Nell's Cafe 1919

Nell's Cafe was located at 438 E. Lake Street, or what is today 442 E. Lake. The restaurant was open 8:00 am to 8:30 pm, and the "lunch garden" was open from 9 to 12 pm. The advertisements are as interesting as the menu, giving us a glimpse of what life was like in Petoskey in 1919. You could rent a cottage, buy some clothes, get your hair cut or shampooed, take a bath, play billiards and get your picture taken. The taxi service was available "day and night" and one of the Doctors Reycraft (brothers) was always in the office. There were fourteen places of worship in town, many of which are still there today. Women owned and operated some businesses, including a hairdresser and women's and children's clothing establishments.

​The breadth of the menu is incredible. It includes a wide variety of main courses and side dishes, with twelve choices of potato. It is such fun to read the menu and decide what to order. To convert the prices into an approximation of today's prices, multiply by 15. 

So, what are you having for lunch?