City of Muskegon issued the following announcement on Mar 26.
Small Business Saturday: Walk into Wayne’s Deli & Beverage and the place oozes of Muskegon history.
This is the way Muskegonites for generations have gotten a hand-crafted deli sandwich, a favorite six-pack of beer or a bottle of their favorite bourbon. Wayne’s Deli, 746. W. Laketon, is a City of Muskegon throw back and that is just how owner Pat Bogner wants it. Don’t suggest turning the shop that opened on West Laketon in August 1958 into just a liquor store.
That makes Pat shutter at the thought as she continues a local retail tradition started by founder Wayne Bergevin, continued by Ron Friday in the 1970s and Carl Lillmars and family in the 1980s. In 1999 after being the front of the house manager at the famed Tony’s Supper Club for 20 years, Pat purchased Wayne’s Deli from I. John Snider III who introduced in-house coffee roasting that remains a Wayne’s staple today. The shop is also known for the Gimmick – a 9-inch round sandwich with three meats, two cheeses and relishes and ketchup.
Yep, ketchup … Wayne’s sells dozens of Gimmicks a week as a great summer to-go-item. The deli has daily soup, chili in season, French dip, pulled pork, Reuben and sloppy joe sandwiches along with meats and cheese by the sandwich or the pound. On the beverage side besides small-batch roasted coffees, Wayne’s has one of the largest selections Michigan beer and wines and a full liquor shelf. A native who graduated from Muskegon Catholic Central, Pat says the social aspect of the shop in the heart of her hometown is one of the big draws that keeps her in business through some tough COVID-19 years.
Stop by and say hello … Wayne’s Deli is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed Sundays. The City of Muskegon’s Development Services Division highlights the city’s small businesses on Saturday mornings.
Original source can be found here.
