John Plentai stepped into the storied Welland restaurant at age 10 and never really left.

But at 2 p.m. on the last day of this month, he’ll turn out the lights one final time at the Blue Star and lock the doors of the business his parents, Charles and Gertrude Plentai, founded in 1947.

Since that time, the Blue Star has been become a familiar election campaign stop for Canada’s leaders, a place where nearby steelworkers met to discuss labour disputes, where generations of families have made Sunday brunch a tradition.

“I was in the kitchen, cooking, washing dishes, cleaning, taking orders — a little bit of everything,” Plentai said of his introduction to the King Street fixture.

His sisters Yvette, Delores and Catherine and brother Milan joined him at the restaurant. Later, his wif

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