Insider Guide: Chris Shepler

Chris Shepler was born and raised in Harbor Springs, and his family’s business – Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry Service – is located in Mackinac City and is the “Gateway to Mackinac Island.” Chris moved to Vale for a year, then attended the University of Rhode Island during which time he was offered an opportunity to try out with the America’s Cup team and spent the next five years of his life touring the world and sailing professionally. “I was living out of a suitcase 365 days a year,” he says. “Even though traveling the world was cool, I knew I wanted to come back to northern Michigan because I absolutely love it out here so I decided to stop goofing off an get a real job!”
 
Chris is now the Vice President at Shepler’s, overseeing all of the operations. It is very much a family business (his 80-year-old dad is still President, and both his younger brother and sister work for the company as well). Chris says that Mackinac City really comes alive when the population swells up in the summer from vacationers and boaters. There are festivals held throughout the summer in the City and on the Island, and in the winter they have Winter Fest with chili cook-offs and entertainment.

Some of the hotspots in Mackinac City include Oreilly’s Irish Pub, which has the longest copper bar in the state of Michigan. Attached to that is the Dixie Saloon, a three-story-high log cabin that overlooks Shepler’s docks. “You can go over there, grab a beer and some dinner and watch the boats come in,” Chris says. “It’s a really cool environment to go hang out.” Upstairs also turns into a nightclub on weekends. The Key Hole Bar is one of the most famous local “gin mills” open year-round, with over one million keys that they’ve collected over the years glued all over the walls.

Audie’s Restaurant is open year-round, and they have both a fine dining and a family restaurant. The family restaurant is located right at the base of the Mackinac Bridge and is filled with photos of the bridge being constructed, so “it’s kind of like a little museum.” In the summer, Nonna Lisa’s is a great place to visit, another log cabin filled with taxidermy and serving excellent Italian fare. Chris also promises that Darrow’s Family Restaurant has “the best food in the world.” It is a third-generation family-run business, more family dining oriented (they don’t serve alcohol). The Pancake Chef has been there about 60 years and is a classic greasy spoon specializing in breakfast (and pancakes in particular).

For shopping visit Mackinaw Crossings, the city’s expansive outdoor entertainment and shopping destination. (Also check out the Depot Restaurant inside, which used to be an old train depot.) Chris also recommends the Trading Post, which used to be a pharmacy and is now a “really cool sundries shop,” as well as Coffman Hardware, located in a 100-year-old building with “old-fashioned wooden floors … it smells like hardware, the kind of hometown hardware store you just don’t see anymore.” For every flavor of popcorn imaginable, check out the Mackinaw City Popcorn Factory. And for all the fudgies out there (northern Michiganders’ nickname for tourists from the south of the state who inevitably come seeking fudge), there are plenty of fudge and saltwater taffy shops too.