Daryl and Julie Clegg Open New Restaurant in Pickford, Big D's Diner
By Amy Polk

Julie and Daryl Clegg and their dog, "Jazz," stand in front of their former house, which has been refurbished to accommodate Big D's Diner and their living quarters above.

The possibility of moving away brought Daryl and Julie Clegg of Pickford back to the business that's in their bones.

The Cleggs were on the verge of leaving the Eastern Upper Peninsula last fall to take jobs in Lansing, when they decided to give the restaurant business another chance. This time they converted their house into a restaurant and opened Big D's Diner in April. They serve the simple dishes they became known for at their former restaurant, Clegg's Village Inn.

"We put our hearts and souls into this business, and many nights of just cereal and toast, or nothing at all," Mrs. Clegg said, referring to the money-saving measures they employed to help realize their dream.

It was the last night of deer camp, Mr. Clegg said, and he was sitting with a friend, Richie Huyck, who said he hated to see the Cleggs leave and suggested they get back into the restaurant business. That's when they came up with the idea to develop a restaurant in the Cleggs' house. They love to tell the story of how Big D's Diner started, and still laugh about it today.

"We just can't get over it. We look out and people are sitting where our dining room used to be," Mr. Clegg said. "The kitchen is where our sunken living room used to be."

The Cleggs owned and operated the Village Inn and motel for 10 years. They closed the restaurant March 28, 1999, and later demolished the building. They eventually closed the motel because it was too expensive to run without the restaurant, Mrs. Clegg said. They kept their house, and to make the restaurant, they completely refurbished the lower level fir a large commercial kitchen and 57-seat dining area. They poured 4,000 yards of sand into the sunken living room to form the base of the new kitchen, Mrs. Clegg said.

They transformed the 1,300 square feet on the second story into their living quarters, which suits them fine, they say, since their children are grown and out of the house. The Cleggs have been married 25 years and have three children, Chris, 25, Josh, 22, and Jonathan, 19. All are Pickford High School graduates.

Mrs. Clegg got her start in the restaurant business at Hessel Bay Inn, which her parents, Jim and Jackie Bowlby, owned for 10 years. Mr. Clegg began his restaurant experience at age 15, when he started cooking at Ang-Gio's Restaurant in Cedarville for the Autore family. He worked there 15 years.

When the Cleggs started their own restaurant, they established a menu of affordable, commonsense food they have brought to the new restaurant. Items like the "Workers Breakfast," take-along breakfast sandwiches; hamburgers and buffalo burgers made with fresh meat, and lunch platters with fries and coleslaw, all less than $6. They also have homemade soups and pies and sandwiches.

They are open until 2 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday, until 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and they open at 7 a.m., except Sunday, when the open at 8 a.m.

"I wanted to keep everything consistent and good, and that's why people come here," said Mr. Clegg, who does all the cooking. "It's simple, clean, non-smoking, and friendly."

Working there gives them personal contact with customers, and lets Mr. Clegg add some of his special touches, like his Mickey Mouse and Fozzie Bear pancakes for children. The Cleggs attribute brisk business to their location on M-129 and the fact that Pickford is a growing town.

"Pickford really is the hub of the Eastern U.P.," Mrs. Clegg said. "You have to drive through here from Cedarville to get to the Sault. You have to go through here to get to DeTour. It's amazing how busy it is here during the day."

Take-out orders are welcome, and can be placed at the counter or by calling Big D's Diner at (906) 647-2200.