Mary McCrank’s to Change Name

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After 14 years of ownership, the family that runs Mary McCrank’s is changing the Chehalis restaurant's name and menu in an attempt to save area foodies a drive to Seattle or Olympia.

“We want people to have something of magnitude in their backyard,” said Jeri Schopp, who owns the restaurant with her family.

The newly dubbed Gerhard’s Steakhouse will take on the name of chef and co-owner Gerhard Schopp starting on Tuesday.

While it has a great history, the restaurant's old namesake, who bought the restaurant in 1935 and operated it as the Shamrock Inn before changing to Mary McCrank’s, has lost its selling power and has led to misconceptions about how the business should be run in recent years, co-owner Ryan Schopp said.

“People think it was supposed to be home-cooked grandma’s house food, but really she was about quality product and good food,” Ryan said. “So by doing our own thing, we start a new chapter.”

New menu items include aged Angus steaks, seafood and specialty items. Gerhard will also serve dishes from his native Germany like schnitzel, red cabbage and spaetzle.

“We’d love to make it our own,” Jeri told The Chronicle. “It’s time for a positive change.”



Mary McCrank’s previously served about 40 traditional country home-cooking items like fried chicken. Now the newly renamed establishment, at 2923 Jackson Highway in Chehalis, will serve more than 20 entrees in addition to beer, wine and liquor.

“We want to do some things great, instead of a lot of good things,” Jeri said.

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