Business Beat: Coldwater Ponderosa ownership celebrate 7 year anniversary

COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater Ponderosa Steakhouse is celebrating seven years of successful operation under its current leadership, marking a major milestone for the long time  community staple.

Owners Darren and Trienne acquired and reopened the restaurant in September 2019 through their company, Clarke Stampede, after the location had been closed for over six months.

For Darren, Ponderosa has been a major part of his life for more than three decades.

His journey began in 1990 in Columbus, Indiana, where he started as a dishwasher. Through hard work, determination, and a passion for the restaurant business, Darren worked his way through the ranks and eventually became a General Manager. In February 1995, he helped lead the opening of the original Coldwater Ponderosa.

Trienne’s Ponderosa story began just a few months later. In April 1995, she joined the Coldwater team as a cashier. Her dedication and leadership eventually led her to the General Manager position, which she held from 2005 through 2011. After leaving Ponderosa, Trienne spent nine years with the fashion retailer Maurices, while also teaching at KCC, working as a business consultant.

Along with Darren’s family—Tonya and Andrew, who also operate locations in Bay City and Clare—the duo successfully revived the western-themed steakhouse and buffet.

Over the last seven years, the restaurant has grown into much more than a local dining spot, cementing itself as an active pillar of the Coldwater community.

In addition to providing local employment, the business regularly gives back through food donations, financial support, volunteer time, and partnerships with local schools, teams, and organizations.

As they mark this anniversary, the ownership team expressed immense gratitude to their guests, staff, and community partners, looking forward to many more years of serving the area.