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Business & Tech

Rusty Pelican Cafe Lands in Edmonds; Dinner to be Offered Soon

The newly opened restaurant on Fifth Avenue North brings homemade cuisine, fresh-baked cakes and pies and a long family restaurant tradition to Edmonds.

Three weeks ago, Marilyn and Peter Limberopoulos opened the doors of the in Edmonds.

Located just north of the fountain on Fifth Avenue, the restaurant—like the owners' Rusty Pelican Cafe in Wallingford—reflects the couple's lifetime in the restaurant business and their commitment to serving excellent food at affordable prices.

Marilyn and Peter, married more than 30 years, come from restaurant families. They both learned the business from the ground up. Marilyn started working in her grandmother's sweet shop when she was only 8.

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Peter landed his first job bussing tables at 16 after emigrating to the US from Greece. Ten years later, after working several other restaurant jobs, he bought his first restaurant. And he's still at it today, half a century later.

And the family tradition continues. The couple's twin daughters, Johanna and Stacy, are full partners at the Rusty Pelican. They assist their parents with all phases of the operation as they learn the nuts and bolts of the business. Despite the help, Peter still works an occasional 100-hour week and hasn't taken a vacation in 30 years.

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Asked about the hard work and long hours, Marilyn laughed. "We're in business because we love it," she says. "And if you don't love what you're doing, you won't succeed."

This love of the business shows in the extra care taken preparing items for the menu. The breads, cakes and pies are all made from scratch. The soups and salad dressings are homemade from fresh ingredients. And the hot-from-the-oven bread that appears on every table is baked all day right in the kitchen.

"We really do put our heart and soul into everything we serve," Marilyn says.

"We're a family place, and the family tradition extends to every customer who sits at our tables. Some places charge extra for split orders, but not us. We'll happily split an order onto two plates, and even add extra bread to each. And you're  welcome to take your time over coffee and dessert. We'll never rush you out. When you come in here, you're family."

Right now, the Rusty Pelican is open for breakfast and lunch. Asked about her plans for the next few months, Marilyn tells me to watch for new dinner hours and for boxed lunches to go.

Wow! A boxed lunch sounds like a great idea for Edmonds' Summer Concerts in the Park! Just add a slice of that banana cream pie, OK?

Look for a review of Rusty Pelican Cafe later this week.

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