Her brother, Paul Tomlinson, told her he wanted to sell the Mr. T’s restaurant business their parents had founded roughly a half-century earlier as Sportsman’s Cafe in downtown Iron River.

“He was tired,” she said.

While she could understand — running a restaurant isn’t easy, especially in these COVID-19 times of employee and supply shortages — she didn’t want to lose the family business, either.

“After he told me that,” she said, “the wheels started turning. I didn’t like the idea of it going to someone else besides family.”

Mr. T’s has operated at 3599 E. U.S. 2 in Iron River since the late 1970s. It was formerly the Sportsman’s Cafe in downtown Iron River.

So she turned to her eldest son, Peter Schiavo, who then was working at Asplundh. Want to take over Mr. T’s?

It became official Jan. 1, with Paul and Shelley Tomlinson doing a “passing of the spatula” to Michelle, Schiavo and his wife, Brittany, earlier this month.

Michelle’s other sons, Kevin and Mitchell — who is studying neuroscience at Michigan State University — have all worked in the restaurant over the years.

Peter Schiavo, 36, started there when he was 14. He said he’s still doing things his grandfather, who retired as owner in 2000, taught him. He looks forward to passing them along to his own children — who range from 1 to 11 years old, with an eighth on the way — when they come of age.

“My son, I see this as being his future for a long time,” Michelle said. “He’s young, he’s got a ways to go yet.”

“It’s been great,” Peter Schiavo said.

Operating a restaurant with COVID-19 still a factor has its challenges, she admits. They managed with takeout, which she credits for getting the business through the lean times.

“The community response has been fantastic,” Michelle said. “They’re very welcoming, very supportive, very happy we’re still going to be here and with the family.”

They also have to question whenever any employee becomes sick, even with a sniffle.

“As soon as someone tells us they don’t feel well, we send them out the door,” Michelle said. “It certainly added a different element.”

Supply-wise, they’ve had to deal with what might not be available, such as boneless chicken wings, onion rings and blueberries, Michelle said.

She noted some items that are customer favorites — like hashbrowns, as they serve breakfast all day — don’t have an easy substitute if their supplier can’t come through.

Bob and Beatrice Tomlinson sold the site in downtown Iron River in November 1977 to a gaming arcade and reopened as Mr. T’s at 3599 E. U.S. 2. It turned out to be a fortunate move, as their original building later burned down.

Beatrice Tomlinson — formerly Smith — had been born in Iron River in 1937, but Bob Tomlinson was from the Detroit area. A manager of S.S. Kresge Co. stores, he and the family traveled around — all three children were born in different states, Michelle said — until he asked to be transferred to the Iron Mountain location in 1969.

They then decided they wanted to be in Iron River, so purchased the downtown restaurant as Sportsman’s Cafe in 1970. But harkening back to the Kresge’s stores, they had a counter with stools, which continues at Mr. T’s.

Michelle Tomlinson grew up in the restaurant, with her first job being as a dishwasher at age 12.

She remained part of the family business even as she was assistant manager for the local Shopko store. She also commuted to Laona Machine Supply hardware store in Laona, Wis., after Shopko closed in 2019.

This allows both mother and son to work closer to home.

They serve breakfast all day, with “grandma’s French toast” a favorite. They also have sandwiches, dinners and pizzas using the original recipes from when it was the Sportsman’s Club. Milkshakes and sundaes are hand-dipped. All are made fresh and prepped daily, Michelle said.

Weekends are the busiest but business in general has been good, Michelle said. They serve from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

“I knew it was going to be long hours. I knew we were going to hit some bumps along the way,” Michelle said. “We’ve got a lot to learn still. But I think we’re handling everything pretty well … we seem to be communicating well.”

They can seat almost 100, but they hope in the future to expand the building so they can provide a venue for parties and other group events. Daughter-in-law Brittany Schiavo, also a bookkeeper for the business, would like to see their parking lot host flea markets; the restaurant already sells crocheted items and soap made by Brittany.

Michelle intends to work about a decade before passing the business completely to the Schiavos.

“They feel really good about it,” Michelle said of her son and his wife, “and excited about their future.”

Betsy Bloom can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 240, or bbloom@ironmountaindailynews.com.