Phil Smidt’s is a northwest Indiana institution.  It’s been serving frog legs and perch for nearly 100 years. The Hammond, Indiana, restaurant is closing its doors for good Saturday night. Chicago Public Radio’s Adriene Hill reports. 

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Phil Smidt’s was supposed to be open for lunch today. Customers were showing up—but the door was closed—there was a sign—the restaurant wouldn’t open until dinner. 

JONAS: When I called they said they’d be open today…but obviously they changed their mind. Aren’t they open? No? No.

Karen Jonas has been coming to Phil Smidt’s for 45 years.

JONAS: This is a place where people go special. You know. It’s sad, just too many places are closing that you’ve known all your life. This is a big thing even during the holidays. My brother comes home from California; we’ve got a big group then. So we’ve got pictures every Christmas of all of us in here. So it’s going to be different. 

She loves the chicken and perch, but her favorite food…fries dipped in green tarter sauce.

Beverly Fishbaugh’s favorite meal is sautéed frog legs, boiled potatoes and peppermint ice cream. She’s been eating here for 55 years.

FISHBAUGH: The first time I came I wouldn’t even look at a frog leg. It took me quite a while. 6 months or a year with the people I came with. They all ordered it.

She says she’ll miss the food, the nice people and the tradition of the place. Fishbaugh thinks the nearby Horseshoe casino might have hurt the restaurant’s business. The Daily Southtown quotes the owner saying the casino hurt business tremendously.

Back in the kitchen a small staff is boning hundreds of pounds of perch and getting things ready for the dinner rush. Head Chef and Manger Joseph Perez says customers are coming in too fast. They’re running out of food. Perez says that’s the reason he had to cancel lunch today, there’s just too much demand.

People want one last plate of frog legs.

Perez says he’s one of about 50 people who will be out of work when the restaurant closes.

PEREZ: I put a lot of time in this restaurant. I worked here for 7 years. 12 hour days. 16 hour days. So it’ll be hard. Think you’ll find another place like it? No. I’ve worked in other restaurants. Been to other restaurants. I know other cooks, other chefs. There’s nothing like it. But maybe I’ll get lucky.

Perez says he’s hopeful Phil Smidt’s will open in some other place. He thinks the outpouring of support from customers is a good sign that it could happen. Phil Smidt’s will close after dinner tomorrow night.

I’m Adriene Hill, Chicago Public Radio.