50 years ago Bob Camp, Sr. decided it was time to make a change. He, his wife Jody and five children were living in Evanston, IL at the time. He was working in medical sales in Chicago. A job that involved lots of travel, and too much time away from his family. He was getting tired of that life and had a dream of making a living owning a restaurant and motel. As current Mark III owners Bob Camp, Jr and his wife Stacy get ready for this Saturday’s 50th anniversary celebration, they took some time to sit with us and talk about how the restaurant and hotel located at the intersection of Niles Rd. and M1-39 became a success, despite the odds.
“Dad had been looking for the right spot and saw this space had come up for sale. He came to see it on Blossomtime weekend and decided to buy it that day. He had to talk my mom into it,” laughs Bob Camp, Jr. “Dad always had wild ideas but my mom’s more conservative. They had talked about wanting to leave Evanston and when he saw this place, he knew it was the right location for the next phase of their life. Mom agreed and now here we are 50 years later running a business that our whole family worked hard to make a success.”
Neither Bob Sr. or his wife had any experience in the restaurant and motel industry. They were learning on the fly. The previous owner stayed with them for over a month to help them along. They had sacrificed everything to take on the challenge and started making changes they knew would be successful but were not accepted by the community right away.
“The existing restaurant didn’t have a liquor license,” said Bob, Jr. “After a couple of challenging years, they felt that adding a liquor license and bar was necessary to grow the business. They got approval in 1974 and the Mark has been growing ever since. After a lot of hard work, and my mom’s changes to upgrade the menu, word started to get out and business grew. By the late 1970’s we had a steady business and a good reputation for our food, drinks and clean motel rooms.”
While Bob Sr. and Jody did not have restaurant and motel experience, they were raising children that eventually did. Bob, Jr. and his siblings would often find themselves giving up things they wanted to do in their pre-teen and teen years to help their parents.
“All five kids Jeannine, Mike, Linda, Dave and I, have been dedicated to the Mark over the years. All having played big roles in the growth and success of The Mark. Not to mention mom and dad’s hard work and sacrifice. It has truly been a family business,” says Bob, Jr.
In 2011 Bob, Sr. felt that he was ready to retire. Bob, Jr. and his wife Stacy bought the business that year and have been running it ever since. Bob, Jr. had been working there since day one. He and Stacy had been managing the day-to-day operations for quite some time so it seemed like a natural progression.
Over the past decade the pair have made updates to the property. They removed the stain glass windows and put in clear glass. The took the carpet and mirrored tile off the walls and found beautiful, exposed brick behind it. The made the two back rooms into one larger room, added a wall of windows and warmed up the space by removing the ceiling, using the exposed rafters to create a cozy dining experience with lots of wood and warm tones.
“Removing the stained glass was not well received at first,” laughs Stacy Camp. “But like what Bob, Sr. experienced when he made changes 50 years ago, people accepted it and we get comments now about how much people like how bright it is. We continually make upgrades, while making sure to retain the same feeling of warmth that the Mark has always had.”
The couple has also upgraded all the motel rooms behind the restaurant creating a boutique experience for guests including comfy beds, kitchenettes and fireplaces in some of the units. Just last weekend they had several of the Sr. PGA golfers and caddies who stayed there in 2018, back for a return stay. One of those guests included the 2018 Sr. PGA champion Paul Broadhurst.
“We are fortunate. The restaurant stays busy, the hotel stays busy and we make sure that our key focus is customer service. We want everyone to have a great experience here,” said Bob, Jr. “The best part is that everyone that comes here becomes family. We want to thank past and present employees, past and present customers, and a big thanks to our community for all their support over the years. There’s been so many great people, and so many good times.”
This Saturday June 4th the Mark III will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary with a huge outdoor bash featuring Barb-B-Que, craft cocktails, drink specials and live music by The Modern Day Drifters Band followed by Tony Fields & Doug Decker Band. WSJM’s Jonny Reinhardt will be broadcasting live. There is no cover charge for this rain or shine event and there will be chances to win gift cards and prizes throughout the night. Come celebrate a local institution and become part of the Mark III family. To learn more about the Mark visit their website.
By Julee Laurent, MOTM Contributor
