Happy Gilmer’s Restaurant

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Photo by Katie Turpen

1013 Happy Gilmer's

Mark Gilmer opened Happy Gilmer’s, a unique restaurant inspired by the 1996 film Happy Gilmore, in Chelsea in February.

After watching Happy Gilmore for the first time in 1996, Mark Gilmer left the theatre with more than just an empty popcorn tub. He not only had better appreciation of his last name, but also a new vision for a restaurant.

“I just thought, ‘This is it,’” Gilmer said. “I always wanted to have my own place. I decided to give it a shot.”

In February, Gilmer achieved his lifelong dream and opened his movie-themed Happy Gilmer’s in Chelsea. A huge, bright green beach chair marks the entrance to this unique family hangout. 

Inside, the staff wear tuxedo T-shirts, and the booths are made out of colorful fence posts. A game room in the back of the restaurant showcases three classic arcade games and a funky hot dog mural splashed across the wall.

It’s everything Gilmer ever wanted.

“It’s exactly like my vision,” he said. “I wanted to create a place you could just come and hang out.”

Gilmer said he had originally planned for a simple hot dog joint, but once inside a bigger space than he expected, he decided to expand the menu. It now features hot dogs, burgers, chicken wings, sandwiches and, of course, Happy Nachos. Gilmer boasts the restaurant’s commitment to serving fresh meat and making everything by hand.

 “We want to keep it as simple as possible,” Gilmer said. 

Simple doesn’t mean Gilmer and his crew don’t mix things up with daily specials, which are regularly posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page and listed on a separate chalkboard inside the restaurant. The specials showcase Gilmer’s creative side with everything from red beans and rice to barbecue nachos to macaroni and cheese with cut-up hot dogs.

“It’s really whatever I’m in the mood to do,” Gilmer said. “Sometimes, I’ll see things on TV that I want to try.”

Gilmer makes it clear his restaurant aims to not just serve the Chelsea community but also be an active part of it. Pictures of Chelsea sports teams line the wall above the fence- post booths, and this fall Gilmer is keeping his restaurant open later on Friday nights for Chelsea home football games.

While the first year of opening a restaurant is the hardest, Gilmer, who has worked in all aspects of the restaurant business, can’t imagine doing anything except proudly serving fresh food in a tuxedo T-shirt.

“It comes second nature,” Gilmer said. “I was just born to do it.”