Eatonville's newest restaurant is a blast from the past and a touch of fresh entrepeneurialism. The Landmark is scheduled to open this week at the corner of Mashell Avenue and Carter Street under the ownership of: Rich and Ruthie Williams, who have long Eatonville roots and will handle the restaurant's financial management and marketing, and Brenda and Gerardo Salgado, relative newcomers to the area who will be in charge of day-to-day operations. Diners throughout the day (a morning coffee bar will open at 7 a.m., lunch will start at 11 and dinner will be served from 4 p.m. to closing) will find a d+¬cor that celebrates local history. Features will include historic pictures and murals, former business names, familiar road names, and Eatonville High School memorabilia. Among the artifacts on display is a replica of one of the Tacoma Eastern Railroad trains that carried passengers from Tacoma to Eatonville and other towns back in the day. The model was built by Charles Lutkins of Elbe and is on loan from Terry and Sharon Van Eaton, owners of the Founding Family antiques store. Williams said the restaurant owners "hope that local residents will smile as they see pictures and signs that were part of their lives, and that tourists will become familiar and interested in the area's rich history." The Landmark is also hoping for a positive reaction to the menu of barbecue brisket, pork ribs, prime rib and smoked chicken. The meat will be smoked in a large smoker that the Salgados have installed. Brenda Salgado's specialty is the Tail Hold Tater, which is a hot baked potato loaded with pulled pork, baked beans, shredded cheese and sour cream. Also on the menu are appetizers, salads, burgers, pizza, sandwiches, soup, seafood, kids' selections, desserts, soft drinks, beer and wine. The story behind the start of the Landmark stretches to Central America. Brenda and Gerardo Salgado are originally from Honduras, where he was a civil engineer and Brenda managed two restaurants in Tegucigalpa, the capital city. Wanting a better opportunity for their children, they immigrated to the United States in 2004 and joined Brenda's stepfather, Joe Mays, and her mother, Isabell Mays, in Mossyrock. Gerardo managed a bulb farm and Brenda learned about Texas barbecue from Joe, who ran a catering business until his death in 2006. Last year, the Williams' brother-in-law, Jim Miller, introduced them to Brenda and Gerardo. At the time, the Williams had an empty restaurant building - formerly the site of Jebino's Italian Ristorante - and after a few months of discussions, the two couples decided to become partners and open the Landmark. They've hired a 10-person staff from among 160 job applicants. Brenda and Gerardo said their business philosophy revolves around creating a stable, long-lasting eatery in Eatonville. They're also planting roots in the community. Their two oldest daughters graduated with honors from Mossyrock High School and are currently attending the University of Washington. Their two sons will be students in the Eatonville School District next year. The Salgados also have two daughters who graduated from Mossyrock High School and are attending the University of Washington.
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