A Harbor Country diner that earned the distinction of being “Michigan’s Best Restaurant on Yelp” as published in USA Today, will be missing in action this summer.
Nani’s Cafe & Beach Shop, the popular seasonal Union Pier diner that has been on many traveler’s visit list will not be opening this season and the future of the place is also in limbo.
The cafe, which originally opened in the summer of 2012 at 16117 Red Arrow Highway in Union Pier, was known for its breakfast service, hot dogs, draft root beer, ice cream and more.
The 7-year old diner and beach shop, owned and operated by Nessa Calabrese and Reyna Larson, shared the news on their Facebook fan page last week, saying:
To all of our dear friends and loyal customers,
We would like to wish you a happy spring and take a moment to let you all know that due to extenuating circumstances, we will likely not be opening Nani’s this season. Family obligations, life circumstances, and health issues have made it difficult to resume business as usual with the same level of service and satisfaction that our loyal customers have come to expect. We are enormously grateful and humbled by the kindness, generosity, and loyalty that has been extended to our Nani’s Family over the years. We never imagined that this journey would be so rewarding and successful. We are considering all options on the go forward and look forward to staying in touch. This Facebook page will remain active in the event of updates, but we encourage you to direct any questions and inquiries to naniscafeinfo@gmail.com.
We thank you again for all your support over the years. It means the world to us.
Sincerely, and with Love
Nessa and Reyna
The menu was laden with local favorites from their patented Bacon Muffin with Maple Glaze, to their French Press Coffee, Shrimp Rolls, Old Fashioned Root Beer Floats, Fresh Baked Pastries and La Colombe Coffee.
In the fall of 2016, USA Today helped put them on the map by tagging the diner as Michigan’s Best Restaurant on Yelp in a pictorial composite of the “best restaurant on Yelp” in all 50 states.
That splash with notoriety undoubtedly stemmed from the passion for perfection that the two brought to the cafe. Reyna Larson had served as personal chef for A-list celebrities Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith during a five-year run on the West Coast in Los Angeles before returning to her Midwest roots and joining Calabrese in Union Pier.
For now, at least, the party’s over…and the cafe is in limbo until they either return to service some day or end the venture at some point. Stay tuned.
