One less place to eat in Marion

By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A Marion eatery open since November 2016 will close its doors at the end of the month.

Aunt Mae’s Café, situated in a cozy house on the corner of Main and Freeborn Sts., has served up breakfast, hamburgers, and other home-style meals 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. six days per week.

Henry Ethem, owner of Aunt Mae’s, said the diner’s final day will be May 31.

Ethem said business hasn’t been robust enough to keep the doors open.

“I’ve been supporting this place with my own money and I’m going broke,” Ethem said.

The café doesn’t get enough walk-in traffic to support it, he said.

“We’re not on a major highway,” Ethem said. “We see the same people every day.”

He opened the café after retiring from being a truck mechanic and earlier, driving a truck.

“I really enjoy working with people and I’m sorry I don’t have the money to continue to work,” Ethem said. “The biggest thing I learned is, I’m a lot better truck mechanic.”

Ethem said he’ll miss getting up at 4 a.m. to go to the café and make biscuits and other breakfast treats.

“I enjoy having something to do,” Ethem said.

The building has been sold to Reign Anduss, who owned it before Ethem bought it.