LD’s Café History

When Richmond was settled in the mid-1850s, a locally-owned landmark business was still over a hundred years from being established. L.D.’s Café makes fascinating history live once more.
Remnants of local history adorn L.D.’s dining area walls, including framed newspaper clippings, historical articles and an American flag. L.D. Bowcutt has been actively running the business since 1959, and loves to relate the history posted on his walls. Ask about his famous rodeo clown relative, or any one of the area’s veterans- each has a story that he’s anxious to tell.
According to a Herald Journal newspaper article posted on its wall, “L.D.’s father bought this place in 1957. It started out as a poolroom. When the earthquake hit in 1961 this place rolled like a wave.” Wikipedia reports that the quake (it states as 1962) was a magnitude Mw5.9 the morning of August 30, 1962 at 6:35 am local time. With its epicenter just north of Richmond, this quake, Utah’s most costly, caused damages estimated then at $1 – 2 million dollars ($18.5 – 20 million in 2020 dollars.)
L.D. remembers, “My father remodeled it and used some of the fixtures and furniture from a restaurant up the street that he bought because it was condemned by the damage from the earthquake.” Started initially as a bar and pool room, “since August 31, 1962, L.D.’s has served full meals. Before that it was strictly a sandwich and lunch menu.”
“L.D. says that most of his customers are local people and repeat customers. This place isn’t commercialized or franchised. I can get to know my customers and they get to know me. People come here for sociability to be with their friends and neighbors. A lot of business also gets transacted here. Based on comments from the lunch crowd, it would seem like L.D.’s customers return for more than just the comfortable, friendly atmosphere.”
“He said one day the “champion cow” entered his café through the front door and paraded around the pool tables, but something like that only happens during Black and White Days, when the town is filled with horses and cows.”
A lot of people don’t know that L.D.’s had a private meeting room upstairs. Bowcutt says that for a long time the area’s riding club would meet upstairs to shoot the bull and plan events.
Serving two terms on the Richmond city council, L.D. has been heavily involved in local interests. He tells how after the Richmond bank was robbed in the early 1960s the bank manager had a buzzer installed to ring at the café. He’d return the call to the bank, whose employees knew when he asked, “Is L.D. there?”- a positive answer meant there was trouble, a negative meant all was well. His café also served as the communications center for the local volunteer fire department, sounding a warning siren whenever help was needed.
L.D.’s daughter Lori, and grandson, J.R. Hoggan, are also actively involved, but J.R. is quick to point out that L.D. is really the heart of the business. Now in his eighties, L.D. still takes over at the grill quite often, filling every order the L.D.’s way- with healthy home-cooked meals. Hungry for meat and potatoes, burgers, seafood or breakfast? You’ll find it all and a whole lot more- traditions of excellence and community involvement at L.D.’s Café in Richmond.
L.D. states, “You need to be really sharp to compete with the big restaurant chains and stay open for business, and I think my café is the last of its kind.”
Source: Conversation with L.D. Bowcutt Nov. 2, 2022, Wikipedia search “Earthquake- Logan, UT