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Cable food show revisits Gordy's

Crew members from "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" spent part of two days this week at Gordy's Hi-Hat in Cloquet. They filmed customers, staff and four generations of the Lundquist family over that time period, doing close-up interviews and even flying a drone over the landmark Cloquet restaurant, which celebrates 60 years this season.

The last time the well-known Food Network show visited the Hi-Hat was 10 years ago, when show host Guy Fieri came to town to sample the Northland's favorite burger joint. Fieri did not make an appearance during this visit.

Gordy's Hi-Hat owner Dan Lundquist said the filming by DDD was top-secret, so he couldn't share details publicly in advance of the visit. On Monday, the crew filmed the restaurant during a busy lunchtime. On Wednesday, they closed the restaurant and brought in family and friends for a more low-key event.

Crew members interviewed restaurant founders Gordy and Marilyn Lundquist on Wednesday. Marilyn, 91, said she's retired from her days of cutting and frying up onion rings now. The coronavirus forced 93-year-old Gordy to stay home too as the restaurant transitioned to a carhop-style of service and the patriarch isn't as nimble as he once was.

"We've been doing this for 70-plus years, with 60 years here. Can you believe it?" Marilyn said, adding that she loves the new carhop service.

The date for the "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" segment is completely unknown at this time, crew members said.