Turk's Inn closes with death of owner Beatrice "Marge" Gogian
by Gary King
Leader editor HAYWARD - Beatrice "Marge" Gogian, who left a career in high fashion modeling to help her parents run a restaurant in the northwoods of Wisconsin, died Tuesday, Feb. 26, at her Hayward home. She was 85 years old. She was the last surviving member of the Gogian family, owners of Turk's Inn, a supper club established in 1934 by her father, George “The Turk” Gogian, an Armenian immigrant from Istanbul. The restaurant became legendary, not only for its exotic menu and decor in a land of Scandinavian tastes, but also for its unique and attentive hosts, George, his wife, Isabelle “Ma,” and their daughter, “Margie." Located on the banks of the Namekagon River just north of Hayward, Turk’s Inn played host to the likes of John, Robert and Edward Kennedy, Mickey Rooney, Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun, as well as governors, sports heros and other celebrities. Marge left Hayward after graduating from high school and entered Chevy Chase Junior College in Maryland. Later, she entered Traphagen School of Design in New York City, followed by a career as a fashion designer on Fifth Avenue. When her father suffered a heart attack, she returned to Hayward to help with the family business. She never married and committed her life to running Turk's. Following the death of her father in 1981, Marge and her mother continued to operate the restaurant with help from friends and employees. Her mother died approximately 10 years ago and Marge marked the 75th anniversary of the restaurant in 2009 as the sole living link to the legacy created by her parents. "Marge’s special touch made everyone feel like family whenever they visited,” reads her obituary. "She traveled the world with her dad and has told many stories of her adventures.” Those adventures are reflected by hundreds of pieces of artwork, sculpture and photographs on display in the opulent dining rooms of the restaurant. Plans for the building and property remain unknown at this time. |
Turk's Inn north of Hayward, a classic supper club of days gone by, is now closed for business. - Special photo
Marge Gogian sits below a photo of herself from when she was a fashion model in New York City. - Special photo
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