Forums · The Landmark Restaurant
My Name is Jason. I worked as busboy at the Landmark restaurant in 1999. My sister worked there with me and she told me all about The Landmarks history. The end of my employment there resulted from an experience I had while working. But before I tell you about this event, I want to start of by sharing an experience that I witnessed. An older gentleman asked me for directions from the main dining room to the bathroom which is located down stairs. Soon after, I was interrupted by a crowd circling around the top of the stairs looking down. The older gentleman who I directed to the restroom had fallen down the second flight of stairs leading to the bathroom and crawled his way back up to the first flight where he could get help. I was unaware that earlier in the day the gentleman was released from the hospital after having extensive surgery. His fall caused extensive internal bleeding and he died on the stairs as the paramedics tried to save him. I watched him as he died. After reading the description on the website about the second flight of stairs being haunted, it makes me wonder if it could be this gentleman presence or maybe it was the existing presence that caused him to fall, eventually killing him.
About a month later, I was working my normal shift. A car accident in the area caused power failure throughout parts of downtown Mesa. As a result of this, it was required (by Don Ellis Owner) that we stop serving and taking orders. We were asked to box existing orders for people that wanted to leave and escort them down the stairs. It was very hard to see down the stairs so I was asked by Don to grab as many candles as I could from the downstairs party rooms and place them on the stairs leading out of the restaurant. I did as I was told. Eventually the restaurant was free of patrons and every employee worked as best they could to clean the dimly lit rooms of the Landmark. Of course being the SLAVE I mean busboy, I was asked to return the candles downstairs and start cleaning and resetting tables in the Victorian room. The Victorian room is located directly to the right once you walk down the stairs and its the biggest party room at the landmark. If you stand in the room facing out, its a straight shot down the 75 hallway leading to the Garden room, Bar room and the Roosevelt room. Each room mentioned in order of distance from the Victorian room, the Roosevelt room being the furthest.
By the time I started cleaning the Victorian room all the candles were placed back in their appropriate places. Though it was still hard to see, it was better than the alternative. This is where my encounter/experience begins. While resetting one of the tables that sat directly to the inside left of the door, I noticed a gentleman walking down the long hallway. He was near the door to the garden room and walking away from me. I tried to address him by saying Sir, but he failed to acknowledge me. Again, in a bolder tone I said excuse me sir, but still no reaction to my voice. At this point Im thinking that hes hard of hearing and hes just trying to grab something he left behind. So I said again, EXCUSE ME SIR, BUT THE RESTAURANT IS CLOSED AND YOU ARE NOT SUPPOOSED TO BE DOWN HERE. He said nothing and kept walking. Eventually he turned quickly into the Roosevelt room and I was close behind him so I could escort him out and maybe turn up his hearing aid. I made my way into the room to find absolutely nothing. The room was empty. I made ONE attempt to look under the tablecloth and then I ran out, back up the stairs and told my sister that I cant work here anymore. That was my last day at the landmark as an employee. As I look back at this experience I sometimes wonder if this was the gentleman who fell down the stairs. Who knows!
-Jason McCleve
jasonmccleve@yahoo.com
About a month later, I was working my normal shift. A car accident in the area caused power failure throughout parts of downtown Mesa. As a result of this, it was required (by Don Ellis Owner) that we stop serving and taking orders. We were asked to box existing orders for people that wanted to leave and escort them down the stairs. It was very hard to see down the stairs so I was asked by Don to grab as many candles as I could from the downstairs party rooms and place them on the stairs leading out of the restaurant. I did as I was told. Eventually the restaurant was free of patrons and every employee worked as best they could to clean the dimly lit rooms of the Landmark. Of course being the SLAVE I mean busboy, I was asked to return the candles downstairs and start cleaning and resetting tables in the Victorian room. The Victorian room is located directly to the right once you walk down the stairs and its the biggest party room at the landmark. If you stand in the room facing out, its a straight shot down the 75 hallway leading to the Garden room, Bar room and the Roosevelt room. Each room mentioned in order of distance from the Victorian room, the Roosevelt room being the furthest.
By the time I started cleaning the Victorian room all the candles were placed back in their appropriate places. Though it was still hard to see, it was better than the alternative. This is where my encounter/experience begins. While resetting one of the tables that sat directly to the inside left of the door, I noticed a gentleman walking down the long hallway. He was near the door to the garden room and walking away from me. I tried to address him by saying Sir, but he failed to acknowledge me. Again, in a bolder tone I said excuse me sir, but still no reaction to my voice. At this point Im thinking that hes hard of hearing and hes just trying to grab something he left behind. So I said again, EXCUSE ME SIR, BUT THE RESTAURANT IS CLOSED AND YOU ARE NOT SUPPOOSED TO BE DOWN HERE. He said nothing and kept walking. Eventually he turned quickly into the Roosevelt room and I was close behind him so I could escort him out and maybe turn up his hearing aid. I made my way into the room to find absolutely nothing. The room was empty. I made ONE attempt to look under the tablecloth and then I ran out, back up the stairs and told my sister that I cant work here anymore. That was my last day at the landmark as an employee. As I look back at this experience I sometimes wonder if this was the gentleman who fell down the stairs. Who knows!
-Jason McCleve
jasonmccleve@yahoo.com
Hi Carrie,
Yes it does have quite a history. The building that now houses The Landmark Restaurant began its life in 1908 as a Mormon Church. The church was originally housed in what is now the main dining room of the Landmark. Downstairs were the Sunday school rooms. It wasn't until 1939 that the church added on and remodeled the buildings making it look much as it does today. After the congregation moved on to bigger quarters in the 1950's, an insurance company moved in and used the building for their offices for several years. It wasnt until Don and Candy Ellis came to Arizona in 1981 that it became the landmark restaurant.
As far as paranormal activity, I did hear of a few experiences that personally affected the staff, previous to my experience. Ken was a buser with me. Hed already been there for 7 years when I came on board. Ken was a 32 year old glorified busboy. Although I found it funny, he was a great worker and an honest person. He told me that he often heard his name being called to him. Clear as day, but not from any staff in the building, is how Ken described the voice. Dave Taylor used to be my Boss at the restaurant. He told me that toilets would flush their own in both restrooms. His office was located downstairs directly across from the restrooms and he was known to work late hours by himself. Im not sure how he managed to get anything done, with the buildings history. I would be scared @!#$less. Supposedly from sources that I havent met, theres a little girls spirit that wanders the main dining room. The sculpture in the womens bathroom supposedly comes to life at night (Im not to sure about that) and the second flight of stairs leading to the basement is haunted.
This is about all I know about the Landmark. Heres a link to their webpage if you are interested in learning more. Thanks for responding to my story.
-Jason
Yes it does have quite a history. The building that now houses The Landmark Restaurant began its life in 1908 as a Mormon Church. The church was originally housed in what is now the main dining room of the Landmark. Downstairs were the Sunday school rooms. It wasn't until 1939 that the church added on and remodeled the buildings making it look much as it does today. After the congregation moved on to bigger quarters in the 1950's, an insurance company moved in and used the building for their offices for several years. It wasnt until Don and Candy Ellis came to Arizona in 1981 that it became the landmark restaurant.
As far as paranormal activity, I did hear of a few experiences that personally affected the staff, previous to my experience. Ken was a buser with me. Hed already been there for 7 years when I came on board. Ken was a 32 year old glorified busboy. Although I found it funny, he was a great worker and an honest person. He told me that he often heard his name being called to him. Clear as day, but not from any staff in the building, is how Ken described the voice. Dave Taylor used to be my Boss at the restaurant. He told me that toilets would flush their own in both restrooms. His office was located downstairs directly across from the restrooms and he was known to work late hours by himself. Im not sure how he managed to get anything done, with the buildings history. I would be scared @!#$less. Supposedly from sources that I havent met, theres a little girls spirit that wanders the main dining room. The sculpture in the womens bathroom supposedly comes to life at night (Im not to sure about that) and the second flight of stairs leading to the basement is haunted.
This is about all I know about the Landmark. Heres a link to their webpage if you are interested in learning more. Thanks for responding to my story.
-Jason