RUMFORD – When Albert Pomerleau closed Freddie’s Restaurant for the last time Saturday, it marked the end of an era.

Pomerleau, 58, bought the popular Congress Street eatery from his father, Alfred “Freddie” Pomerleau in 1978 and ran it with his brother, Eddie, who retired from the business in 1998.

On Tuesday, Albert signed it over to the new owners, and further details of the transaction have not been made public yet.

“This is one of the oldest family-owned restaurants in the state,” Albert said proudly. “It has served people from every country in the world. It’s very unusual for a restaurant to stay in a family for so long.”

Working there from the age of 10, he said he decided it was time to stop the 60- to 70-hour weeks. The 1964 graduate of Stephens High School said he never needed to advance his education. He said he has gotten all the education he needs from running the restaurant and talking with the thousands of customers over the years.

“This restaurant was better than a college. It has taught me what life is all about. I learn from people everyday,” he said.

Politicians from around the state have stopped in at Freddie’s at some time or another.

Alfred was good friends with Ed Muskie, so a banquet was given in his honor when Muskie was running for governor. Congressmen and senators have eaten there, including former Sen. Margaret Chase Smith, Albert said.

And whenever the local paper mill was hit with a strike, Freddie’s business picked up. Unions met there. People had more time to sit and discuss their common concerns.

Lots of other memories come to the surface.

Pomerleau remembers when a frightened deer, being chased down Congress Street, smashed through the outside doors of the restaurant and got caught between those and the inside doors. He eventually got out, but not before Pomerleau had to tell his father.

“He wasn’t happy,” he said.

In the 1960s, a streaker ran through the restaurant, in the back door, out the front. An anonymous Santa Claus used to regularly ho-ho-ho through the dining room, then leave.

Not only have the Pomerleau brothers worked at the restaurant, so have their wives and children, including Albert’s son, Albert Jr.

“I’m just tired. I want to take some time off,” Albert said.

Employees and staff are mourning the closing of the comfortable, convenient place to eat and catch up on the gossip.

None more so, probably, than Anita and Harold Orino who eat lunch and supper there six days a week and have done so for nearly 20 years.

“It’s our second home,” said Anita. “We also come in at breaks.”

Both Orinos are retired pharmacists.

“I never learned how to cook,” said Anita. “I don’t know what we’ll do, probably try different places.”

Both said they will greatly miss the restaurant. They gave the waitresses going-away gifts.

“We’re very glad for Al, but my heart is broken,” Anita said. “I feel sad. The short order cooks have been good, everyone has been good. It takes a long time to get to know someone’s personality. Now we’ve got to break in a whole bunch of waitresses.”

One of the waitresses at the restaurant, Jeanne Rouleau, has waited on the Orinos as well as hundreds of others during the almost eight years she has worked there.

“I feel bad. The restaurant has been in the area for a long time. I’ll miss the customers,” she said, adding that she’ll be looking for another job.

During the last week before the doors were closed, business was higher than usual.

“It was like everyone wants to come in for a last meal,” she said.

Tammy Philbrick, a short-order cook for 17 years, will take some time off before looking for something else.

“I’m very happy for Albert. He needs a break and so do I,” she said.

Albert said he will sit back for a while before deciding what to do.

“It’s been a long, extremely interesting road and life,” he said.

Within a month, he said, he’ll be doing something, he’s just not sure what.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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