After 45 years of serving comfort food and downhome hospitality in Estacada, The Country Restaurant & Lounge is not only celebrating a milestone, but an impending sale.
An Estacada institution, The Country first opened as LB’s in 1979, and has been known for serving a wide variety of made-to-order meals with a smile.
In the past, owner Linda Parsons has joked that with the restaurant’s 200-item menu, they should’ve named the place “Choices.”
“We have so many options, you can bring the whole family in,” Linda said. “Some people say our menu is too big, but we want to offer something for everyone.”
Linda bought the restaurant when she moved to Estacada with her ex-husband in 1979. Then in 2000, she married her now late husband and business partner Glen Parsons, and they renamed the place The Country.
In her time in the food industry, Linda’s skillset has begun looking a bit like The Country’s menu: with a little bit of everything. Until his death in May of this year, Glen spent countless hours at the restaurant, running errands and socializing with customers who came by for a meal.
All of the Parsons’ children, Glen’s daughter and two of their grandchildren have worked at the restaurant, and Kandy, Shari and McKenzie still work with their parents.
Since there wasn’t an interest from the family to continue The Country’s legacy, Linda and Glen put the restaurant up for sale in 2017, but only saw any real interest this past spring.
“People ask when I’m going to retire because I work at the restaurant all the time,” Linda said, now 75 years young. “I do enjoy working the restaurant, but I am getting tired. At 75, I am ready to travel a little and slow down. Unfortunately, my traveling partner, Glen, passed away this year and he is missed.”
While she’d hoped to be doing so with Glen, Linda still looks forward to having time to visit her siblings and children who are scattered around the country.
Linda said they do have a buyer interested in the restaurant, who will hopefully (at least initially) keep the business as is. A date for when that transition might happen has yet to be determined, but Linda plans to help out the new owner however she can at first.
“I am ready for someone to come along and keep the ‘old-fashioned,’ friendly service we have provided all these years and, of course, add a few new ideas of their own,” Linda explained. “Until then, I want to invite everyone to come and enjoy the friendliest service and best food anywhere.”
If you’re looking to visit The Country for the first time, Linda’s favorite dish is the Western Chicken Sandwich, and said the stuffed beef and selection of omelets are popular. Speaking of popularity, Linda also warns that the weekends can be very busy, so be advised that there might be a wait.
For more information about the restaurant or upcoming specials, call 503-630-6657.
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