My first real job was as a busboy at Rusty’s Restaurant in Edwardsville. I was 16 and a fresh kid, and I was about to get my comeuppance.

A couple of days after I started, I was helping wait staff work a large party. Apparently I was a little too slow doing it. Owner Lew Badalamenti took exception and barked some orders at me. Sheepishly, I complied and hustled the rest of the night.

A couple of hours later, one of the diners at the party — who’d seen me get dressed down — came up and handed me a $10 bill. Back in 1972, a ten spot was a lot of money. It may as well have been $100 for how good it made me feel.

In a lot of ways I’m still that fresh kid, but I never forgot an important lesson: Even when you think he’s wrong, the boss is still the boss. Do what he tells you to do.

I lasted only two weeks as a busboy. Without a driver’s license I was at my dad’s mercy. He finally put the kibosh to the job after driving across town several times at 2 a.m. to haul me home.

Rusty’s played an important role in my life. I’ve been to the restaurant a hundred times through the years, for class reunions, bands, dinner and parties. When one of the reporters in the newsroom turned to me on Tuesday and said, “Did you know Rusty’s is closing?” my stomach sank. It was a story that I really knew I should write.

By the end of the day I had even talked to my old boss, Lew, who sold the business some 15 years ago and is living in relative solitude in Edwardsville.

We were first to break the news online, and within hours every media outlet picked up on it. A landmark that catered to marriages, anniversaries, celebrities, political power and college parties had closed its doors.

Every town has its “Rusty’s.” Collinsville, for instance, had Zeppetella’s. Alton had Midtown Restaurant and Lounge. Wood River had Nita’s Cafe.

And all of them, now, are gone. And the newer restaurants, while bright and shiny, just don’t have the same flavor.

It gives me no pleasure to write restaurant obits and certainly not one for a place that has meant so much to so many people. The place wasn’t perfect but customers felt a sense of ownership.

I speak for Rusty’s alumni everywhere when I say goodbye, old friend.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 4th, 2008 at 9:15 am and is filed under Main. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.