For 14 Years, Plymouth Twin Brothers Rarely Miss a Perkins Breakfast
For Merlin and Marlin Smart, the Plymouth Perkins has become a second home.
“Usually when we walk in the door, the order gets put down in the kitchen,” said Merlin.
The twin brothers do most things together.
“We have lived together all our life except for five years,” said Marlin.
They started their breakfast obsession with Perkins almost 30 years ago.
“We came in on the weekends and six weeks in the summer when I had vacation time,” said Merlin. “Like six days a week.”
Their passion for Perkins really ramped up once they retired.
Older brother Marlin was a school superintendent. Younger brother Merlin was a elementary principal in South Dakota.
Every day — for the past 14 and half years — the 73-year-old brothers have sat down to order breakfast at the Plymouth Perkins. The only time they missed was during COVID, when restaurants were closed.
“Earlier years we each ordered the Mag 7, which were basically pancakes and eggs and meat, usually we had bacon, and then we went, because we wanted hash browns, we went to the Tremendous 12 and split that,” said Merlin.
Monday through Sunday, they come.
“We like the food,” said Marlin. “We like the service. We like just getting out and seeing people. There’s a fair number of people from this restaurant who work here that we have gotten to know very well,” said Marlin.
Twin brothers Marlin and Merlin Smart sit in a booth at Perkins in Plymouth.
Special Recognition
Perkins management has taken notice of the loyal patrons.
“They don’t miss a beat as far as coming in and if they aren’t going to be here, they let someone know,” said Plymouth Perkins general manager Courtney Braith.
Perkins is sending them to Disney World and to check out a new flagship Perkins restaurant in Orlando.
“I’m so excited for them. So pumped to hear all about it,” said Braith.
Marlin and Merlin are looking forward to the opportunity.
“We are really anxious to see this new concept, to hear about it to experience some of the food, and find out what Perkins is thinking for their future direction,” said Marlin.
Though the brothers admit nothing is better than what they have right here at home in their Plymouth Perkins.
“To be able to experience it together is very meaningful for us because that’s how everything special in our life has always occurred, together.” said Marlin.
The Smart brothers expect to travel to Orlando in mid-March to enjoy their Perkins breakfast there.
