided by the Alpena Public Library Special Collections Section shows the scene of the 1927 fire that destroyed the Owl Cafe.
In his years associating with or working at the Owl, the grandson recalled one particular item on the menu: the sardine with mustard sandwich on rye, priced at 35 cents. You could, of course, add an onion slice.
He also recalled visiting his grandmother’s residence, where, upstairs, were slot machines once used at the Owl.
On June 7, 1959, the Owl was struck by a second disaster.
In the hours after closing, the Owl was leveled by a natural gas explosion.
Fortunately, no one was injured or killed. One account, however, revealed the explosion was so forceful that the restaurant’s cash register was blown across Chisholm Street to the Methodist church steps.
Once again, the Owl reopened under Earl’s son, Thomas Daniel (Danny) MacDougall. He was known by many for his quick wit and charismatic personality.
The dance floor did not reappear, and the menu now featured the famous Owl burger, with a side of hand-cut and batter-dipped onion rings.
A Special Collections article indicated the MacDougall family sold the Owl to Ralph Fletcher in 1975. Subsequently, in 1984, the Owl was acquired by Larry and Barbara Sanderson.
Again, tragedy struck near the Owl.
On Aug. 17, 1993, the adjacent Masters Men’s Wear burst into flames, affecting the Owl and nearby Ritzler Dry Cleaning service. The Sanderson family acquired the Ritzler property and again rebuilt the Owl into a fireproof complex.
For the better part of 15 years, David A. Patin owned and operated the Old Owl, as well as the Court Yard Ristorante on South State Avenue. He was a former chief chemist with LaFarge North America who aspired to enter the hospitality profession.
The Owl was then acquired by local podiatrist Dr. Craig Pilichowski. By late 2018, the Owl began its transition by the Mendez family into Mango’s Tequila Bar.
Photos of the former Owl adorn Mango’s rear entrance walls, along with other Owl memorabilia.
Mango’s offers a similar seating and beverage area as the former Owl.
The Owl still exists, following a move down to 628 W. Chisholm St., as the Owl’s Nest. More than 100 years later, the Owl’s name carries on and still offers the famous Owl burger and onion rings.
The final mystery associated with the Owl, the sign on the post-1959 Owl stated, “The House of MacDougall.” In numerous other publications, including obituaries and grave markers, the name is spelled McDougall.
It appears to offer the option of being Irish or Scottish.
But, for many, the memories of St. Patrick’s Day parties, first dates, business meetings, retirement, and engagement functions, and working at the Owl lingers.
Jeffrey D. Brasie is a retired health care CEO. He frequently writes historic features and op-eds. He is a former Alpena resident and resides in suburban Detroit.