Longtime waitresses find work

By Celeste Edenloff

Many people may not think of waitressing as a longtime career, but there are six women at D. Michael B’s Resort Bar and Grill who have been serving patrons for a combined 125 years.

Four of them have spent their entire careers at the Alexandria restaurant, affectionately known as DMB’s, while the other two have worked not only at DMB’s, but also at Old Broadway and Bug-A-Boo Bay. The latter two are now closed but all three restaurants are or were owned by the Bistodeau family.

Dave and Debbie Bistodeau have owned and operated DMB’s for 33 years, although they actually took over the restaurant five years before that in July 1985 when it was known as Little John’s Pub. In 1990, the couple did a complete remodel and that is when the name was changed to D. Michael B’s. Dave and Debbie also owned BugA-Boo Bay and were partners with Dave’s brother, Frank, at Old Broadway.

Lisa Boots has been waitressing for 31 years when you combine her years at Old Broadway and then DMB’s.

Missy Wendt and Angie Massman, each with 22 years under their belt, have spent their entire careers at DMB’s. So has Kelsey Wesen, who has been a waitress for 19 years. Stephanie Tilbury has a total of 17 years with the Bistodeau family when you add together her time at Bug-A-Boo and DMB’s. And Erica Kerfeld has been a waitress at DMB’s for 14 years.

The six women were asked what has kept them working at D.Michael B’s Resort Bar and Grill for so many years and they said it’s their customers, as well as their fellow employees. They said most of them have become one big “dysfunctional family.”

They also shared that the job is both physically and mentally challenging, but that it is still very rewarding.

When asked what they wanted the public to know about being a waitress at DMB’s, the women collectively said, “We are not a resort and we don’t rent cabins.”

As for what their favorite dish is at the restaurant, here is what they each said:

Wendt – Chicken Fajitas with guacamole Massmann – 57 and Prime

(burger) with mashed potatoes Tilbury – Nashville Hot Fried Chicken (sandwich) with house fries

Wesen – The Bicycle Burger with waffle fries

Kerfeld – Burrito Bowl Boots – Chicken Lo Mein