• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

MarionMade

People, Places, Products, Programs

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On YoutubeCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Instagram
We Are Generous!We Are Having Fun!We Are Presidential!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
    • MarionMade! 5k Sign Up
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

G&R Tavern

By MarionMade! on February 14, 2017

1,200-1,500LBS OF BOLOGNA A WEEK!

If you’ve ever driven the stretch of U.S. 23 between Marion and Delaware, you’ve finally answered the question, “Where’s Waldo?” What you maybe didn’t know, is that some of the best food you can find is located here.

The G&R Tavern, named after founders George Yake and Roy Klingel and famous for its fried bologna sandwich, has been a staple in the area since its start in 1962. However, the tavern attracts more than locals. According to one owner, Bernie Lewis, the G&R has thousands of visitors from all over the state and county. Some of the staff even mentioned getting international visitors coming to Waldo just to visit the G&R. Since taking over the business in 1985, the current owners have taken the business from around $4,000 in annual revenue to over a million dollars a year. That means  a lot of food, between 1,200 –1,500 pounds of bologna go through the G&R each week!

In many ways, the G&R has put Waldo and Marion County on the map. The tavern has been featured in the Chicago Tribune twice, as well as on Good Morning America, The Travel Channel, and The Food Network. This massive exposure helps to attract more and more people to visit the area every year.

As one of the featured stops on the Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Eaterarian Trail, the G&R is proud of the positive publicity it brings to the Marion Community. In fact, the owners of the G&R love to promote articles they are featured in that highlight the Marion area. The flood of people that visit the G&R also spills over into other local businesses in Waldo. Establishments such as the Tin Star Saloon, located right across the street, provide a place for guests to relax and grab a beverage while they wait for their seat to open.

The G&R Tavern serves as more than a destination for visitors, and a hangout for locals. It is a point of pride for the community, and a destination to remember!

Recent MarionMade! Stories

  • TWIG

    TWIG. . Together We Inspire Giving or TWIG is a volunteer program that was designed in the 1950’s to support the work of Marion General Hospital. At that time there were just a couple of groups who provided volunteer help as well as conducted fundraising events to support the hospital’s mission “To Improve the Health […]Read More »
  • Local Women Donate Nearly $150,000 to Local Charities

    A group of local women determined to make a difference have invested $149,002.33 in our community since 2014. The group, 100 Women Who Care, meets once a quarter at the Women’s Club Home to hear from three nonprofits serving Marion County. At the end of the meeting, they vote on the most deserving charity. The […]Read More »
  • Custom Professional Accounting Celebrates 30 Years of Serving Community

    When tax time rolls around each year, many people greet it with a moan. One local agency has been helping Marion families, nonprofits, farmers and businesses get those taxes done right. “It takes a special person to enjoy doing taxes,” said Jean Obenour, owner and founder of Custom Professional Accounting, located at 1714 Marion-Waldo Road […]Read More »
  • Volunteers Keep Marion History Alive

    Walking among the animal barns and the Midway at the Marion County Fair, visitors can step back into history. The Wilhelm-Seiter Log Cabin and the Conrad Neidhardt Smokehouse at the offer a glimpse at life in Marion in the 1800s. Jeff Thatcher of Cardington remembers helping move the cabin from its original location on Seiter […]Read More »

Share Your MarionMade! Story

Click Here to share your story about MarionMade! people, places, products, and programs!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Downtown Marion Love INC Marion Public Library Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Marion CANDO! Marion Community Foundation United Way of Marion County Marion Technical College

© 2025 · MarionMade! is a community initiative led by Marion Technical College · Website is powered by Neighborhood Image