A popular lakeside restaurant is changing hands, and changing Dans.
Dockside Dan’s, which sits on the shores of Round Lake in Sister Lakes, has been sold. Two of the new owners, however, will not have to travel far to get to their new restaurant – they live about 100 feet away above their other business, Driftwood Summer Shop.
Former Dockside Dan’s owner Dan Scheid announced in a Facebook post last week that he had sold the restaurant to Dan LaFond, Alli LaFond and Heather VanAntwerp in what he called “the worst kept secret in the history of Sister Lakes secrets.”
“I’d like to thank all of our neighbors & friends for the great experience we have had owning Dockside Dan’s,” said Scheid, in the post. “In our seven seasons we have met and become friends with so many great people. I’ve always said we are in the business of making memories and you guys sure have left me with a bunch of great ones. It’s somewhat bittersweet walking away, but there are a few more things I need to accomplish. … So as I wander off into another beautiful Sister Lakes sunset, I hope to see you on the bar stool side of the DSD bar, spinning yarns and telling stories.”
The LaFonds will continue to operate Driftwood Summer Shop while VanAntwerp – Alli’s sister – takes over operations of Dockside Dan’s. VanAntwerp has 16 years of experience in the bar and restaurant industry, and was an essential part of the decision to purchase.
“I said to my wife ‘we can only do this if Heather wants to be a partner,” Dan LaFond said. “Driftwood Summer Shop is a seven-day-a-week job, and the two of us would not be able to handle – with our sanity – both businesses, especially in the summertime.
For VanAntwerp, who left the restaurant industry for a job at Whirlpool several years ago, her passion for the service industry and the prospect of working with family was what brought her back.
“Customer service is what I love to do,” VanAntwerp said. “Being able to go into business with my sister and brother-in-law … what a dream. Then, in this specific location with the lake, you really can’t beat it. I feel like it’s a perfect storm of a recipe for success.”
All three new owners are native to Berrien County, and said keeping Dockside Dan’s the same is important to them.
“You can’t really change this place,” Dan LaFond said. “We don’t want to change this place, just like we didn’t want to change Driftwood.”
In addition to the convenience of owning the property next door, the new owners saw an opportunity for a year-round business with a loyal customer base and a loyal group of employees, who all stayed through the ownership change.
“The only restaurant, to our knowledge, that’s open Thursday to Monday every week 12 months out of the year is Dockside Dan’s,” Dan LaFond said. “We know this because we’re right next door. In the fall, we hear the motorcycles. In the winter, we hear the snowmobiles. Even in the dead of January … people are still showing up every day. So, a priority of ours is to stay faithful to that local clientele, and those who are still coming up 12 months out of the year, because that’s what keeps this place going.”
The restaurant’s first day open was Friday, July 8 and ownership said they received a warm welcome.
“We appreciate everyone who came out and visited with us,” said the new owners, in a Facebook post. “Please come and introduce yourself if you see us in the restaurant, we are eager to meet each of you.”
By Ryan Yuenger
ryany@wsjm.com
