We are the MRLA Feature: The Cabbage Shed
Owner Name: TJ and Colleen Hudson & Tony and Beth Roethler
Company: The Cabbage Shed
City: Elberta
Year Founded: 1985
Website: cabbageshed.com
MRLA Member Since: 2012
What is your business’ niche/specialty?
We are a waterfront dining restaurant nestled on Betsie Bay in Frankfort Michigan. We pride ourselves on hot, fresh food filled with flavor and the zest of life. We have won awards for our Fish & Chips and our ½ lb Angus Burger. We’ve also been recognized as one of the best places to hear live music in Northern Michigan.
A summer spent at The Cabbage Shed can be described as live music, the sun on your shoulders, a cold drink in your hand and a plate of fresh food surrounded by your friends and family.
Why is the MRLA important to you and your business?
The MRLA provides small business owners like us with information needed to successfully run our business from updates on policies to advocating for us and our employees. MRLA also provides a community of like-minded leaders in our industry to help bounce ideas off of and learn and grow within this ever-evolving industry. The past few years have been a rollercoaster and having a group like the MRLA has been an asset to us.
The Cabbage Shed Highlights
Company: The Cabbage Shed
City: Elberta
Year Founded: 1985
Website: cabbageshed.com
MRLA Member Since: 2012
What is your business’ niche/specialty?
We are a waterfront dining restaurant nestled on Betsie Bay in Frankfort Michigan. We pride ourselves on hot, fresh food filled with flavor and the zest of life. We have won awards for our Fish & Chips and our ½ lb Angus Burger. We’ve also been recognized as one of the best places to hear live music in Northern Michigan.
A summer spent at The Cabbage Shed can be described as live music, the sun on your shoulders, a cold drink in your hand and a plate of fresh food surrounded by your friends and family.
Why is the MRLA important to you and your business?
The MRLA provides small business owners like us with information needed to successfully run our business from updates on policies to advocating for us and our employees. MRLA also provides a community of like-minded leaders in our industry to help bounce ideas off of and learn and grow within this ever-evolving industry. The past few years have been a rollercoaster and having a group like the MRLA has been an asset to us.
The Cabbage Shed Highlights
- Waterfront Dining: There is nothing better than enjoying a meal by the water. Sitting on our waterfront deck you can see the bald eagles fly over, boats coming and going, a seaplane land and take off, kayakers, fisherman, and animals of all kind. We offer live music on the weekends on our waterfront patio as well. Northern Michigan beauty can be found all around you here.
- Live Music: Since 1985, music has been a pillar here at The Cabbage Shed. The old wooden planks have soaked in the songs and tales from musicians all over the world. Every Thursday night Open Mic welcomes all talents and ages to our stage. Often, by the end of the night the stage will be filled with guitars, harmonicas, bass players, trombones… you name it. Music is a beautiful art and becomes better when shared together.
- 99 Irish Whiskey’s on the Wall: Over the past six years, co-owner Tony Roethler has sought out Irish Whiskeys to place “on the wall” here at The Cabbage Shed in honor of his father and his brother. The Cabbage Shed Features Irish Whiskey’s that cannot be found in most Michigan establishments. A group of local "Shedheads" has also helped to create an “Irish Whiskey Club” where guests are invited to take a list and try to drink all 99 whiskeys. They will have their name placed on a plaque behind the bar when they complete the list. Those that have completed it have enjoyed learning about the whiskeys and seeing how each one is crafted so differently. There are fathers and sons, and also a couple that completed the list.
- Our History and Rustic Nature: The number one question asked… Why are we called The Cabbage Shed? The restaurant site used to actually house produce and cabbage. The building was filled floor to ceiling with cabbage and produce that would be shipped by boat across Lake Michigan or on the Ann Arbor Railroad that ran right in front of building. When you walk into The Cabbage Shed the old wood, the signs that fill the walls, everything has a history of our area and the people and families that live here.
- Family Friendly: One of our favorite sounds is that of families coming together to share a meal. The Cabbage Shed is a place to bring the whole family and soak up the beauty of Northern Michigan. Whether it’s a birthday, an anniversary or just a Thursday night that you can spend together, we love the laughter, the hugs and the times that can be spent together as a family enjoying a meal here.
