[Vision2020] speaking of local flavor

[Kai Eiselein, Editor]

Bummer, it's one the few places left that has pinball machines.


From: Dan Carscallen 
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2008 7:12 AM
To: vision2020 at moscow.com 
Subject: [Vision2020] speaking of local flavor


November 22 will mark the end of an era for Moscow.  Gotta go get my last Grandpa burger in a basket, and a French dip for my delicate flower:

 

Biz Bits: End of an era
Ted's Burgers closes its doors after three decades in Moscow
Posted on: Sunday, November 09, 2008

Andy Kiblen, 33, said he was a "nervous wreck and preoccupied" until he made one of the biggest decisions of his life Oct. 28.

That was the day he decided to close Ted's Burgers, ending a 21-year slice of his life.

"We're not making it. We're digging a hole, and it will cost me less to close than to stay open," the owner of Ted's Burgers said. "I'm ready to close this chapter of life and move on."

A number of factors went into the decision, including rising prices, the July increase of minimum wage and the one scheduled for 2009.

When his costs increased enough he would pass the cost on to the customer, like most businesses do.

"Menu prices go up, and that's not right," he said. "I feel bad because I think they're too high."

The economic meltdown also was a big part of his decision to close.

"I could cut expenses one more time," he said. "But I would jeopardize a lot, including my house, and I wasn't willing to risk my kids' future."

The business will close Nov. 22. On that day, Kiblen plans a send-off party with inexpensive food - "kind of like a funeral."

Ted's has been a Moscow fixture since the 1970s and probably has employed more high school students over the years than most businesses in town.

The business was started by Ted Carlson, who ran six A&W Root Beer stores in the region. The Moscow A&W was located in west Moscow in 1968. It moved to its present location in the 1970s and soon evolved into Ted's under Carlson's ownership. 

Ted's still bears the A&W pointy-roof design and the car hop stations in the parking lot.

Kiblen used to hang out at the restaurant because his older brother, Dave, worked there.

When he was 12, he began work there as a car hop, eventually working his way up to cooking hamburgers.

He never looked back.

In 1996, he became a partner in the business with Carlson and his wife, Cindy.

Ted Carlson died of cancer that year, and Kiblen took over the day-to-day operations.

In 2001, he purchased the rest of the business except for small share Cindy Carlson retained.

When he was close to making the decision to close, he contacted Cindy to consult with her.

"She was surprised the decision didn't come earlier," he said. "I also feel Ted is looking over my shoulder, and I feel good about that."

Kiblen's decision also is OK with his wife, Anji, who works at Bearable Dentistry in Moscow. 

"Anji didn't take an active role in the business except to support me in whatever I wanted to do," he said. "She's been through the whole thing, and it hasn't been easy for her."

For the last few years, Kiblen has divided his time between Ted's and Latah Title Company, a title business started by his grandfather.

He had no intention of joining the family business but the sudden death of his brother, Mike, in September 2004 left a void at the business. Todd Kiblen, Andy's father, talked him into working at the title company. 

With Ted's closure, Andy Kiblen will devote full time to the business with other family members including Todd, brother Dave and Deanna Kiblen, Mike's widow.

Kiblen will keep the Ted's name but is willing to make "someone a helluva deal on the building," he said.

The building sits on leased land. 

"I have no regrets," he said. "I operated a business for years, not the most profitable, but I gave it a go."

Ted's Burgers is located at 321 N. Main St. 



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Kai Eiselein
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