Local Eats: Crossbow Inn makes its customers feel like family – MLive.com

GRAND BLANC, MI — While the Crossbow Inn in Grand Blanc has been around since 1979, its regular customers walk in excited as if it’s their first time visiting.

“You couldn’t ask for a more friendly place,” said Paul Petras while sitting at the bar table, a regular customer for six years. “The staff cares and makes you feel like you’re family. You could go to so many commercial bars and won’t get the service or attention like a hometown bar like this.”

Petras’ go-to item is the Philly cheesesteak with a couple Jack and Cokes.

But the cool part about Crossbow Inn is its variety of options. Ask a regular customer their favorite item on the menu and you’ll get different answers.

“We offer huge portions of food,” said Niki Jernigan, the bar’s manager. “Our fish and chips are always a good seller. Our steaks are huge and we have a 14-ounce filet we sell the heck out of.”

Customers can expect to order lunch and dinner with usual American comfort food options like hamburgers, chicken, corned beef sandwiches and seafood. One customer said the escargot is a favorite of theirs.

The most popular drink are the trash cans — which are large Long Island iced teas that are packaged in small plastic trash cans.

The bar is owned by Dave Kister for the past 10 years and was originally founded by Walt Olin, who died in 2014.

Inside of the restaurant has an old-school style, medieval theme. It includes a large crossbow hanging on the wall — which the owner claims was from the original Robin Hood movie — a dragon decoration hangs from the ceiling and a Knight statue can be seen in the back corner.

Marty Kane has regularly visited Crossbow for 27 years. While sitting at the bar table wearing a Detroit Lions coat, Kane’s eyes glowed when asked why he keeps coming back.

“The food is incredible,” Kane, 69, said. “The consistency of the service and the food is undeniable. And the drinks are perfect. I’m proud of this place and there are so many people that I got to know here over the years.”

Jernigan has worked at Crossbow for 25 years — including the past six years as the manager.

She essentially has built a relationship with most of the customers and has seen the bar’s popularity grow over the years.

And when those same regulars walk through the door, Jernigan will know who they are.

“I started when I was 17 and I’ve grown up in this bar,” Jernigan, a Grand Blanc resident, said. “You make lifelong friends and just love the customers.”

The Crossbow Inn is located at 11310 S. Saginaw St. Business hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

Visit the Crossbow’s website here.