Joanne Williams
Editor

(Photo by Joanne Williams/TCJ – The simple and the freshest is best. That’s what Mr. M’s of Eaton Rapids has found for almost 30 years.)

 

How does a small, family-run restaurant survive these days?

Yes, the odds are stacked against them. The National Restaurant Association says the failure rate is about 30%, with 17% closing in their first year.

In the only Eaton Rapids in the world, Mr. M’s Pizza and Grinders has been defying the odds for 30 years. In those years, the restaurant has had two locations and two owners.

Nestled in at  101 W. Knight St., the unassuming shop has some noteworthy accomplishments to its name.

The name came with the first owner, Jon Murton, in 1995. For the past 11 years, the Robinson family, Jerry and Nelly, and their children, have owned and operated the restaurant, with the help of a small staff of employees.

Nelly said when her husband heard his favorite pizza place was up for sale, he did not want to lose his favorite pizza, so the family invested in what would become their contributions to and benefits from the community.

“We are so thankful to God, and to the community…we thank them for supporting local,” Nelly said. She spoke from one of the handful of blue booths which rest along a wall full of sports, science and theatre sponsorship photos.

Nelly said customers often come in and point out their team photos to their children.

Like many restaurants, since COVID-19, dine ins are rarer than take outs and deliveries.

That is another contribution from Mr. M’s – free delivery, which has been in place since COVID-19.

“We choose to keep it because it has been a staple to the community,” Nelly said. Also being kept are recipes and traditions that include homemade dough and sauces. “It is as fresh as it can be,” she said of the menu. She loves a slogan that has followed the shop all these years, “We are not fast food – we are quality food served quickly.”

There is one sponsorship that has a special place in the Robinson family’s heart: helping Eaton Rapids Middle School students attend NASA Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.

Nelly said Mr. M’s has been sponsoring the trips since before they bought the establishment, for almost 15 years. This will be the 31st year that the middle school has participated in this unique opportunity.

“We are the longest attending school outside of Alabama,” said Eaton Rapids Middle School Teacher Erica McNabb. She said almost 700 students have attended since Eaton Rapids started going to camp in 1991. The camp itself started in 1986 at NASA’s U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. McNabb, who has been at the middle school for 10 years, is supervising the effort to send 16 students there. Before McNabb started working with the program, retired teacher Judy Sharpe was the program lead.

Mr. M’s is happy to continue its support of the students. The restaurant has also announced a partnership with DoughNation Bakery and will be selling its natural breads at its Eaton Rapids shop.

For information, contact Mr. M’s at 517-663-4346. Hours are Monday through Thursday and Saturday, 4 to 8 p.m. and Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.