Outskirts Cafe opens after a nationwide search for the right home

When Chris Houlette and Bob Godich opened Outskirts Cafe on the west side of Mt. Pleasant last month, they weren’t just opening a new breakfast and lunch spot focused on quality food—they were opening a cafe with the intention to stay.

Houlette, a former corporate trainer for brands such as Denny’s and Cracker Barrel, and Godich, an award-winning chef in nearly every kitchen he’s led, spent significant time searching for the right place to open their new restaurant together.

At first, they searched across the county, ruling out California, Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Ultimately, Michigan’s beauty, restaurant culture, and housing options attracted them to look within the Great Lakes State.

While living in South Dakota, Houlette sent Godich locations to check out and consider during his statewide tour. Ypsilanti, St. Clair Shores, Holland, Traverse City, the Detroit area—more than 20 locations in Michigan didn’t feel right to the entrepreneurs.

That is, until the team stumbled upon Mt. Pleasant.

Originally they considered the former Malt Shop location near Central Michigan University for their cafe, but shortly discovered it wasn’t the right fit.

Discouraged and on their way out of town, a last-minute glance at a “For Lease” sign on the former Dozer’s building at the M-20 and Lincoln intersection changed things.

“We were heading out of Mt. Pleasant—we had given up—then we saw the ‘For Lease’ sign on this building and made a quick phone call,” Houlette recalls. “And we’re here for 10 years now.”

“We love this location. We have 12,000 cars a day on Remus, 6,000 on Lincoln,” he shares. “The town we moved from only had 12,000 people in the whole town.”

The town Houlette is referring to is where he and Godich ran The Original Spearfish Breakfast House together. It was named South Dakota’s Restaurant of the Year in 2024 through Business Rate. At Spearfish, they also specialized in breakfast and lunch.

Most of their former cafe menu they brought over with them to Outskirts, including their signature breakfast burrito with chorizo, turkey bacon omelette (Houlette’s favorite on the menu), crab cake benedict with Maryland blue crab, sweet cream pancakes (Houlette says they smell like pastry items right out of the oven), plus breakfast potatoes with peppers, onions, and secret seasoning.

Houlette insists restaurant-goers try Godich’s homemade red and green sauces, taco sauce, and chili as well, drawing attention to Godich’s multiple skillsets.

“I’m proud of being in business with him,” Houlette shares of his business partner.

“I’ve learned to trust his instincts,” he says, noting Godich’s influence to add bacon avocado eggs benedict, cactus chili, and ground short rib/chuck instead of standard ground beef burgers to the menu have all received raving reviews from customers.

They also added additional items that differ from their South Dakota Spearfish Breakfast House original menu, including chili dogs, tacos, taco salad, chef salad, fried pickle chips, and the only pork ribeye you’ll find in town.

“We added a pork ribeye, which is this giant ribeye. It looks like a ribeye steak, but it’s pork. It’s really tender and it’s really good, and we’re the only ones in town who can get it,” Houlette says. “My supplier said he’ll make me a deal that if we run it on our menu full time, he’ll make us the only people who got it [in town].”

While they don’t offer it yet, Outskirts Cafe does plan on bringing back ice cream along with later opening hours once they’ve settled in.

For now, they’re focused on offering lunch and breakfast all day from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, while being closed on Tuesdays. As the dining room fills up, guests can call ahead to join the waitlist and will receive a text when their table is ready.

Not only is Houlette passionate about serving the community, he is also passionate about treating his seven employees well, aiming to build a team that stays for decades.

“Everyone has been amazing. Mt. Pleasant is very welcoming—even when they found out we’re not from Michigan,” notes Houlette, an Illinois native who shares the Midwest feels like home to him. “If it works out, I think we’ll probably be here until we retire.”

“We’re going to be Mt. Pleasanters now.”