‘IT’S NOT ABOUT THE FOOD, IT’S ABOUT THE PEOPLE’
Pixie named one of America’s best restaurants, to be subject of ABR Roadshow feature
Mt. Pleasant’s iconic Pixie has been named one of America’s Best Restaurants (ABR).
ABR will be on location filming at the Pixie later this month.
America’s Best Restaurants, a national media and marketing company focusing on bringing attention to local, independently-owned restaurants, will bring its ABR Roadshow to the Pixie restaurant on June 22. Popular dishes will be highlighted, along with an extensive on-camera interview with owner Jeff Neely about the restaurant’s special place in the community. The episode will be aired extensively on social media channels at a to-be-announced date.
Open since 1948, Pixie is a local institution famous for their Coneys and Bitty Burgers. The restaurant began as a summeronly drive-in, where carhops would bring orders to parked cars. The present-day interior is still reminiscent of a 1950s diner, complete with classic cars, neon lighting and a jukebox. The restaurant celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.
In addition to the great food, a big draw for the restaurant is their Wall of Fame, which not only brings in hopeful contestants wanting to try their luck at the eating contest but is also a significant part of the decor.
“You come in as a guest and you eat either six Coneys or ten Bitty Burgers in an hour or less and you get your name on a little plaque up on the wall,” Neely says, adding that there’s literally thousands of names on small plaques throughout the restaurant.
Neely is passionate about giving back to the community, particularly with the restaurant’s annual Coneys For A Cause event.
“In the restaurant, it’s not about the food, it’s about the people and it’s about the community,” Neely says.
Proceeds from all Coney sales will be donated to the Isabella County Child Advocacy Center in coordination with the Mt Pleasant Police Department Youth Services Division, an institution Pixie has partnered with since the late ‘90s. This year the fundraiser event will be extended to August 14-17.
America’s Best Restaurants will be filming on location on Thursday, June 22 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The press is invited to attend. The restaurant’s finished episode premiere date will be announced on their Facebook page and will be featured on America’s Best Restaurants’ website at americasbestrestaurants.com/rests/ michigan/the-pixie.
Pixie was found by the ABR Roadshow through customer nominations to be featured at www.americasbestrestaurants.com.