By Ann McCreary
Antlers Saloon and Café in Twisp is going out of business on New Year’s Eve, after almost 90 years of providing food, libations and lots of local color.
Robin Madison, who has owned “The Antlers” business for 19-and-a-half years, told her 10 employees last Thursday (Dec. 26) that she would be closing the saloon.
As word got out on the street that Antlers would be shutting its doors, local residents have been dropping in to say goodbye, Madison said.
“Everybody’s really sad about it closing. … It’s been there for so long,” Madison said. Antlers opened for business in 1924, she said.
Alicia Damann, Madison’s daughter and Antlers manager, said it was standing-room-only during the Seahawks game on Sunday (Dec. 29). “The majority was locals doing the last game day at Antlers,” Damann said.
The restaurant normally closes at 9 p.m., but it planned to stay open later on New Year’s Eve if there are a lot of customers.
Madison owns the business and said she is closing Antlers “for personal reasons.” She said the building that houses the saloon will be put up for sale in the future.
As for her own plans, “I’m going to stay in the valley and watch my grandchildren grow up and finish school,” Madison said. She plans to continue working. “I’m not ready to retire — I’d go nuts.”
Almost all of the Antlers employees have found other jobs, Madison said. “They’ve known for a month that this could happen,” she said.
