When Mark and Bonnie Hanson began remodeling their early 1800s building to turn it into an eatery in 2006, they never imagined that it would take three years to get the job done.
By the time they finished in 2009,
Scotts Corner Cafe opened -- right smack in the middle of the recession that brought small businesses to their knees -- and slammed many of their doors shut -- all over the U.S.
"We were scared," Bonnie Hanson says. "But there was no turning back by then."
Her fears were short-lived. The shop that opened with a cappuccino, latte and pastry menu soon was offering full breakfasts and lunches as hungry weekend guests jammed the place to capacity. During the past year, the Hansons have added an assistant short order cook, a dishwasher and a server, bringing the employee total to seven.
"We’re just a little country place," Hanson says. "But business was good right away. People hear about us and they come in from all over the area: Vicksburg, Schoolcraft, East Leroy, Portage, Kalamazoo."
Breakfast pizzas made to order are a big seller -- a naan bread delight topped with anything the customer desires. Most go for the sausage gravy, according to Hanson.
"We add egg or sausage -- whatever they want," she says. "But we’re known for our homemade sausage gravy so most of them want that on their pizzas."
Pulled pork sandwiches on pretzel dough buns are a favorite with the lunch crowd, and Hanson is thankful for the steady stream of clientele that orders them.
"We just keep growing," she says. "That’s what I care about."
Writer: Kelle Barr, Second Wave
Source: Bonnie Hanson, co-owner, Scotts Corner Cafe
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