When Denise Terry was growing up in Tightwad, her family would eat at Donna’s Drive-In. A Tightwad icon, Donna’s is famous for its tenderloin sandwiches, home-style entrees and pie.
Although Denise is not related, she had known owner Donna Walrath and her family since she was born and was a big fan of the food.
“That’s why I bought the place,” she said. “I didn’t want to see it go away.”
On March 1, 2024, Denise expanded her culinary kingdom to the Marina Restaurant at Bucksaw Resort. There, she brings the same fresh, local approach to ingredients that she does for Donna’s.
“I try to buy local, especially meat,” Denise said. “I brought in beef from Ferguson’s Farm, and local sausage.”
“I’m into farm to table.”
It was the owners of Bucksaw, Tanya and Rick Gilley, who approached her about running the restaurant, she said, which is in the marina at the resort, on Truman Lake east of Clinton.
Denise took over on March 1, and inherited several employees, including Tiffany Tate, a server who was her neighbor when they were growing up.
“My dad played Santa for her,” Denise said.
Denise’s father is Day Terry, a farmer in Tightwad. Denise, who is also a farmer, graduated from Calhoun High School in 1991.
“I butcher my own meat,” Denise said. “I usually have 100 to 120 head, but had to get rid of some of them because of the drought.”
Her father takes care of her cattle for her, Denise said. Her mother, Shirley Terry, is from Warsaw.
Before buying Donna’s Drive-In, Denise worked as an apprentice electrician for KCPL. She was employed at the Melrose plant for 17 years, she said, and when it closed, was transferred to a plant in La Cygne, Kansas.
“It is an 80-mile drive, one-way,” she said. “I had to make a decision.”
Denise said she does a lot of cooking at Donna’s, along with Matt Smith. Matt has cooked there for 18 years, 14 of those years for Donna. Denise makes the pies with the help of her sister, Ronda White, who works part-time.
The key to surviving in the restaurant business is having good staff, Denise said. Ronda’s daughter-in-law, Skyler White, is her right hand, Denise said. Dayle Boardman is also a manager. Sarah Anderson and Alison Gordon, with Tiffany Tate and three cooks, Richie Perry, Dan Garrison and Bobby S., round out the staff.
“I consider all my workers family,” Denise said. “We spend a lot of time together.”
Having managers who can take over when she’s not there means she can take an occasional day off, Denise said, which she does to play with “the kids.” Her father had 11 siblings, she said, so she has lots of nieces and nephews, and now, great nieces and nephews, including Skyler’s three children.
“I’m the fun aunt,” Denise said.
With her managers on the job, Denise said she doesn’t have to get to the Marina Restaurant when it opens at 7 a.m. But she often heads out before dawn to make supply runs to Warrensburg and Clinton, where she buys at local stores as much as she can.
One of her goals: to get more locals coming to eat at Bucksaw Marina Restaurant. She does have regulars who during Lent looking for fish on Fridays, she said. The menu includes catfish, peel and eat shrimp, and fish and shrimp baskets, along with cheeseburgers and pork tenderloin sandwiches.
Denise said she wakes up at night thinking of ideas to bring more people to eat at Bucksaw Marina.
“I don’t need much sleep,” she said.
“She texts me at 3 a.m.,” Skyler said.
With her cousin, Nancy Burkhart, the owner of a vintage/antique mall near Tightwad, Dusty Daisy, Denise is planning a craft fair on June 8 at Bucksaw. Craft vendors are invited to sign up and bring their wares at no charge, Denise said.
Bucksaw Marina Restaurant has seating both inside and outside at tables on the deck, overlooking the water. Once the weather warms up, it will be a pleasant place to take visitors for a meal, or coffee and a cinnamon roll or dessert.
Denise is also bringing in cheesecake from Brian Molders’ B. Oliver’s Creations, and cakes, cupcakes and cinnamon rolls from Rustic Kitchen in Tightwad. She sells local honey from Paul’s Honey in Tightwad at both restaurants.
“I’m trying to get local growers to bring in produce,” she said.
Denise said running a restaurant has been a challenge since the pandemic, when food prices started going up. Taking care of the customer is her priority, she said, as is supporting the community. Denise regularly holds fundraisers, including one to help with a local child’s medical expenses and one benefitting the animal shelter in Windsor.
Donna’s Drive-In, which opened in 1986, is located at 102 SE Hwy PP. Denise said she bought it several years before Donna passed away in February of 2022, and has been happy with her decision to own a business.
Denise’s advice to anyone thinking of opening a restaurant, in addition to having good staff:
“Be ready to put in the hours,” she said. “If you don’t, you won’t make it.”
Bucksaw Marina is located at 670 SE 803 Rd., Clinton, Mo., 64735. From Clinton, go east on Hwy. 7 S approximately 12 miles, past Coal, then turn right (south) on SE Hwy. U and follow signs to the marina. Current hours of the Marina Restaurant are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Open March to October.
