A tribute to our former Ambassador David Noe
It’s hard to imagine the Fond du Lac restaurant scene without long-time staples like Salty’s Seafood and Spirits, Friar Tuck’s, and Sebastian’s Steakhouse. These establishments continue to serve hundreds of patrons every day, even throughout the turmoil of pandemic shutdowns and a workforce shortage. How do they stay successful? According to General Manager Mike Pfiefer, it’s the culture left behind by their founder.
Dave Noe got started as an entrepreneur in Fond du Lac in the early 1970’s. By 2004, he had founded Baker’s Pride Bakery, three different Friar Tuck’s restaurants around the area, Salty’s Seafood and Spirits, Sebastian’s Steakhouse, and Gino’s Italian. From 33 employees in 1980, Noe’s work grew to a restaurant empire employing more than 250 people today.
What’s most impressive, in an industry where the average employee tenure is just 3.5 years, there are more than 42 people who have worked for these restaurants for 20 years or more, according to Pfiefer.
“It came down to [Noe’s] attitude with his employees,” says Pfiefer. “From the head bartender to the new guy washing dishes, he treated everyone as valuable. We had a saying, ‘he’s not just our boss, he’s our friend.’”
When news came down of Noe’s unfortunate passing during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, it didn’t just shake up his close friends and coworkers. His legacy stretched far beyond that.
Noe served on the Ambassadors Club for the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce (now Envision Greater Fond du Lac) for many years. Several of his contemporaries are still active with the Club. His service to the Fond du Lac community goes far beyond the thousands of customers he fed and entertained at his restaurants.
“David was a common guy; he never flaunted anything,” says Pfiefer. “In fact, a lot of people would sit right next to him at the bar during cocktail hour and would never know he owned the place.”
Dave’s legacy is more than the success of the businesses he founded. It’s the impact he left on the hundreds he employed and the thousands of customers he served. He embodied the values that make the Fond du Lac community what it is today: hard work, humble service, and treating people right.
From all of us at Envision Greater Fond du Lac, the Ambassadors Club, and the whole business community- thank you, friend.
