My first memory of the Ritz Club was after I got out of the Navy in 1959. There was no better place to take a date for dinner and dancing than the Ritz. Walking in the front door was very unique. Each customer was greeted by Pork Gilles, Father of Tom Gillis, (Class of 1959) and Jack Gilles (Class of 1961). Tom later became the managing partner of the Ritz. A customer was also greeted by Eleanor Christensen who was the mother of Mary Jo Christensen (Class of 1957) and Patty Christensen (Class of 1955). The most unique thing about the Ritz was the long meat cooler that stood just to the right of the customer check in podium. Each customer could choose the exact cut and size of their steak and that is the one that was delivered to their table. The steak was cooked exactly as the customer requested. The restaurant always had linen table clothes and napkins and great care was taken to make sure each glass did not have any water spots. A customer was never rushed through his meal and could sit at his table as long as he wanted after the meal. Each course of your meal was without any waiting. Iowa did not have liquor by the drink up until the late 1960s; therefore, there were no libations during the meal. It was a nice atmosphere for a family dinning experience.
During your dinning experience you heard a faint sound of music, talking and laughter coming from the second level. The locals knew exactly what was going on upstairs but the first time customer or tourist had no idea what that faint noise of revelry was upstairs. The upper level of the Ritz was a key club which means that it was a private club where liquor could be served. To be a member of the key club you paid a one time fee of $l.00. Before you could order liquor by the drink you need to rent one of the lockers where your private liquor was stored. In order to be legal, I had a ½ pint of every kind of liquor in my locker. That meant that if the place was raided by the police, we were always drinking our own liquor. Each bottle had the Iowa State Liquor seal that supposedly could be traced back to each purchaser. Many readers will remember the liquor books we carried. You could never handle any of the bottles of wine in a State Owned Liquor Store. Each liquor store had a large board with the names and size of each bottle of liquor on it. At the left side of the description and size was a number. You placed the number on your order sheet and then walked up to the teller window and handed the order to the State Employee. He/She would walk in the back room and fill the order. When he came back to the teller window and the customer was satisfied, he wrote the information into the individual's liquor book. The liquor book needed to be renewed each year.
Each key club member was greeted by Red Ostrander who had an uncanny memory and knew each customer by name. That also impressed your date. Each member was allowed a certain number of guests, but I do not remember how many guests were allowed. I remember several dates I had taken to the Ritz from Rochester, Minnesota. After the nice meal in the restaurant, I would ask my date if she would like to go to my private club and explained that it was upstairs. I am sure my date was more impressed with the Ritz than she was of me. Hey, we needed all the help we could get in those days! I remember taking my date to the Ritz Club in 1961 after attending my five (5) year class reunion. She still talks about the Ritz Club to this day.
I wish there were restaurants today that are as much fun and had the good food and service of the Ritz Club. Written by Ron Gerdes CLHS 1956 (Thank you Ron!!)
If you would like to add your memories of The Ritz, please click the email button to send.
Thank you all for sharing your wonderful memories of a wonderful era!
I think the Ritz burned down a number of years ago and has never been replaced. Jane Smith Arevalo (1957)
The story of the Ritz Club has a sad ending but I hope the memories of the wonderful time there
will be in every ones heart for many years.
"A Clear Lake landmark is gone after an early morning fire destroyed the historic Ritz supper club Friday. A neighbor, Bob Bruinekool, discovered the blaze while walking his dog just before 6 a.m. Friday July 23, 1999."
Submitted by Ron Gerdes CLHS 1956
Unfortunately the Ritz Club burnt to the ground in July, 1999...wow, 10 years ago. It has been missed by everyone. Dee Mosher (1956)
The Ritz was sold quite a few years ago and within a year or two it burned to the ground. It is now a small park. I miss the onion rings and the good steaks and seafood. I worked there many years ago (in the 60s) with Nancy Lien's (class of '59) mother Sig. She was wonderful. I also remember a party or two there with Jack Gilles. What most people don't know is Gary (18) and I (16) dressed up for Halloween one year (blackened our faces with mascara, put on old holey clothes and went to a party there (it had been advertised on KRIB so we thought it was for teenagers). No one recognized us and we were taken straight up to the "key club" (later on it was an upstairs bar). People bought us drinks and we had a good old time. When we left everyone said we would win the prize of 2 steak dinners. However when we gave our names, Porky was astonished and of course could not award us the prize as we were underage!! Red Ostrander was the bartender that night and did not recognize us (or at least when he did, he didn't let on). He was one of Gary's dad's best friends. Also Gary had put his right arm (the short one) inside his shirt, so that wasn't a give away. Gary Marshall ('59) and Mary Rogers Marshall ('61)
The Ritz was a great place--I worked there my first summer after graduating from great ole Clear Lake High. "Pork" one of the owners and my supervisor was a great guy and I met his daughter as well as many others while working there. It was my first "waitress" job and the family owners were very helpful in training and support. I was able to meet lots of people from Des Moines and other cities who would come to their cabins around the lake and then come to eat the great steaks at The Ritz. It was THE PLACE you would come to the meat display case and select the steak you wanted grilled. Lots of memories!!
Virginia (Hakes) Weiland CLHS 1965
