The Pier closes in Samburg

By KEVIN BOWDEN
Business Editor
The Pier Restaurant on Samburg’s Lakeview Drive has closed, leaving the town without a single dine-in restaurant.
The doors to the restaurant were closed for good last week.
The Pier was owned and operated by three partners — Sandra Neely, Jo Ann Riddle and William Riddle.
They took over management of The Pier four years ago.
Mrs. Neely originally went to work at the restaurant in 1999.
The three-way partnership had leased the restaurant from The Pier Lodge.
“The reason we’ve had to shut down is because of the economy ... that’s the bottom line,” Mrs. Neely said.
She said for the past couple of years things have been tough around Reelfoot Lake.
“Our restaurant has had to deal with droughts, flooding and a bad economy and all that has led us to the decision to close down the restaurant,” Mrs. Neely said.
As for whether the restaurant will be reopened under new management, Mrs. Neely said she didn’t have an answer to that question.
The Pier had a staff of four workers at the time it closed, but at one time the thriving restaurant had employed as many as 12 workers.
“We’d just like to thank all our loyal customers who have been with us these past four years,” Ms. Riddle said.
Business Editor Kevin Bowden may be contacted by email at kmbowden@ucmessenger.com.

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