There’s a month-long celebration at Roast & Toast Coffee & Café beginning May 1, and it’s a big one! What’s all the fuss, you may wonder? Mary and Bob Keedy, owners of Roast & Toast are celebrating their 25th year in business, which opened in downtown Petoskey in 1993.
Why did the Keedys, who were living in Georgia, choose northern Michigan? “We were committed to specialty coffee—specifically roasting our own—and decided to start our own business,” Mary says. “We had maps spread out all over the kitchen table. We looked at Petoskey and thought it was way the heck up there. But, after looking into the schools and visiting the space, we decided we would just go for it.”
With their savings and all their own resources, Bob and Mary moved their young family to the area and started one of only two roasters in northern Michigan. Bob had trained in New York City and for the next 15 years honed his craft at Roast & Toast, developing the philosophy that “Great Coffee Doesn’t Just Happen.” Chuckie Grooters, now head roaster at the café, apprenticed under Bob and has been roasting since 2007.
“Using carefully selected beans from around the world, we roast according to bean profile, create blends, and conduct small batch techniques to maintain a selection of freshly roasted varieties,” Bob says. “We never sell coffee more than two weeks old. Any coffee inventory roasted over two weeks prior is donated to Brother Dan’s Food Pantry in Petoskey.”
In addition to house-roasted coffee, Roast & Toast prides itself on quality food offerings. From baked goods to salad dressings, hand-cut sandwich meats to breads—everything is made in-house using in-season ingredients from local purveyors whenever possible. To name a few—Bill’s Farm Market supplies fresh produce, Alden Mill House creates custom spice blends, Great Lakes Potato Chips garnish sandwich offerings, Maple Moon Sugarbush and Winery sweetens morning pancakes with maple syrup, Plath’s Meat’s bacon is found on sandwiches and breakfast favorites, and Northwoods Soda & Syrup supplies specialty coffee drink flavors and a variety of sodas. Patrons can dine in, take out or have events catered.
In 2001, Roast & Toast expanded to include the Burns Professional Building location (now McLaren Medical Office Building). “We are very grateful to the medical and hospital community for their continued support. And, as the hospital grows, we are looking forward to doing the same with them,” Mary says.
Part of the success of Roast & Toast’s 25-year milestone is due to its long-standing, dedicated staff and their community partnerships. Ben Walker, general manager and partner, started with the company in 2001 after he frequented the café so often, the Keedys offered him a job. “Roast & Toast was my introduction to the local community. I wanted to move to Alaska, but after starting work here, I fell in love with Petoskey.”
Throughout the years, the Keedys have supported the community. Proceeds from the sale of their burlap coffee bags, for example, support Manna Food Project. In conjunction with Emmet County Recycling, all coffee grounds are recycled into the food scrap program, avoiding the landfill. Through the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Community Foundation, they support The Café Society, a fund created by artist William Hosner to provide baristas and coffee employees with college scholarship opportunities.
Now, 25 years later, the Keedys couldn’t imagine living or operating a business anywhere but in Petoskey. “We are thankful for our business, for life, for kids, for people. We can’t wait to see what the next 25 years will bring,” Mary says.
The anniversary kick-off celebration begins Tuesday, May 1, with $2.50 Latté Day. Weekly drawings will be held throughout the month. Curbside Cappuccino, where discounted drinks will be made outside, and Throwback Thursdays, with 90’s music and old menu offerings, are part of the festivities. Roaster Tours will be offered on May 4 and May 18 at 10 a.m. to give guests an inside look at the art of roasting.
Interested in learning more about coffee from brewing differences to bean origins? Make a reservation for the Coffee Tasting event on May 11; it’s only $15 and includes a complimentary coffee mug.
For more information about month-long happenings at Roast & Toast, visit www.roastandtoast.com or call 231.347.7767.
Roast & Toast is located on Lake Street downtown Petoskey and in the McLaren Medical Office Building adjacent to the hospital. Roast & Toast is part of the Wineguys Restaurant Group collection, with sister restaurants City Park Grill and Palette Bistro, also in downtown Petoskey.
MAY Events at Roast & Toast
- 25th ANNIVERSARY KICK-OFF DAY
$2.50 TUESDAY
$2.50 Latte Day
Enter to win weekly drawings - Curbside Cappuccino
Discounted Drinks Made Outside
9&10 News Mornings on the road - THROWBACK THURSDAY
90’s Music All Day
Old Menu Item Features - ROASTER TOUR
Tour facility and learn about the craft of roasting, 10 a.m. - CINCO DE MAYO DAY
Mayan Boot-to-the-head Coffee $3 - DRAWING DAY
25th Anniversary Mugs and Pound of Coffee - 25% DAY
25% Off Lunch from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. - TUESDAY SOUP DAY
$2.50 Soup - EATING FOR OTHERS – ALL DAY
10% off all proceeds at the downtown and McLaren Medical Office Building locations donated to The Café Society through Petoskey-Harbor Springs Community Foundation, an organization the provides scholarship college opportunities to baristas and coffee employees. - THROWBACK THURSDAY
90’s Music All Day
Old Menu Item Features - COFFEE TASTING
French-press vs. brewed. Varietal vs. blend. Coop vs. estate. Light vs. dark. $15/person includes coffee tastings and complimentary coffee mug - NITRO COFFEE DAY
The Guinness of Coffee for $2.50
ARTIST’S DAY
Portraits/caricatures by artist Joel Stoppel; 11 a.m.–2 p.m. - DRAWING DAY
$25 Gift Certificate - 25% DAY
25% Off Lunch from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. - $2.50 TUESDAY
¼-lb Coffee for $2.50 - DOUBLE PUNCH DAY
Pick up a frequent coffee card, and receive two punches - THROWBACK THURSDAY
90’s Music All Day
Old Menu Item Features - ROASTER TOUR
Tour facility and learn about the craft of roasting 10 a.m.
PETOSKEY RESTAURANT WEEK BEGINS - Curbside Cappuccino
Discounted Drinks Made Outside - DRAWING DAY
Gift certificate for the 25th Anniversary Three-course Dinner on 5/25 - 25% DAY
25% Off Lunch from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. - $2.50 TUESDAY
Tuesday Ham and Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich - DOUBLE PUNCH DAY
Pick up a frequent coffee card, and receive two punches
EATING FOR OTHERS CHECK PRESENTATION
Presentation of donations earned through Eating for Others dining events at Roast & Toast, City Park Grill, and Palette Bistro with local charities and Petoskey Chamber of Commerce representatives - THROWBACK THURSDAY
90’s Music All Day
Old Menu Item Features
three-course pairing dinner
Specialty menu paired with the perfect Roast & Toast coffees; $25/person; reservations required - DRAWING DAY
Winner will receive a Roast & Toast t-shirt and mug