Photograph: Dennis Shumway (left) with Rebecca & Jim MacQueen.
For the past 18 years, Coach’s Pub & Grill has been the place where Delhi Township has gathered together, watched historic games, and celebrated victories big and small.
Coach’s next chapter will include more of the same small town charm, but now with a new partnership. Jim MacQueen and his wife Rebecca joined Dennis Shumway as owners of the restaurant this past year.
MacQueen and Shumway have been longtime friends, and when Dennis decided to retire, he asked if the MacQueens would be interested in joining the operation. The two thought, “Why not?” MacQueen and his family have lived in Holt for 15 years and are looking forward to building on the legacy Coach’s has already established in the community.
“We have so much to do here,” MacQueen said. “We’re a family-friendly sports pub. At the other sports places in town, you just go and watch games. But we try to keep a lot of different activities going.”
While Coach’s will remain a place for sports fans to gather, the restaurant will also offer activities for the whole family. — board games in the cooler months, and cornhole, volleyball, and other outdoor activities during the warmer months. Plus, this team will continue to serve up Coach’s classic menu, like pot roast, roasted turkey, pizza, calzones, and all-you-can-eat fish fry.
“Everything we do is made from scratch,” MacQueen said. “We try to buy local Michigan products as much as possible. We like to support the people who support us.”
This commitment to community spreads far beyond their food suppliers. The MacQueens also hope to set up a designated area in the restaurant called “Coach’s Corner,” where restaurant-goers can nominate local coaches who have made an impact on their lives. Jim and Rebecca want to fill the walls of this new section with tributes to exceptional local coaches, both past and present.
The restaurant also donates to youth sports leagues in the area, helping to cover registration and equipment costs for young kids who otherwise wouldn’t be able to participate on sports teams.
“We think it’s important that we are good stewards of the community, are involved as much as we can and share our good fortune with others,” MacQueen said.
Since joining the Coach’s team, the MacQueens have worked with Shumway to upgrade the building, replace TVs, rebuild the outside patio area, and more. They are also expanding their online services, including offering online ordering. Now, Delhi Township families can pick up their favorite Coach’s meals on their way home from the office or a sporting event.
“We are hoping to continue bringing new things to keep people excited and active,” MacQueen said. “We are putting a lot of love into this building and we are excited to share that with our customers.”
Coach’s Pub & Grill is at 6201 Bishop Road in Lansing, 517.882.2013, www.coachspubandgrill.com. If you would like to nominate an area coach for Coach’s Corner, please email coachspub@gmail.com.