Where Everybody Knows Your Name

By Mary Carpenter • Photos by Jessica McCafferty

If you are of a certain age, it is likely you were a fan of the television series Cheers.

For eleven seasons (1982-1993) the sitcom followed the escapades of the staff

and a group of regulars at a Boston bar.

Michigans Plus in Plattsburgh isn’t a bar, nor is it in Boston, but the diner shares a customer service philosophy with Cheers —one built on making everyone feel welcome and part of a community, all the while offering a warm atmosphere, casual dining, quick friendly service, and classic comfort food.

To learn more about Michigans Plus and its company culture, I met with owner Liz Cummings and her daughters, Lexie and Abbie. We talked, we laughed and I got a look at what makes the restaurant and the family unique.

When Liz and John Cummings met in 1989, she was a waitress and trusted assistant to the owners of Valcour Lodge. He was a skilled electrician who had signed a contract and was preparing to ship out to Antarctica for an extended work assignment. It didn’t take them long to decide they wanted a future together. When John returned to the States with money he’d saved during his overseas employment, the two went looking for a business to buy.

“There were two restaurants for sale in Plattsburgh at the time,” Liz recalled. “We chose Michigans Plus with a downtown location on Margaret Street as well as a small corner spot in Plattsburgh Plaza.”

Liz became the public face of the business while John took care of the finances and maintenance. The couple’s investment paid off and then one day Liz got a call from a friend who said the former IHOP restaurant on Cornelia Street was for sale. “I went right over to take a look,” she recalled. “The building was in horrific condition, but I knew it was the right place for us to grow.”

Over the years, Michigans Plus has developed a following that comes for the food, but also the atmosphere and the staff.

Liz’s Type A personality can belie her kind heart and her understanding of people. “Running this kind of business allows us to connect with people,” she began. “Everyone has a story. We get to know people by name and see who they are.”

One of Liz’s favorite things to do is to make the rounds of the restaurant, stopping at each table, engaging with the children and chatting with the parents. “I like to visit with people,” she said with her customary hearty laugh. “There is more to this business than just the numbers — than just the money we earn,” she explained. “We’re a family.”

Michigans Plus used to be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but that changed when COVID hit. “What seemed like a problem initially turned out to be an opportunity,” Liz recalled. “We cut the hours we seat and serve back to 3 p.m. and that gave us time to do things we had wanted to do. We cleaned, we painted, we replaced our ceiling, and we updated our exhibition kitchen.”

When Liz’s youngest daughter, Abbie, joined our interview, I asked about her experience in the family business. “I was raised here,” she began. “This isn’t just where my mother worked, it’s where she taught me about hard work and what it means to give everything you have for something you love.”

When I asked how Michigans Plus attracts so many college students, eldest daughter, Lexie stepped in. “We serve great hangover food,” she said. When we all stopped laughing, she continued, “We serve classic comfort food, and we’ve developed relationships with several of SUNY’s sports teams over the years. The hockey and basketball teams run a tab with us, and Mom is like a den mother to many of the students.”

Liz explained, “It really starts with Parents Weekend. I make a point to talk with the parents, especially those who appear to be dropping off their kids for the first time. It’s not uncommon for them to admit they are concerned about the transition, so I give them my cell phone number and let them know they can call me. I do the same for the students who sometimes confide they are apprehensive.”

Another group of regulars at Michigans Plus is what Liz calls the overnighters. “We are here when they get off work to provide breakfast or, if they prefer, a plate of spaghetti and meatballs or a couple of our hugely popular Michigans at 7 a.m.

A large number of regulars at Michigans Plus are seniors. “We go above and beyond for them,” Liz explained. “Some are lonely and need someone to talk to. Others don’t want to cook anymore. We offer the comfort foods they like — meat loaf, hot turkey, tomato macaroni beef soup, Lake Champlain perch, and rice pudding made from my mother’s traditional recipe.”

Lexi explained, “We remember the normal orders of our regulars — two eggs overeasy on a lightly grilled English muffin, sausage patties on the side and strawberry shortcake for dessert — the perfect breakfast. If they’re looking for gluten-friendly selections or want breakfast at any time of the day — we’re here to provide it.”

The Cummings’ care for others earned the restaurant an award from the local Advocacy Research Center (ARC). Having a family member who had special needs makes them sensitive to that population. “The ARC recognized us for accommodating food prep requirements,” Liz explained, “something we are happy to do.”

Michigans Plus has also received recognition as the Press Republican’s 2024 and 2025 Reader’s Choice Award as the best place for breakfast in the area.

A point of pride for the owners and staff is their 363 day a year service. “We’re only closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Lexi offered. “But we still take care of our regulars. They can order holiday meals, and we will have them ready the day before.”

Liz became emotional talking about the relationship between regular customers and staff. “We know them well. We know their schedules and, if someone hasn’t been in in a while, we will call and check on them. That’s family!”

Now, after 46 years and two owners — originally Vince and Jan Delio — Michigans Plus is ready for its next chapter. Liz and John Cummings are preparing to step back from the day-to-day operation. The transition has begun, and daughters, Lexie and Abbie, and son-in-law Aaron, have begun the takeover. But don’t worry. Liz isn’t going anywhere. The plan is for her to take just a little more time for herself and her grandchildren.

As we ended our conversation, Liz reflected on the restaurant’s decades of success. “It takes a lot to run a restaurant. Much of our success has been due to our amazing crew — many of whom have been with us for 20 years or more. We couldn’t have come this far without them. Our goal has always been to create a home-like atmosphere where people know they will find consistently well-prepared comfort food — a place where everybody knows your name and we’re always glad you came.”

Michigans Plus

313 Cornelia Street

Plattsburgh, NY 12901

518 561-0537

www.facebook.com/michigansplus1