History of Proud Mary Restaurant
Recy and Frank Tatum spent many days at Fort Washington Marina on their boat. They were always looking for a place to eat, but the small café at the marina frequently was not open. Fort Washington also did not have a full-service restaurant that they enjoyed.
Recy dreamed of owning her own restaurant with large portions of appetizing meals. She learned to cook traditional Southern-styled meals from her mother when she was 8-years-old. She enjoyed cooking and often entertained family and friends. By 12 she was preparing gourmet meals.
The couple often spoke about how the small café at the Marina could be successful with some revamping. When the café was put up for sale, Frank encouraged Recy to follow her childhood dream and they quickly bought the restaurant--making Recy’s dream a reality.
The Tatums opened the Proud Mary Restaurant in April of 1999. Recy is a fan of Tina Turner and the lyric “rolling on the river” came to mind when considering a restaurant name; however, the name Proud Mary proved a perfect fit. Proud Mary’s menu includes recipes Recy collected over the years from childhood, and from her hobby of improving upon a great dish she had tasted during her local and international travels.
In 2007, the restaurant suffered a devastating electrical fire. Luckily no one was hurt or injured and the restaurant was refurbished with a new high-tech ambiance and re-opened on December 2008 under the new management of ATG, Inc.
Proud Mary was the only waterfront restaurant in Fort Washington for many years. It was an instant success then and has become a greater success now with the corporate backing of ATG, Inc. Proud Mary continues to be a favorite locally and in the boating community!