BANGOR TWP, MI – A Bay County family is united and ready to face anything together, including purchasing a long-standing restaurant while one of them battles cancer.
Mike and Rhianna Meier, the new owners of the Crossroads Restaurant, 3555 Old Kawkawlin Road, have most of their family all-in on the new-to-them business as Mike Meier undergoes treatment for cancer.
The restaurant means a lot to the Meier family, and the opportunity for them to take it over fell perfectly into place, Rhianna Meier said.
In the 1980s, Mike Meier’s mother, Cherie Lebron, worked at Crossroads and became friends with the owner at the time.
Over the years, the restaurant changed hands a few times, but because of the family ties, the Meiers were eager to acquire it.
Mike Meier said Crossroads opened in the late 1950s and has always been a breakfast-forward spot.
The Meiers reopened the restaurant on Nov. 14 after it had been closed for about a year.
While Crossroads is known for breakfast, the Meiers launched a lunch menu as well.
“I feel like they love the burgers, they look beautiful,” Rhianna Meier said. “We’re trying to bring different people in.”
The favorites on the menu so far include the Crossroads Big Breakfast, skillets and omelets. The club sandwiches and the burgers are also popular.
Mike Meier and his daughter Leah Smith are the main cooks and the rest of the staff are also family members, Rhianna Meier said.
Rhianna Meier has worked in the restaurant industry for several years in different roles, she said.
Even though Crossroads doesn’t serve alcohol, she plans to use her knowledge as a bartender to bring specialty coffees and dirty sodas to their customers.
Eventually, Rhianna Meier said they hope to offer a to-go menu featuring items like bagels and breakfast sandwiches so people can call to order and quickly pick up their food and coffee.
“We love the community and we do want to give back,” Rhianna Meier said.
As Crossroads gets more established under their ownership, Rhianna Meier said they want the community to know how dedicated they are to offering great homemade food in a homey atmosphere, even through Mike Meier’s cancer journey.
Rhianna Meier said he recently started chemotherapy to fight stage 4 colon cancer.
“We opened this place with him having stage 4 cancer and I think that’s pretty amazing,” Rhianna Meier said. “He’s going to be relentless, you know, he’s gonna want to be involved still and do what he can.”
Rhianna and Mike Meier have eight children total, six together, so having a family-friendly restaurant is very important to them.
They even have a kids’ wall in the restaurant where they showcase art made by their youngest customers.
“We try to make sure, like, anybody, everybody feels comfortable here, especially little kids because I have a lot,” Rhianna Meier said. “I know what it’s like when you take little kids out to eat.”
Crossroads Restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven days a week. For more information, follow the restaurant’s Facebook page here.
