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For his last meal at Apple Annie’s Kitchen & Bakery, Lowell Moore planned to have a bottomless soup bowl and bread.
But with Monday being the longstanding family diner’s final day of operation, the Roseville eatery quickly ran out of soup. And bread. And everything else.
Knowing the place was shutting down for good, managers just sold food items until supplies ran out, which happened by about 1:30 p.m.
“I was going to get the bottomless soup, because the soups here are so great,” said Moore, 67, of St. Clair Shores. “I don’t like that they are closing, but that’s progress. Everything will be fine.”
After being a part of the city’s landscape for 28 years, Apple Annie’s closed for good mid-afternoon Monday. Along with the historic Sacred Heart Church building next door, the eatery sold to the Sheetz company, which plans to demolish both this summer and build a new fuel center and convenience store.
One by one, signs were removed from the wall as was the final soup list week for the week, which included chicken noodle, lemon rice, chicken and dumplings, chowder, loaded potato, split pea, lasagna, and cheddar broccoli.
Dan Rubino — who co-owned Apple Annie’s with Catherine and Leonard Pagano — said Monday’s massive customer turnout was unexpected.
“So many people have been coming in for the last time today,” Rubino said. “It’s kind of heartbreaking. We weren’t expecting all these people. But it’s been a hard for all of us.”
Over the weekend, local artist Edward “Gonzo” Stross hosted a farewell to the landmark Sacred Heart Church, which was shut down in 2017. The outdoor gathering drew several dozen former church parishioners and others.
Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz company has purchased the 10,500-square-foot church property from the Archdiocese of Detroit and St. Pio Pietrelcina Church as as well as Apple Annie’s. Once both are torn down, Sheetz will replace them with an $8 million development.
Apple Annie’s, which opened in the late 1990s, was widely known in the Eastpointe/Roseville/St. Clair Shores community for serving quality meals at a reasonable price, despite inflation.
And the family diner literally was made up of families who either worked there over the years or dined with relatives.
Melissa Gault was sitting in a booth with her son Jimmie and his girlfriend Jimmie Malyszka having some beverages. A former server, she stopped by to say goodbye to the owners and staff.
“We had planned to eat, but they are out of food. It’s very sad, but I’m excited for the owners,” she said.
Her son, who used to come to the diner dressed up in his costume of Woody from the “Toy Story” movie, recalled his relatives who found employment at Apple Annie’s.
“My whole family worked here,” Jim Gault said. “My mom, my grandmother and my sister all were employed here at one time or another.”
Sherry Schroeder, Jim’s grandmother, said she worked for 15 years before having to leave for medical reasons.
“This is the Apple Annie family,” she said. “I’ll miss everybody.”
The longest-running server in Apple Annie’s was Suzy Shafer, who has been with the restaurant for 22 years. She said she plans to take a break from the industry starting Tuesday.
“I will regroup,” Shafter said after waiting on her last table. “Twenty-two years in the same place, it’s hard to figure out what jobs are out there now. It’s really hitting me hard today.”
After the final customer had cashed out, the place was shut down for good.
By 3 p.m., the Apple Annie’s website had been dismantled.
“Site currently unavailable,” read the message that appeared in the website’s spot.
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