Milo Miller: Success and blessings over the years
Amish Door founder Milo Miller and wife Kathryn watched the growth over more than 40 years, and he is now passing down the business to his children. The Millers also have been missionaries to Mexico for more than 50 years.
If you ask people what they like most about the Amish Door restaurant, they’ll probably say something like the homemade mashed potatoes, rhubarb crumb pie and broasted chicken dinner — and the family atmosphere with world-class service. Over the years the business has grown to include the restaurant, the Gallery Gift Shop, the Bakery, the Banquet Center, the Coffee Corner and the Inn at Amish Door.
Founder Milo Miller has shepherded this growth over more than 40 years, and he is now passing down the successful business to his children.
“The Lord has blessed me in more ways than I could ever dream,” Miller said. “I couldn’t have done it without the support of our hundreds of wonderful employees over the years, my wife Kathryn, the rest of my family, and the support of our loyal guests, suppliers and community.”
Miller’s oldest daughter Yvonne and her husband Ryan Torrence will manage the day-to-day operations of the business.
The Millers’ other children include Joseph, Carol and Thom. The couple, who have been married for 64 years, have nine grandchildren with a great-grandchild expected.
“We’re not concerned with the money we’ve made,” Miller said. “It’s the hundreds of lives we’ve been fortunate to touch here. That’s what will help get you into heaven — not all the money in the world.”
The years haven’t been without challenges.
Miller said the ‘80s were tough. “Interest rates were up around 20%, and I wasn’t sure we’d make it. My accountant asked me if I wanted to sell, but I believed God wanted the best for us, so I would not give up,” he said.
In the ‘90s competition grew, and Miller said, “I talked to God about it. And he told me, ‘You don’t have competition — am I not big enough to bless you all?’”
Miller said he can’t say how much he appreciates all the employees who worked for him over the years.
“I can’t tell you how much it means to me to see one of our former employees being successful at other jobs or other companies over the years. I like to think we helped that person to realize their gifts and ways they can make their contribution to God’s community,” Miller said.
One former employee, Miller said, had worked there as a dishwasher and now is an airline pilot.
Miller said one of the most outstanding happenings over the years was when a disabled woman who was a frequent customer of the restaurant told a waitress, “One of these days I’m gonna take care of you.” That woman eventually gave a $320,000 gift to the 80 waitresses.
“Our girls bought a bench in her memory, which stands just outside,” Miller said.
Miller said one of the principles that has guided him through the years was when he heard the quote, “I don’t care how much you know until I know how much you care.”
Education does not have to be only formal, Miller said. One of his favorite books is Steven Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Successful People.”
One of the habits Covey talks about is making decisions with the end in mind. “That’s what I tried to learn to do. I’ve gotten a lot of education over the years just by reading on my own,” Miller said.
For all the success he’s had in business, there’s another endeavor that’s been even more meaningful to Miller. He and his wife have been missionaries to Mexico for more than 50 years.
“This has really been where we’ve come to know God’s purpose for us,” Miller said.
Miller was an elder in the Berlin Christian Fellowship Church for years up until just about five years ago.
Miller and his wife worked with the Mexican nationals, building literally hundreds of churches over the years.
“Even two of our children were born there,” Miller said. “We love the Mexican people and their culture. We have a whole ‘nother world down there.”
Miller said he and his wife will continue to visit Mexico.
In what little spare time he’s had over the years, Miller has enjoyed playing golf and walking in the woods.
The Millers now live in Walnut Hills Independent Living community.
“We are now doing what’s known as trying to grow old gracefully,” he said.
After all Miller and his wife have done over decades, they’ve more than earned that right — although their lives have already been filled with grace.