Foxfire Fixin's is located at 7200 River Rd. in Marine City, Michigan. Rita MacDonald
Brett Kodet (middle) with his parents Diane and Al. Photo Courtesy of Brett Kodet
The moment you pull into the parking lot of Foxfire Fixin’s in Marine City, it becomes evident you are not at just another ordinary eatery.
Walking in the front door of the restaurant, the screen door has that summer cottage feel to it. It may even slam shut behind you, but you might not notice because visitors are busy looking around at the unique memorabilia lining every window sill, the rock-em-sock-em figures, and other board games on each and every ceiling tile above. An old ringer washer stands in the middle of the floor and there are 99 bottles of beer on the wall just for fun. No two tables are alike, and neither are any of the dishes, coffee cups, or chairs.
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Brett Kodet (middle) with his parents Diane and Al.“Foxfire Fixin’s is designed to be a down home kind of place,” says the restaurant’s owner, Brett Kodet. “No TVs. No Keno games. Those are a dime a dozen, and we want people to reconnect while having a meal. We want kids off their phones and families having fun.”
Kodet loves to tell the story of how his parents, the late Al and Diane Kodet, started their family restaurant. His father was the owner of a pest control company who could often be found hard at work alongside his employees and his mother was a retired 1st-grade teacher who loved making homemade meals and experimenting with new recipes.
Kodet remembers many things about his hard-working parents. His father loved hunting, fishing, and sports, but finding hidden treasures at garage sales, antique shops, and combing beaches with metal detectors was what Al and Diane loved to do in their spare time. The treasures remained in their home for many years until the idea to showcase them as a fun collection in a “down home” style restaurant became their dream. His mother’s love of cooking combined with his father’s previous restaurant management experience provided the perfect opportunity to make their dream come true.
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Located at 7200 River Rd., the restaurant took four years to complete and has now been open and thriving for six years. An outdoor dining area was added three years ago, and when Kodet takes a break from cooking, he makes sure to stop and chat with those visiting the restaurant just like his father did. He often finds that many have traveled an hour or more just to see the place and says parents love bringing their families because of the unique atmosphere.
Kodet’s father said it best with the phrase he coined, “Come often. Sit deep. You’re one of the folks.”
For more information or to check out the restaurant’s menu, visit foxfirefixins.com.
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Rita MacDonald is a U.S. Army veteran and a full-time registered nurse who claims that her Irish and Scottish heritage is the reason for her love of storytelling. She is the mother of two adult sons, “Gummy” to her three grandchildren, loves talking with anyone who will engage in a conversation, and “eats life with a shovel!” In addition to her work with The Keel, Rita is a contributor for the Thumbprint News, an author of three books, and writes a blog at
kitchentabledevotions.com.