Story and photos by Stewart A. McFerran
Editor’s note: This story is updated from the original version published in early February 2021.
When the Kaleva Tavern opened in the 1930s, patrons leaving the bar could walk across the street to the train station, board a passenger train and ride home. The train station is still there, and Kaleva is still at the center of a transportation hub.
The headquarters of the Benzie Manistee Snowbirds, a snowmobilers’ club, is a couple of snowball throws from the “K.T.” and the club parks its trail-grooming machines at the trailhead in Kaleva. Andy Robak, owner of Kaleva Tavern, has a big parking lot where his patrons unload their snow machines.
The Snowbirds have two volunteer groomers. They both start early, after a snowfall. One heads south and the other goes north to groom the trails. Snowmobilers starting from Kaleva have a smooth ride on freshly groomed trails and have a choice of direction.
There is no charge for parking at the Kaleva Tavern, and one day a week there is a big spread for those who decide to step inside.
“Saturdays, we run a snowmobiler buffet,” Robak began. “We set up a big buffet at the other end of the bar … It’s got everything on it: ham, turkey, roast beef, sloppy joes, soup, chile, salads – just a lot of food.
“You can go through it in just minutes.”
Robak, who has owned the tavern with his wife LeAnne for 25 years, said their establishment is known for its Friday night fish fry.
“When I bought the bar, it was big; it’s still big,” he explained, adding that pizzas are another favorite.
“I sell just a ton of pizzas,” he said.
With take-out the norm these days, pizza boxes are flying out the front door of the Kaleva Tavern. Still, Andy had to close the buffet and cut staff when the pandemic caused restaurants to go to carryout only. (Dining establishments have reopened with reduced seating capacity as of February 2021.)
“I think they’re (staff) the ones that have taken it hardest, because I have to cut back to stay alive,” he said. “In the peak of the winter and the peak of the summer, I probably have about 14 … But it’s pretty much a regular staff of eight or nine that work here year ’round.”
Still, Andy says his customers supported him with take-out orders and he is grateful. The kitchen can be run with a small crew. Andy doles out hours to his few remaining employees. He said that when he opens the tavern fully his biggest fear is that he will not be able to get the staff back.
“We open at 11 for lunch and we close at 8 every day – except for Fridays and Saturdays, we close at nine.”
In a recent post on its Facebook page, the Kaleva Tavern invited snowmobilers and others to dine on the tavern’s outdoor patio, located on the side of the building.
If you stop at the Kaleva Tavern for a pizza and have some extra time, walk across the street and take a look at the train station. It’s a beauty! Engine number three still sits on a short section of tracks in front of the station.
Kaleva Tavern is located at 9289 North Walta Street, just north of Wuoski Avenue. For more information, call the tavern at (231) 362-3161.
