Holland Sentinel • July 21, 2007

Fennville eateries in national spotlight

Restaurants featured in travel section of the Chicago Tribune by Stephen Kloosterman

Fennville may not strike most minds as a tourist mecca, but on july it made front page of the Chicago Tribune’s travel section with an article about its local restaurants.
“No kidding? How’d we manage that?” were the first words out of the mouth of Ganges Township’s Bill Baty when he saw the paper. “There must be real good people here,” he added. “It’s a) good place to grow up.”

“Saugatuck side dish: A taste of Fennville” began on the travel section’s front page of the Tribune (right below an article about India) and featured descriptions and photos of Journeyman Café, Su Casa and What-Not-Inn.

“They got the clock in,” joked Fennville’s Rick Heald, pointing at a photo of a downtown clock on the page. “That’s about all there is to see in Fennville.”

Journeyman Café owner Matthew Millar said that the Tribune restaurant critic Bill Vettel interviewed him over the phone one day.

“Unbeknownst to us, he had eaten here a few times,” Millar said.

Millar said that he and his wife, Amy Cookm had started the restaurant in Fennville to cook food his own way but that that he “had always hoped to get the attention from someone further afield.”

“There’s so many people trying to turn Fennville into a real nice place-not that it isn’t already-but to see a little more happen here.”he said. “It’s nice to see somebody recognize that.” “It’s really exciting ,” said Mary McCraken, owner of Steven’s Hotel Bar and Grill. “The good word about Fennville is finally getting out.” “It’s just exciting to see that more and more people are coming here to the restaurants,” said David Drees, owner of the Kingsley House Bed and Breakfast. “In the past I have had people who have come hre just for the dining.” “Also, as a bed and breakfast, it’s great to have restaurants open around here year round.” Drees added.