Garfield PDA aims to get restaurant back in action

Garfield’s Smokin’ Papa’s Restaurant has closed for good but the community organization that owns the building plans to re-open it in July as another restaurant.

The five members of the Garfield Public Development Authority are now working on new counters, updated lighting and other interior fixes on the building.

The building will either be leased out to a restaurant operator or be managed by the PDA who will hire restaurant employees.

“Everyone is really active in keeping it open for the community,” said PDA President Daymon Marple.

The restaurant lease has been advertised on-line. Marple said he and other PDA members are considering different menu styles and interior designs if the PDA takes over managing it.

The PDA had leased the building to Roy and Judi Weiker for the past two years.

Prior to that, the restaurant was operated for years by Cher Curtis and known as Cher’s. After she retired, other restaurant operators operated at the location under the PDA.

As far as funding the restaurant in the future, Marple said the PDA has funds from donations and rent proceeds.

After Smokin’ Papa’s owner Judi Weiker became ill in April, she and husband Roy decided not to re-open the business.

The couple is now working to get Judi back to full health.

“First we’re going to get Judi healthy, then we’ll figure out what’s next,” Roy Weiker told the Gazette in an interview last week.

Weiker was life-flighted to Spokane in early April with breathing complications from pneumonia.

The restaurant closed then. After almost a month in the hospital, Weiker returned home with an endotracheal tube in her throat.

Roy said doctors tried to remove the tube last Friday, but Judi couldn’t breathe once it was out. They re-installed it and will visit the hospital again this week.

“She’s doing a little better, but there is a lot haywire in there,” Weiker said.

The two celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary May 8, just days after Judi left the hospital.

Roy said they told the association not to renew their lease.

With a year left until both of them can retire, Roy said they will turn their sights on how to get by once Judi is feeling better.

The town held a spaghetti feed benefit dinner for the couple in May.

Roy said he was truly thankful for the warmth and support he felt from friends and neighbors around town during Judi’s trying days in the hospital.

“It made us realize what we loved about little towns. They stick behind you -more like family,” Weiker said.