The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Restaurant owner celebrates women
Bridgewater Bank holds anniversary bash for eigth year of service
By Ed Patino, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 3, 2008
There were plenty of reasons to celebrate for employees and customers alike March 30 at the Bridgewater Bank Restaurant and Tavern.
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For tavern owner Susan Sheets, a former U.S. Marine, the date marked the eighth anniversary of her taking over the restaurant located in the hamlet of Bridgewater at the corner of Austin and Boettner roads. To commemorate the event, Sheets collaborated with Safe House of Washtenaw County to hold a Women's Month celebration at the restaurant.
During a three-hour span, several women-owned businesses displayed their products at the restaurant, while customers took part in raffles and sampled various appetizers and drinks. Regular Bridgewater Bank customers Beth Schaible and Ruth Meyers, both residents of Bridgewater Township, also had products that were auctioned off. Schaible sold homemade cookies, while Meyers auctioned off a quilt that she made. An artist was also hired to draw caricatures of customers.
"There were about 20 vendors and over 100 people coming in and out," Sheets said. "We had vendors from Mary Kay and flower shops from Saline and the area."
Vendors could buy a table spot for $10, and admission to the event was a $5 donation to Safe House, a shelter for battered women and children. The event generated around $1,000 from the raffle alone.
"It was a good time, and the women and customers were awesome," Sheets said.
Sheets had plenty of help in executing the celebration. Her staff at Bridgewater Bank also served complimentary soft drinks and worked a cash bar. Amy Sell, manager of Signature Grill in Saline, also provided appetizers for customers to sample. Terri Benz, a friend of Sheets who works for Say it in PRINT in Saline, helped with the organization and promotion of the celebration.
"Terri sold a lot of items," Sheets said. "When the celebration first started out it wasn't organized, but a lot of people helped out."
The event originally started out as a jewelry party hosted by Bridgewater Bank customer Annie Coulthard. The party moved to the restaurant when it attracted more people than expected.
"Everyone came here, looked around and realized it was the eighth anniversary," Sheets said. "We also realized it was Women's Month, so I said why not combine the two."
While Sheets was thinking of ways to incorporate Women's Month into the anniversary, friend and customer Rick Welch suggested working with Safe House. Sheets meet with the Safe House staff and both agreed that having the benefit would work out well for all parties.
The bank opened at the restaurant's location in 1919, but closed in 1944. The building became a restaurant in 1949 and has been ever since. Sheets took over the Bridgewater Bank Restaurant and Tavern in 2000.
"Everyone had fun supporting the females Sunday," Sheets said. "I thank everyone for their support of me the last eight years."
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