DIXIE Lee restaurant in Ogdensburg has new owner, under renovation

OGDENSBURG — A city restaurant has new owners who are planning to offer grilled fare and salads to complement its traditional fried foods menu.

Dixie Lee Fried Chicken, 432 State St., has been sold to Michael and Pamela M. Thayer of Ogdensburg. The former owner, Moe Dulsrud, will stay on to assist at the restaurant, which closed down Friday for renovations to re-open early next month.

“We’re hoping to have it open by the first of the month,” said manager Brian K. Briggs, 33, who is Mrs. Thayer’s brother and a 17-year veteran of cooking and managing restaurants.

The Thayers will keep the restaurant in the Canadian-based Dixie Lee organization. It has been in Ogdensburg since the 1970s, and Mrs. Thayer said she appreciates what that kind of longevity has come to mean in terms of customer loyalty.

Mrs. Thayer, 29, has worked at Dixie Lee since 2001. She said that keeping Mr. Dulsrud on is a natural thing to do.

The renovations include new flooring, ceilings, lighting and restroom improvements.

There will also be some heart-friendly, cholesterol-watching additions to Dixie Lee’s fried chicken-dominated menu. Mrs. Thayer said there are plans to offer salads and chicken wraps. The restaurant will also offer grilled chicken.