Final weekend for Angie’s in Waterloo
Posted May 29, 2021 01:30:00 PM.
It’s the final weekend for patrons to enjoy a taste of a Waterloo institution. After 59 years of serving the region, Angie’s in Uptown Waterloo will close its doors to the public for good on Sunday after selling the property to a developer to make way for a new development. While owner Teresa Huegle admited that pandemic stressors, LRT construction and a lack of government support did result in some tough times for the establishment, she maintains that the choice to close has been made on her own terms – cemented by a good dose of personal reflection.
Started by Huegle’s parents Angie and Bill Graham in 1962, Teresa has since taken over the business – though she’s been an employee of the restaurant since she was 13 years old. When asked how she’s handled the restaurant’s closure and the final week of business, Huegle said she’s been “more or less in-tact”, looking forward to spending time with her family and her garden. Mulling over the decision, Huegle said she slipped and fell at the back of the restaurant three weeks ago, winding up with a splint and nearly breaking her scaphoid – a moment which brought some perspective.
“In one split second, you become extremely humble and extremely grateful. If there’s a God, he certainly was listening to a few of my prayers because that’s not how I wanted to start retirement; I wasn’t planning on ending without participating the way I always do.” said Huegle. “We know how fast life goes by, but it changes that fast too – and I tell you, it was the most humbling experience at this time in my life.”
Sharing the news of the restaurant’s closure just ahead of Mother’s Day, Huegle said she has been overwhelmed by response from the community – and the buzzing phone lines. According to Huegle, her daughter Suzanne provided her with regular updates on the number of hits the restaurant’s website was receiving after the news went out. By the morning of the announcement, Angie’s website had received 700 hits. By the next morning, that number had climbed to over 67,000.
“We go through life doing what we do with our family and our friends – but you don’t know. In this industry, we’ve touched a lot of people.” said Huegle. “For some people, they don’t see anybody but us in the day. It’s an industry that you don’t ever underestimate who you’re talking to or who you’re meeting.”
“You try to produce a meal at a reasonable price; that seems to be the story behind Angie’s.”
Sitting at the table where she’d met her husband 50 years ago, Huegle eagerly shared stories of the notable local individuals she’s served, the community members and customers she remembers best, and the friends she now considers to be close members of her own family. Maintaining that she’s terrible with names but never forgets a face, Huegle said the customers she’s met were her education, growing from the lived experience of those working in the community.
With regards to the reasoning behind the closure, Huegle said the decision was “purely personal” – as she admits that the developer who has since bought the property did come by at the right time. Turning 73 in September, Huegle said she’d been considering making a change – and while she said that she may have decided to “plod along” if the pandemic hadn’t come around, the time since the onset of COVID-19 has allowed her personal time to think about what she’d like to do with the rest of her life.
“After almost thinking you broke an arm and seeing how fast life changes – that cemented that I had made the right decision at the right time. And I do hope and pray we’ll have some good, healthy years with our family and the family we have embraced in our lives.”
With local residents sharing their favourite Angie’s memories on social media and in-person at the restaurant, Huegle said she’s been “overwhelmed” by the outpouring from the community – as she offered a sincere thank you for the support, the friendships and the knowledge passed along. Huegle added that she’s been calling “every vendor” she’s dealt with in the past to offer her thanks, as she said that everyone she’s worked with has made Angie’s “what it is today”.
Angie’s in Uptown Waterloo will be open for pick up on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for those looking to get one last cinnamon bun, butter tart or plate of breakfast food. Huegle has since stated that the restaurant will be looking to have an auction in mid-June for those looking for their own piece of the establishment, or even those who are looking for some extra plates and cutlery for camping season.
As for the future, Huegle said her husband is already stressing over the trouble that she’ll be getting herself into – though current plans include staying put and enjoying time in the garden. Huegle admitted that leaving Angie’s will be a “big change”, though she joked that she’d look into potentially working as a consultant after so many years of restaurant experience.
“I have been blessed with very, very wonderful friends and neighbours. The support group around me has been awesome. I don’t know how else to describe it,” said Huegle. “I’m glad everything’s going out on my terms, and I can clean up my messes – I don’t need my family to do it for me.”
