ST. JOHNS — A family-run cafe that’s been a staple spot for breakfast and lunch for nearly 30 years has announced plans to close permanently.
Dershey’s Cafe announced the upcoming closure in a July 28 post on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
“It is with incredibly heavy hearts that we share this announcement,” the post says. “After 29 unforgettable years of serving this amazing community, Dershey’s Cafe will permanently close. Our final day of business will be Friday, August 14, 2026. Even as we write these words, it hardly feels real.”
The cafe, 111 W. Higham St., was opened by Vietnam veteran Roger Dershem and his wife, Mary, in 1997. It offers breakfast and lunch menus.
Dershem, who was known for the “Git-R-Done” cap he often wore and his selfless acts of kindness, including clearing snow from local sidewalks and taking an active role in founding the city’s recycling center, died in 2022 at age 76. He’d been battling cancer.
Dershem was the foundation of the business, ownership said in their announcement.
“Dad, we hope we’ve made you proud,” the Facebook post said. “Everything you poured into this little café — your hard work, your kindness, your servant’s heart, and your love for people — became the foundation of what Dershey’s Cafe has been for the past 29 years. Your legacy will continue to live on in every life you touched, every friendship that was formed within these walls, every prayer that was lifted around these tables, and in the countless memories created here. Though these doors may close, the impact you made never will.”
Dershem’s daughter Dianne Smith took over the restaurant’s operation after his death, with help from her mother and volunteers.
Deciding to close was “a difficult choice” to make, Smith said. “The old hood system needed to be updated and we aren’t going to put the money into it because we don’t own the building. I can’t remortgage my house to do it.”
The expense is simply too great, Smith said.
“We’ve been stewing on it for over a year,” she said.
In their announcement, ownership said the cafe “has always been so much more than a place to eat. It has been a home away from home… a gathering place where strangers became friends, friends became family, and everyone was welcomed with open arms. Within these walls, we shared laughter and tears, celebrations and hardships, countless cups of coffee, card playing, heartfelt conversations, hugs, prayers, Jesus and memories that will forever remain in our hearts.”
News of the closure came as a surprise to customers, Smith said: “Everybody is in total shock.”
Smith said her family is deeply Christian and she prayed about the situation.
“I know God’s got us,” she said. “When God closes one door he opens another.”
In the Facebook post, customers were urged to stop in before the cafe closes.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in us and for making Dershey’s Cafe what it has been for nearly three decades. The memories made here will remain with us forever, and each one of you holds a special place in our hearts.”
Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on X @GrecoatLSJ.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Longtime St. Johns diner to close. When Dershey’s will say goodbye
Reporting by Rachel Greco, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Rachel Greco, Lansing State Journal | USA TODAY Network
