CALHOUN: Illinois Riverdock celebrates 30 years

By Editor | January 23, 2024 |

Front row left to right: Mel Heffington, Sarah Heffington, Cullen King, Braxton King. Back row left to right Skylar Giberson, Gail Giberson and Lauren King. (Diane Brangenberg/Calhoun News-Herald)

By Diane Brangenberg

Illinois Riverdock celebrated 30 years in business on Jan. 19. However, right from the beginning, the Riverdock realized they would have to overcome some obstacles as being along the Illinois River can have a few drawbacks. The Illinois Riverdock Restaurant was slated to be open July 15, 1993. But on July 4 of 1993 they started to sandbag to keep water out. On July 15, the day they should’ve opened, their sandbag levee broke and they ended up with five feet of water inside of the restaurant. After the water went down, the cleanup began and the doors were open on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 1994. In addition to having to hold off the river on more than one occasion in June 2015, a fire started in their soda room, and due to smoke and water damage they had to get a fresh start again and of course, in 2020 they faced all of the problems that came with owning a Restaurant during Covid. Yet each time they were able to bounce back and continue on. Currently employing 32 employees. Those employees are one of the things that makes the Illinois Riverdock successful.
Sara Malone Heffington, daughter Gail, granddaughter Lauren and great granddaughter Skylar all work there. Lauren oversees all the daily operations with grandma Sara and Lauren’s husband Cullen is not only the head cook he also smokes all of the meats. Four generations of family all working together. Family is an important part of the Riverdock history and continues to be, and not just their own as they currently employ several employees who are related to each other. They are always willing to work around all of their employees’ activities, Sara said.
“Family comes first and the students we employ here, we feel their education and their school activities are also priority so we are always willing to work around everything we can.”
Best known for their smoked meats, especially their brisket, as well as their fish and amazing homemade pies.
The location is definitely a major asset and owning their own 250 feet dock along the Illinois River has its advantages. In the fall, the loopers stop in from all over using the docks. During the summer, they enjoy the boat traffic, as well as motorcycles passing through and people coming for Calhoun Peaches. Of course, the fall brings people for the changing leaves and Calhoun beauty. During the winter visitors they stop and come in while in the area to watch the Eagles.
They’ve had some very famous guests over the past 30 years, perhaps the most famous regular customer being August Busch who usually uses his helicopter to get there. Also, a highlight over the past years was being featured on Show Me St. Louis and interviewed by Heidi Glauss.
They very much look forward to all of the people they’ve met that have passed through and hearing their stories, but it’s the local everyday customers that add to the continued success. “They started as regulars, became our friends, and then we consider them family,” Manager Lauren King said. “And family is what has kept us going for 30 years. Growing up I thought it was cool, my family owning a restaurant. I grew up learning about every part of it, thinking it was so much fun to help out and make a little pocket change. I learned so much from so many over the years and I hope that this is able to continue for many more years.”