Mo's Restaurants facts for kids
Mo's Restaurants is a famous chain of seafood restaurants located along the beautiful Oregon Coast in the United States. The main office for Mo's is in Newport, Oregon. These restaurants are named after their amazing founder, Mohava "Mo" Niemi. People often said Mo was a legendary person in Newport! Mo's is well-known for its delicious New England-style clam chowder, fresh Yaquina Bay oysters, and its friendly, relaxed atmosphere.
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The Story of Mo's Restaurants
How Mo's Began
The very first Mo's restaurant opened its doors in Newport in 1946. It was first called "Freddie & Mo's." This restaurant was open 24 hours a day. It served meals like spaghetti and steaks to local loggers and fishermen. A few years later, Mo's business partner, Freddie Kent, became sick. Mo Niemi then bought Freddie's share of the restaurant.
Over the years, Mo's started serving more and more seafood. The recipe for their famous clam chowder got better and better. Cooks would even try to outdo each other to make the best version!
Mo's Becomes Popular
Over time, Mo's became a favorite spot. Not just for local people, but also for tourists and even famous celebrities! Mo's second husband, Kaino "Dutch" Niemi, was a retired fisherman. He and his friends often gathered at a table. This helped create a warm, "family" feeling at the restaurant.
Mo's great-granddaughter, Gabrielle McEntee-Wilson, remembers "Granny Mo" talking about Mo's popularity. Mo said that during the 1960s, "The hippies discovered Mo's." Gabrielle also shared that Mo's "wasn't a concept—it grew on its own and changed over time."
Many famous people visited Mo's. Actors like Henry Fonda and Paul Newman ate there. They were filming a movie called Sometimes a Great Notion. This movie was based on a book about a logging family on the Oregon coast. Mo herself even appeared in one scene of the movie as an extra! This scene was filmed in Newport's Bayhaven Inn. Mo and her father used to own this Inn in the early 1940s.
Important politicians also ate at Mo's. Oregon Governor Tom McCall and Senator Mark Hatfield were among them. In 1973, Audrey McCall, the Governor's wife, arranged a lunch at Mo's. This was for the spouses of governors attending a big meeting called the Western Governors' Conference.
Senator Robert F. Kennedy and his wife Ethel also visited Mo's. They stopped by on May 24, 1968. This was when Senator Kennedy was campaigning for the Democratic Party primary election in Oregon.
The Famous Garage Door
The original Mo's in Newport has a very unusual front wall for a restaurant. One day, a customer was leaving. She accidentally put her car in forward gear instead of reverse. She crashed right through the front wall! Mo found the situation funny. She comforted the upset woman. Mo said, "Well, we'll just put in a garage door so we can open it. You can drive in anytime if that's what you want to do."
On warm, sunny days, this special door is opened. This turns Mo's into a fun sidewalk cafe. The door itself looks much the same as when it was first put in. It even has a picture on the inside. The picture shows a woman driving her car through the door, with a surprised look on her face!
How Mo's Grew
Expanding the Restaurants
Over the years, Mo Niemi opened more Mo's restaurants. One was right across the street from the original in Newport. It overlooked the bay and was called Mo's Annex. Another was Mo's West at Otter Rock. The first Mo's restaurant was also updated and made bigger several times.
Now, the original building in Newport has more than just a restaurant. It also has a clam chowder factory! This factory makes the base for all the restaurants' chowder. The chowder is also sold online. You can find it in grocery stores in 14 different states. Each year, the factory makes over 500,000 pounds of fresh chowder. It processes one ton of bacon every week. It also uses one ton of potatoes every day!
The first restaurants in Newport and Otter Rock are still owned by the family. They operate as Mo's Enterprises. In 1970, Mo partnered with another Newport business owner, Tom Becker. They bought an oyster farm. This company became known as Newport Pacific Corporation. This company now owns and runs more Mo's restaurants. You can find them in Astoria, Seaside, Florence, Lincoln City, Cannon Beach, and even in the Portland International Airport.
Mo Niemi passed away in 1992 when she was 79 years old. Several of Mo's family members are still involved. They serve on the board of directors for Newport Pacific.
Mo's Achievements and Recognition
Special Honors
In 1999, Mo's clam chowder was served at a special lunch. This lunch was held at the Smithsonian Institution. It honored the "Best American Regional Foods."
In 2001, Cindy McEntee, who owns Mo's Enterprises, received a big award. She was named the Small Business Administration's Small Businessperson of the Year for Oregon. She was also one of the top four nominees for the National Business Person of the Year award! She was praised for continuing a tradition of great food. She was also recognized for being very generous to her employees, customers, and the community. Her award showed that being kind to others can lead to business success.
Rogue Ales Dedication
Rogue Ales is a craft brewery in Oregon. It is also based in Newport. They use a picture of Mo on one of their beer labels. It was for their Half-E-Weizen ale. On each bottle, they include a special message. It honors Mo and Dutch Niemi. It says their spirit helps shape the lively daily life of the Newport waterfront and the whole community. Mo Niemi was very important in bringing Rogue Ales to Newport.
