Builder and family celebrating 10 years at Clear Bay Cafe

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ On a balmy spring day last week, Barry Moskowitz sipped iced tea and gazed out at lake Thunderbird from the deck of the Clear Bay Cafe. <br/><br/>``This place is different,''

Saturday, May 28th 2005, 11:22 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ On a balmy spring day last week, Barry Moskowitz sipped iced tea and gazed out at lake Thunderbird from the deck of the Clear Bay Cafe.

``This place is different,'' he said. ``It's like a vacation.''

But vacations are brief moments for Moskowitz, an architect, craftsman, homebuilder and restaurateur. He and his wife, Balinda, are completing their 10th year of operating the Clear Bay Cafe, a seasonal business serving boaters, campers and visitors driving out from Norman.

Between building and remodeling houses in Norman and managing Clear Bay Cafe, Moskowitz works seven days a week.

Moskowitz, 58, is from the New York City borough of Brooklyn. He came to Norman at age 17 to attend the University of Oklahoma and never left. He received an architecture degree and chose to build high quality homes. ``I opened my own mill shop so we could make everything,'' he said.

Ten years ago a doctor told him to hang up his tools and find another livelihood. Serious back problems had made it difficult for Moskowitz to endure the rigors of construction work, or even walk.

``The doctor said no more woodworking,'' he said.

His chosen therapy turned out to be more work.

``Balinda noticed Clear Bay Cafe was for sale,'' Moskowitz said ``It was just a burger hut, but we'd designed and built restaurants in town.'' He said he and a buddy spent a winter rebuilding the cafe. ``We tore it completely apart. The state people were worried we couldn't put it back together.''

The cafe was expanded and a new kitchen installed. Expansive windows went in and a two-level deck went up outside. A jetty was built for arriving boaters. ``When we started, we served 50 to 75 customers a night,'' Moskowitz said. ``Now it's 300 to 500 a day.'' The cafe seats 100 inside, 300 outside. Plentiful seating means patrons can enjoy a leisurely evening.

Three Moskowitz children grew up working at Clear Bay Cafe. Reagan, a University of Oklahoma graduate, now teaches school in Moore. Another daughter, Hannah, majors in education at OU. Nolan, an OU freshman this fall, will operate the cafe during the summer season.

Moskowitz said his wife, a registered nurse, worked side by side with him to make the cafe a success. ``This was all Balinda's idea. When we started, it was just me and her. She still takes care of the books.''

The fare at Clear Bay Cafe is still simple, but higher quality: Hand-cut prime beefsteak, catfish filets, prime rib, smoked chicken and half-pound gourmet hamburgers. Moskowitz calls his steak sandwich with grilled onions and mushrooms ``the world's best.'' The restaurant has a full bar and live music on summer evenings.

``We do a lot of parties,'' Moskowitz said. ``Boaters come by for lunch or dinner, but the mainstay of our business comes in off the highway. They drive through the park to sit out by the water, hear soft music, have dinner and enjoy the evening. Basically, this is just a good time.''

Moskowitz said he has had ``very few problems'' with patrons in 10 years of operating Clear Bay Cafe. ``The people out here are very nice. They feel like they're out of town, but Norman is only 12 miles away.''

He said he looks forward to Nolan running the cafe this summer. ``I'll just get to hang out, cook once in awhile and fish,'' he said. ``It's what I do.''