Home Cookin' Just Minutes Away

By: Stefi Olney

Posted: 4/12/07

Spring Arbor has a down-home restaurant that many students have heard rumors about yet have never been there. Located only two miles from campus, the Wooden Spoon is a great way to get off campus and enjoy an inexpensive home-style meal.

Upon entrance into this facility, one cannot help but notice the large groups of Spring Arbor residents sharing their morning meals. The Wooden Spoon is known for its omelets and soups and prides itself on its community atmosphere. Many locals frequent this unique dining facility, where the walls are covered with wooden spoons and a large collection of license plates from all over the world. Many of these "regulars" line the ledge that separates the dining area from the kitchen.

"If anything's going on in Spring Arbor, the Wooden Spoon knows about it," said Steve Tolles, "We are a community. People feel like it's home here."

Bev Nemecek, a School of Business professor at SAU, often holds class sessions at the Wooden Spoon. She has been dining there for more than 20 years.

"The Wooden Spoon is a local family business serving homemade food in a cozy environment," said Nemecek. "I love the fact that it's not a corporate chain restaurant. The owners are very active in the community and very warm people. I love talking with them about various things. I feel like I'm visiting friends when I go there. They know me by name and come by to talk when they have time."

The Wooden Spoon can be found on 5781 King Road (on the corner of Sandstone and King roads, one block off of M60) and serves only Breakfast and Lunch. It operates from 6 a.m. to noon Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to noon Sunday. The Wooden Spoon does not take credit or debit cards, so bring cash and experience an atmospheric restaurant that is literally minutes from campus.