A big hope for #MeetMichigan was social media engagement from businesses we may not otherwise have connected with. So, when Rock River Café (@rockrivercafe) tweeted at us from Chatham, Michigan (population 231) we had work it into our route.

Around 11 a.m. on day six of our trip, we coasted into Chatham. What we found was more than just a café. We found the beauty of entrepreneurism and the essence of #MeetMichigan.

When the Motion Mobile rolled into Chatham we knew we were in for a treat

Lesson #1: You can come home again

Owners Pat Nesberg and John Filus shared their all-too-familiar story of struggling through the U.S.’s economic hardship over the last several years. After living in various southern states, Pat decided to bring her years of restauranting knowledge back to Michigan. She and John opened Rock River Café in May 2011, and never looked back.

Lesson #2: Invest in history

One might ask, “why Chatham,” (we certainly did). Situated at the corner of Rock River Road and Munising Street (not too far from Slapneck Road, seriously) Pat and John purchased an historic hotel building that had nearly fallen beyond repair. Previous owners had tried to restore the “money pit” but had not succeeded. You can sense a great deal of pride in the owners for giving life to an important piece of their community’s history.

Lesson #3: Believe in your product

Don’t let the presentation of their menu fool you – the four, stapled 8.5” x 11” pieces of paper are chocked full of locally sourced options, with an array of vegan and vegetarian meals – good for both the heart and the soul.

@RockRiverCafe had recommended (via Twitter) that we try Swamp Thing, their most popular vegan dish. I don’t think we’ll ever look at vegan the same way. The wonderfully seasoned grilled potatoes held together the spinach, quinoa, fresh garlic and vegetables perfectly.  Served with a side of Lake Superior Wild Sourdough and homemade blackberry preserves, this breakfast blew our minds (and our tastebuds).

We spoke with the chef’s after our meal, and the pride everyone has in the food they prepare is outstanding. You can taste their passion and knowledge in every bite, and it leaves you begging for more.

Swamp Thing, RRC's vegan breakfast specialty

A sample of Pannukakku, a Finnish, gingerbread pancake

Lesson #4: You can’t beat quality

As the #MeetMichigan team enjoyed their breakfast, questions began to form about the viability of Rock River Café in it’s current location. Do they have enough patrons in Chatham to support their business? Would local residents be willing to purchase items from the moderately priced menu? How would a town of increasingly older generations feel about this “new-age” food?

Luckily, we met Linda – who classifies herself in the 60+ age demographic. Linda had many positive things to say about Rock River Café. She explained that locals who have eaten at Rock River Café really appreciate the investment Pat and John have made, as well as the quality of their food. She said, she and her husband don’t mind paying a little more because the freshness of the food makes them feel better about eating it.

Linda also went on to tell us that even though the Rock River Café uses the same tables, plates and silverware as the previous establishment, everything feels cleaner and healthier because of the business Pat and John have built.

Lesson #5: You’re never too small for social media

Another essential element to Rock River’s sustainability is the investment Pat is making in social media. A large number of their customers are tourists visiting larger, nearby towns like Munising. Without her dedication to Rock River’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, Pat doesn’t believe the restaurant would be doing as well. Truth of the matter is, without Their twitter account, we wouldn’t have been eating there.

Lesson #6: Where everybody knows your handle

There a handful of places that we’ve hated saying goodbye to. Oddly enough, most of them involve food, and Rock River Café was one of them. There’s something about eating at a locally sourced, vegan-inspired café in a town of 231 people that makes you feel like you’re a part of something bigger.

From the moment we walked through the door, we felt like a regular. Pat may not have known our names, but she knew our Twitter handles. It was like we’d eaten there every day since they opened just seven weeks ago. It’s the kind of warmth you wouldn’t expect from a relationship built through social media, but it’s one of the friendliest places we’ve visited to date.

What’s more, is that they greet everyone this way: regulars, tourists and social media friends alike. You never have to worry about eating alone – customers were engaged in conversation with one another and John visited nearly every table in the room.

There’s really nothing we didn’t love about Rock River Café. And honestly, these are the kind of places (and people) that we believe make Michigan a beautiful place to live, visit and dine. Thanks Pat and John for reminding us what #MeetMichigan is really all about. You truly rock.

Julie, Pat, Aha, John and Anna (don't forget Andrew photo bombing from the kitchen)

Check out Upper Peninsula’s Second Wave for a feature on Rock River Cafe. And be sure to follow Rock River Café on Twitter and like them on Facebook.