Anybody who has ever enjoyed the hospitality of The Mark III Bar & Grill in the Scottdale neighborhood of St. Joseph should be thankful that Bob Camp Sr. was a fan of the Chicago Tribune newspaper. If he hadn’t picked up his paper one day and spied an ad for a motel/restaurant complex for sale in St. Joseph, we might all have missed out on countless date nights, afterglows, post-sporting event parties, birthday celebrations, anniversary occasions, football watching get-togethers and who knows how many other great times.
You see, Bob Camp Sr. immediately became enamored with what was then known as the Royal Motel & Restaurant at the Scottdale crossroads on M-139. Bob and his wife Jodi and their five kids aged 3 to 14 years old were living in Chicago at the time, where Bob was engaged in the medical sales trade. While he had virtually no experience in the hospitality industry, that didn’t stop him from following his dream and he bought the place.
That was 45 years ago in 1972. Bob talked Jodi into taking the plunge and the rest, as they say, has become history. Now, rest assured it was anything but a slam dunk deal. The two underwent an enormous struggle and worked very hard — extremely overwhelmed according to Bob Jr. who now owns the business with his wife Stacy.
Senior knew that they had to make considerable changes if they wanted to succeed in this new trade. The biggest change was the decision to seek a liquor license for the establishment and following nearly two years of determination and persistence they had the license in hand and added a bar. That was the no-looking back game-changer that helped put The Mark III on the map, and it became an increasingly popular road house for great comfort food, terrific hospitality and plenty of ice cold beverages to slake the heartiest thirst.
Shortly after adding the bar and pressing the liquor license into action, the Camps changed the name from the Royal to The Mark III Bar & Grill. Even Bob Jr. and Stacy are unsure of the origins of that name, and admit that while several interesting tales have been circulated, the true reason behind the name remains a mystery to this day.
Speaking of this day, The Mark III’s business has continued to grow and evolve over the years but still holds its popular and familiar place as a cozy neighborhood bar & grill. Bob Jr. and Stacy have crafted a menu that places a solid focus on American comfort food as well as their ever-popular Tex-Mex cuisine. They have spent thousands of dollars updating, freshening and enhancing the dining experience and even the motel underwent a complete renovation back in 2014.
Now, as they approach their 45th Anniversary celebration, the are inviting everyone in Michigan’s Great Southwest to visit on Thursday, June 1, 2017 for the festivities. June 1st, 1942 was the day that Bob Sr. bought the place, and the celebration will be marked with many food and drink specials as well as a prize wheel. In fact, anybody with “Mark” in their name — first, middle, or last name — as well as anybody born in 1972 can spin the wheel that night. Additionally, Stacy tells me there will be “hot seats” so that others can participate and spin the wheel as well.
Some of the prizes on the wheel include 45-percent off of whatever you ate or drank that night — $45-gift cards — and gift cards for $19.72. Other prizes include commemorative t-shirts (which will also be available for sale at just $4.50 each), Chicago Cubs tickets and a few other miscellaneous surprises.
The Camp family is proud to have been locally owned and operated since 1972, and are happy to be one of the oldest (if not the oldest) continuously owned and operated bar & grill combos in the community of St. Joseph. Bob Jr. and Stacy are working hard to carry on the tradition and legacy that is the hallmark of the business — “Great food, great service, and a place to go where you’ll always feel at home!
It has been a memorable 45 years, and The Mark III’s beautiful makeover has it poised to be a destination attraction for at least the next 45 years. Congratulations on a stellar run, and cheers to the future!
