In 1981 Larry and Audrey Hackett purchased the then Chatterbox and the railroad shed out of bankruptcy from the bank.  Audrey had been working as an RNA, and Larry had recently been laid off from Rockwell International in Chatham.

They lived on a farm outside of Bothwell,l and leased their land, so they could start their new venture. Initially wanting to call their new restaurant Four Corners or the Trackside, a friend told them to name it the LA Roadhouse, for Larry & Audrey’s Roadhouse, and the name stuck.

Over the next ten years, while running the Roadhouse, they converted the railroad shed at the back of the property into a variety store, a garden centre, an ice cream parlour and then a house.

In 1991 they sold their farm, moved into the newly renovated home behind the Roadhouse, and continued serving the town and surrounding community with homecooked meals and entertainment.

Over the years, Audrey and Larry have employed well over 150 locals to work as cooks and waiting staff.  The stories and memories are endless, and many current patrons still come to the Roadhouse to share memories with Larry and Audrey from the “good old days.”

One of the main reasons Shaun and Deb decided to take over the Roadhouse was its history.  Because of that history, they decided not to rename the business or renovate the building.

“The legacy of this restaurant, and this community, mean a lot to us. We wanted to build on what Larry and Audrey had created. We wanted to support our town and community by creating jobs and continuing the legacy of the Roadhouse… a place where people could come and share memories and stories while enjoying some of Audrey’s original recipes,” says Deb.

“We are so thankful to everyone who has supported our new adventure in Bothwell and the area, and we hope we can continue to build on what Larry and Audrey started over 40 years ago.”