By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Three Bowling Green buddies, whose paths forked after high school, have teamed up to buy a downtown restaurant where local residents go to sink a fork in cowboy inspired named sandwiches, burritos and pies.
Effective Aug. 1, Call of the Canyon Cafe will be officially owned by three men who graduated from Bowling Green High School in 2004 – Ardy Gonyer, Pat Riggs and Tim Emmerich.
The men formed a partnership called PARTI Enterprises LLC to purchase the restaurant from George and Amy Strata.
The friends want to build on the menu items that have made Call of the Canyon a success.
“We’ll keep the favorites and add a few more,” Riggs said. Some seasonal menu items will be added, the famous pies will remain, Gonyer said, as he pointed to the plaques on the restaurant wall recognizing Call of the Canyon for the best desserts in the county.
The restaurant at 109 N. Main St., offers items named using cowboy lingo – like the Calamity Jane salad, Red Rock Chili, and sandwiches dubbed the Zane Grey, Maverick, Cowpoke, Fishing Hole, and the New Sheriff in Town.
The new owners have plans to open the restaurant for breakfast, and to build on its catering business. The name of the restaurant will be tweaked to Call of the Canyon Cafe and Catering.
The three men have been friends since childhood, with Emmerich knowing Gonyer and Riggs since age 4, and Gonyer and Riggs meeting at age 12.
“We go way back,” Gonyer said.
After graduating from BGHS in 2004, they took different paths.
Emmerich joined the Marines, serving one tour in Iraq and two in Afghanistan. After returning home, he earned a degree in geography at BGSU, then a master’s in urban planning at Wayne State. He now works in geospatial consulting through Marathon Petroleum in Findlay.
Gonyer majored in psychology at BGSU, then got his master’s in college student personnel at Ohio University, then his doctorate in higher education administration. He has worked at BGSU and University of Toledo.
Riggs has worked in the restaurant industry for more than a decade, most recently at Call of the Canyon and Beckett’s, also owned by the Stratas in downtown Bowling Green. For the last three years of so, he’s been the cook whipping up the sandwiches, soups and salads at Call of the Canyon.
“I’ve always enjoyed cooking,” Riggs said. “I’ve always eventually wanted to work for myself.”
Gonyer shared that dream as well.
“I’ve always wanted to be my own boss,” he said.
“If you’re going to bet on anyone, bet on your friends and yourself,” Emmerich said.
The friends realize that now is not the best time to buy a business – with COVID-19 cutting into the number of customers. But each said their families are supportive of their new endeavor.
Though Emmerich acknowledged he was a little worried about his family’s reaction.
“I didn’t tell my parents until I signed the papers,” he said with a grin.
The trio has plans to grow other parts of the business now since indoor dining is limited. They hope to continue delivery and pickups, plus have added outdoor seating. They have been providing catered lunches to local businesses such as the Home Depot distribution center in Troy Township, and hope to expand to businesses like health care providers and other offices.
The new owners also hope to expand the Call of the Canyon catering to weddings, class reunions, office meetings, parties, and other events.
The men have fond memories of eating at Call of the Canyon when they were younger, and like many in Bowling Green, they have their favorites.
Gonyer goes for the Canyon Super Nachos, followed by the peanut butter pie. For Riggs, his favorite is the Cuban sandwich and the Lemony Snicket pie. And Emmerich is big on the Italian Sidekick sandwich chased by a piece of the chocolate chip cheesecake.
The three friends, all who are back living in Bowling Green, are excited about being part of the community.
“We get to be part of the downtown,” Emmerich said, pointing to the intersection of Main and Wooster just feet away from the restaurant. “We’re right in the center of town. The four corners are right there.”
