‘Inclusive’ Michigan diner opens second Lansing-area location

Josh Beckett was a regular at the original Anna’s House location in Grand Rapids before he bought it.

“I’d come sit at the counter and Becky Miller — I’m still good friends with her — wanted to sell it,” he said. “And I just said, ‘Hey, I’ll give it a shot.’”

The diner was established in 2003, and Beckett bought it in 2005. It wasn’t until MLive dubbed it Michigan’s best breakfast joint in 2013 that Beckett decided to grow the business.

On Tuesday, Beckett celebrated the opening of the 13th Anna’s House location. The Grand Ledge location is Greater Lansing’s second, following a popular Okemos location that often has a wait during peak breakfast and lunch hours. The brand offers an “inclusive” menu with options for several dietary restrictions, something Beckett said is often lacking outside of bigger cities.

“If you’re going out with friends or family, if anybody’s got a nut allergy, if you’re dairy-free or vegan, or you just want to eat gluten-free because it makes you feel better, we celebrate those things,” he said.

In the kitchen, separate from the main line, kitchen staff work on a Celiac-dedicated station away from the regular grill to ensure there is no cross-contamination.

“A lot of restaurants will put something on the menu, but they don’t have a separate space,” Beckett said.

He said he was inspired to focus on an “inclusive” dining experience after dealing with health issues in 2013.

“Ten years ago, you couldn’t get gluten-free anywhere,” he said. “So we really leaned into that and focused on it, so that’s (what) we’ve gone with — a brand that anyone can go out to breakfast.”

The restaurant’s retro atmosphere belies its recent remodel. The location, a former Tin Can Bar, appealed to Beckett for the same reason the Okemos location, a former Pizza hut, did.

“We like going into old, distressed buildings and bringing them back to life,” he said, “bringing them back to a great place the community wants to come and enjoy again.”

Beckett said his approach differs from other brands that tear down the buildings they buy, something he called wasteful.

He added Delta Township officials were flexible, friendly, communicative and generally “great to work with,” and encouraged any business looking to expand to set their eyes there.

Anna’s House may have a classic look, but it has some new tricks. Alongside its focus on dietary restrictions, the restaurant features an espresso bar, so diners can enjoy a latte with their meal (compete with alternative milk options, of course). Their drip coffee is a house blend, which customers can buy bags of. Meal offerings extend from a classic diner breakfast, to sweet crepes, to a veggie hash — to a classic diner breakfast except totally vegan, complete with “eggs” and “sausage.”

“You can’t tell it’s not there,” Beckett said.