Crane family & fruit farm in Fennville is planning a 50th anniversary celebration for September 10, and everyone’s invited. The West Michigan Tourist Association filled us in:
There are many locals who will remember when the Crane’s opened a little restaurant in Fennville in 1972. Lue and Bob Crane had been farmers with Bob’s parents on the Crane family & fruit farm outside of Fennville since the early 50’s. Those who knew Lue, knew that she was creative and imaginative and had a bushel of energy. They also knew that Bob was always game for what Lue wanted to do. She was a force of the best kind and she could see that the area needed a champion for the wonderful fruit grown in Allegan county. Crane’s Cider Mill had already been in operation since 1968 and word of wonderful sweet apple cider and those cider donuts had already spread among the locals. The Crane’s had opened the barn to the public to buy any of their own fruit while in season and Lue would make up pretty fruit baskets to order. She had always felt like someone should make really good fruit pies with the apples, cherries, peaches and many other fruits grown here in West Michigan. And everyone knew that Lue Crane made a great pie!
Crane’s Pie Pantry Restaurant opened in September of 1972 in a corner of Bob’s barn. Lue and her friend Sue Stuit had already been attending local auctions and scouring antique shops for farmhouse antiques for the Pie Pantry. When local businesses, friends and neighbors came across local memorabilia or signs or just cool antiques they often called up the Crane’s to see if they wanted the old stuff for the Pie Pantry decor. The collection of interesting and sometimes odd things started to add up.
She tried her hand at making not just a dozen of pies at a time, but a real quantity. She tested all kinds of recipes and the Crane family ate a lot of test pie! Lue worried that no one would come to her restaurant. The Crane’s had little working capital and a young big family to worry about, let alone the fact that by this time, Bob’s father H.B. Crane had passed away and he was farming a 150 acre fruit farm on his own. But Lue’s pies were good. Very Good. And she knew what a lot of good bakers know, and that is you can make pies during the season of different fruits and freeze the pie to be baked at another time. This made Lue’s pies available all year around. She had her pies in a little freezer so customers could take them home to bake themselves. The Crane’s started to notice quite a few out of state cars in their parking lot. Word was spreading and people were coming.
Gradually the Pie Pantry menu expanded to include the iconic Sloppy Joe and Lue’s Chili. Sandwiches, salads and soups were added. There was a 10 cent endless glass of sweet cider that was on the menu until 2000. And the Pie Pantry decor continued to grow.
A lot has happened in the 50 years since Lue Crane wondered “if anyone would come”. Hundreds if not thousands of people have worked at Crane’s Pie Pantry Restaurant since 1972. Crane’s is holding a party for any and all alumni of Bob and Lue’s restaurant on Sept 9th this year. This is a free admission party for alumni and proceeds will go to the Robert and Luetta Crane Scholarship administered by Fennville Educational Foundation. If this is you, Crane’s
invites you and your family to sign up at cranespiepantry.com Go to contact and then to Crane’s Alumni.
If you aren’t an alumni of Crane’s you are invited to attend our Crane’s CiderFest 50th Anniversary Party from noon to 5 on Saturday September 10th. Renowned author Jennifer Clark will hold 2 book readings for kids from her children’s book “Oh, What Do You See In Room 21 C?” at the art installation of the SCA in the Walnut Grove. With 2 bands, food and desserts, ciders and wine, a pie eating contest and hay rides there is something at Ciderfest for
everyone! Come and help Crane’s salute the past 50 years and usher in the next 50!
Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite.com online. $15 for over 12 years old and includes a Crane’s glass with 7 food or beverage tickets. Kids 12 and younger are free. Games are free and food and merchandise is for sale. Go to cranespiepantry.com and then to our events page for more information.
