You’ll have to excuse Amy Bleich Heugel if her recent exuberance spills into your life. As owner and operator of the iconic LakeHouse Restaurant & Bar at the corner of Lakeshore Drive and Hilltop road in St. Joseph it has been “an insane year,” but…not only have they survived, they’re gearing up for their 7th Year Anniversary celebration on May 20th.
Amy calls her upcoming celebration, “Seven Years of Sunsets.” Here’s what she has to say about it all: “Southwest Michigan residents are almost certainly familiar with The LakeHouse Restaurant & Bar at the corner of Lakeshore Drive & Hilltop Road in St. Joseph. However, not everyone is aware of the storied history of the stately building adjacent to the Holiday Inn Express & Suites.”
She explains, “A lot of people don’t know this, but our building was built in 1892 as a family residence. It first belonged to the Smith family, and later was known as the Colby Mansion.”
Amy’s father, Attorney Donald Bleich, purchased the home in 1993 then leased it to two restaurant ventures: the Mansion Grille from 1993 to 2007, and El Cozumel from 2008 to 2014. In the late 1990s, Mr. Bleich was approached about building a hotel on the land adjacent to the home and in 2000, the Holiday Inn Express opened. That land had gone through several incarnations in the 1900s, including a produce stand and a used car lot called Colby Motors.
Soon, the Bleich family saw the opportunity to create a more cohesive experience. As Amy puts it, “After hearing so much feedback from hotel guests about the kind of restaurant they’d love to see at that location, I had the idea to transform the restaurant into what it is today.”
The result is the popular LakeHouse Restaurant & Bar, known affectionately to locals as simply “The LakeHouse.” They opened in 2014, and have been going strong ever since. While the casual family dining restaurant was originally designed to cater to hotel guests, it’s earned tremendous loyalty from locals, who appreciate the amazing sunset views just across the street, the laid-back, friendly vibe, consistent and convenient hours, bright and tasteful beach-cottage decor, live music, and, naturally, the dining experience.
Amy says, “We pride ourselves on serving high-quality food with as much local sourcing as possible, plus a diverse beer and wine menu that includes plenty of Michigan-made options.”
Needless to say, running a restaurant in a 120+ year old home has its challenges, but Amy will tell you, “It’s been a labor of love to keep using this old home to operate a restaurant – that’s not what it was built for, so it hasn’t been easy.” She adds, “We’ve had to do a lot of repairs over the years, but we’ve worked hard to keep the character and authenticity intact.”
Now, Amy and her team are planning their celebratory event, “Seven Years Of Sunsets,” to commemorate the history of The LakeHouse, and to look towards the future. The event kicks off on the LakeHouse patio on Thursday, May 20th at 5:00pm with live music from Jack Adams, then The 80s/90s band from 7:30 to 10:30. Lawn games and a special cocktail menu will round out the celebration.
While COVID-19 restrictions have put a damper on some of The LakeHouse’s larger events, like the regular community give-backs, local organizations, and weddings they once regularly hosted, Amy is optimistic about the future, saying, “In the past year we’ve really streamlined our menu, which has made it much more manageable when trying to operate a restaurant out of an old home,” and concludes, “The vibe, the food, and the view are just as magical as ever, so people keep returning.”
Congratulations on seven magical years for Amy Bleich Heugel and her team at The LakeHouse Restaurant & Bar, located at 3029 Lakeshore Drive in St. Joseph.
