The owners of Baker Street Restaurant in Fort Wayne may have taken roads less traveled... but that has made all the difference.
article by Jennifer Blomquist
photography by Steve Vorderman
Doug Wood and his wife of 32 years, Patty, say their life together has taken them across the country and back home again. And with every move, they followed their hearts.
“We were both students at IPFW and working at Cork ‘N Cleaver when we met,” recalls Patty. “I earned my degree in interior design and decided to move to Dallas.”
“We kept in touch when I moved and I told Doug it was great and that he should move there as well,” says Patty.
Doug moved to Dallas and they were married. Unbeknownst to the Woods, however, it was the first of many moves.
“In my heart, I knew that eventually, I wanted to be back in or near Fort Wayne to be near my family,” says Patty. “So, it was always our goal to get back to the Midwest.”
It took a while for the ambitious couple to get there. They went from Dallas to Denver to Rockford, Ill., to Reno, Nev., to Grand Rapids, Mich., and finally, to home sweet home in Fort Wayne. All of the moves were driven by Doug’s profession in industrial sales, something he was very good at and enjoyed.
Along the way, they had three daughters (Kristina, Kendra and Kellie), they learned to make do with very little money and a lot of faith and they learned that life is short and loving people is the most important thing you can do.
“Soon after coming back to Fort Wayne, my mom passed away and my dad’s health started to decline,” Patty says with tears in her eyes. “I took care of my dad and my mom’s parents, as well as our three daughters. And I said, ‘Okay, now I get it, Lord. You let me come back home because you knew my family needed me.’”
While Patty kept busy with family responsibilities, Doug worked long hours at 80/20 Inc. in Columbia City, an industrial manufacturing company founded by him, his father, Don, and his brother, John.
“We gained a lot of experience building a company with just three people that eventually grew to 250,” recalls Doug.
By 2010, both Patty and Doug agreed it was in their best interest for Doug to leave 80/20 and for them to work together, not separately.
“When we left 80/20, it was an answer to my prayers,” says Patty. “I wanted my husband and my children’s father to be healthy and to move on to other paths that God had chosen for us.”
Those less-traveled roads have brought the Woods to the life they love and cherish today. In addition to their three daughters, they had their son, Dillon, after moving back to Fort Wayne. Their lovely, cozy home in northern Allen County is where they enjoy countless hours with their family – which now includes three sons-in-law and two grandchildren, as well as their beloved dogs, Murphy and Pasha.
“Four years ago, we became the owners of BakerStreet Restaurant on North Clinton in Fort Wayne,” explains Doug. “After leaving 80/20, Patty and I applied our experience to BakerStreet, which has grown to be one of northeast Indiana’s favorite dining establishments. It’s all about people. People are the only differentiating factor in any business. Family, friends and co-workers all function better when we treat each other with sincere regard and respect.”
The Woods have no plans to slow down … ever. Besides owning the restaurant, they are active members of St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church and serve as board members of the non-profit pregnancy resource facility, The Women’s Care Center.
“Our real passion is to support and promote the Women’s Care Center,” says Doug enthusiastically. “One of our daughters works at one of the Women’s Care Center offices in Fort Wayne and we are very proud to be a part of an organization that has saved more lives than any pro-life organization in the country.”
“Our work at the Women’s Care Center ties in with our family’s philosophy to help other people to have a better day,” says Patty. “Those are the words our family lives by.”
