Although Mother’s Day is usually quite a celebration in my family, this year it took on a somber tone for me. Deserving of an Academy Award, during our lunch at Arnold’s Restaurant I smiled and chatted away with my companions, and no one suspected I was feeling blue. Mom, my husband Steve, his brother Robert, “our” son Jeff, friends Gary Dudley and Jane Fallon, and her son Keith, as well as our special pals John and Marilyn Forsha (formerly of Bixby Knolls Party Shop), all enjoyed the great food, and our fellowship during that meal was loving and rather loud, as usual. We visited, I took pictures and we all shared lots of laughs.
I did my best to stay upbeat in spite of the secret I was carrying. Unbeknownst to my friends and family at the table, the meal we were sharing was being served to us on the last day of business at Arnold’s Restaurant. I invited them all to join me, knowing this was our final opportunity to enjoy the nearly-60-year-old restaurant, but I promised I would not “tell” until Tuesday morning. I kept my promise. I didn’t even tell my staff. Well, the cat’s out of the bag now. Arnold’s is closed, now and for always.
Mike and Cindy Johnson, owners of Arnold’s, shared the news of the closing with me a few days before, knowing I would need to make arrangements to put together a news story telling of their decision to close their Bixby Knolls restaurant. The Johnsons have been friends/clients of mine for more than 15 years. Our relationship has always been one of trust, and I felt (and still feel) honored to be considered a confidant. Nevertheless, keeping such sad news to myself was a necessary yet difficult task.
I first met Mike and Cindy when I was an advertising sales representative for nearly five years with the original Signal newspaper. After the paper closed, I was happy to keep them as clients during the year I sold advertising for the Press-Telegram. When I left the daily paper, I started my own marketing company, Posh Enterprises, and took on Arnold’s as clients once again. Deciding whether or not to resurrect the Signal newspaper a year later in 2000, I went to Mike and Cindy to ask their opinion. They encouraged me to “go for it.” Ten years later I’m still glad I did.
I know that our relationship will take on yet another form as they venture into the pizza business, but I will miss seeing them at Arnold’s. There will be no more homemade custard, no more Brussels sprout salad and no more cafeteria-style comfort food, period.
I wish them all the peace and happiness possible. They are kind and loving folks and deserve all the blessings life can bring.
