Story and photos by Stewart A. McFerran
I asked Tammy Grant, owner of the Bear Claw Café in Copemish, if I could take her picture.
“Mask on? Or mask off?” she replied.
Knowing that mask mandates do not work in the State of Michigan, I indicated that it was up to her.
She coyly suggested, “Half on? Half off?” but then added, “I like masks.”
Despite large bears all around you, and a big set of bear claws hanging above the counter, you can feel safe in the Bear Claw Café. The place is clean, and Tammy wears her mask.
I’ve ordered both breakfast and lunch here. The coffee is good and the mashed potatoes are the real thing. The turkey with gravy is delicious.
Grant says her homemade ice cream is “made with love.” Customers can buy an ice cream cone or a pint to take home. She uses fresh strawberries, blueberries and raspberries in her fruit-flavored ice cream. She also sells Salty Pistachio and Bear Claw. Of the latter, she says, “I do an actual Bear Claw. It’s a chocolate ice cream (with) pecans and walnuts in it, salty caramel and some fudge in it.”
Geno’s Sports Bar and Grill in Thompsonville is “just down the road” from the Bear Claw Cafe. Geno Allen, of Geno’s, and Grant have had trouble getting help at their restaurants.
“So, over the summer, I helped out,” Grant said. “I volunteered at Geno’s, mostly doing dishes, busing tables, doing their to-go orders, answering the phone – wherever they were shorthanded.”
Over the summer, they were shorthanded almost every day.
“Geno actually came over here and worked (at) my restaurant,” Grant said. “I had no cook. I had to close my dining room. Geno took care of the front, took care of the orders and I cooked.”
With the state’s three-week closing order for indoor dining, which began on Nov. 18 (editor’s note: and extended to Dec. 20), area restaurants are responding in ways that best meet their needs and those of their customers. For the latest ordering information, contact Geno’s at 231-378-2554 and Bear Claw Café at 231-970-1237. Follow Bear Claw Café on Facebook.
Stewart McFerran has visited the Ben and Jerry’s facility in Vermont, among other ice cream facilities. He looks forward to trying homemade Copemish Bear Claw ice cream.
