Pixie on North Mission in Mt. Pleasant.
Back before we had any idea we were moving to Kalamazoo, I took a job in Mt. Pleasant for this weekend. From Lansing, it’s not so bad, but it gets to be a long way from Kalamazoo. Fortunately, my employer got me a hotel for Friday night, so I was able to travel during the afternoon.
When I got into town, I checked in then went looking for food. I tried a BBQ place recommended in the hotel book, but they were closed. I then went to a restaurant downtown I saw a billboard for on the way in. Luckily they had a menu outside and it wasn’t quite what I was looking for.
By now, I was hungry and a little annoyed. I just wanted to eat.
As I was driving to my first two locations, I drove by an old drive in on Mission Street. I knew I was close so I went looking for it again.
Pixie is on North Mission and East Chippewa Street in Mt. Pleasant. I would say it’s a retro 50’s style diner, but they actually got their start in 1948 when Norman LaBelle decided to open a restaurant. The Pixie has been in business ever since.
At one time, the Pixie was a drive in with carhops and a complete menu. Today, they’re a cross between fast food and casual dining.
Pixie in Mt. Pleasant
The parking lot is behind the building and that’s where the main entrance is. I was expecting a place where you sat and a waitress served you. Instead, when you walk in, you’re presented with an order counter similar to any of today’s fast food chains.
Pixie was hoping, but it’s also homecoming weekend at CMU, so there are a lot of extra people in town. The wait gave me a chance to look over their menu. They offer burgers, coney’s, and even pizza by the slice. The menu wasn’t too descriptive, so I didn’t really know what I was ordering. I kind of felt rushed and just yelled out a number instead of taking my time to look at everything.
I ordered the #11 which is the Ranch Burger. All the menu says is that it’s a 1/3 lb burger that comes with fries and a drink. I added on cheese and bacon for a little extra. The bill was a little over six bucks. The lady taking my order said it would be a few minutes because the sandwiches are made to order.
While I was waiting, I grabbed my Pepsi and looked around a little more. There’s a jukebox in the dining room that plays the 50’s music. Other than that, it is the classic 50’s diner with the bright colors, neon lights and retro posters on the wall.
Near the entrance where I was waiting, I noticed little plaques with people’s names and date on them. Turns out, there’s a Pixie challenge of eating either 10 mini burgers or X Coney’s (sorry, I forgot the number) in an hour. Seems easy to me. I’m pretty sure I could put away 10 mini’s no problem.
As the restaurant got more and more packed, the cashier’s got more and more frantic. My order was up, but everyone was dealing with customers so it sat for a few minutes. When the lady who took my order finally got free, she grabbed my burger and some fries and put them in a bag. I figured it would just be easier to go back to the hotel and eat.
#11 Ranch Burger and fries.
When I got back to my room, I figured out why it was called a Ranch Burger. There was a ranch sauce on it. There was also lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. I just pulled the top bun off and it the sandwich open face. It was fine with me. I didn’t need the top bun…it made up for the three full flavored pops I had today.
The fries were thin and crispy fast food fries that had a little salt on them. There wasn’t a lot, but just enough to make me happy.
Pixie is one of those fun places. The food was alright, but it’s really more about the atmosphere. You get what you expect from a place like this. Decent food and a good time.
Mid-Michigan Dining 
It’s really about the coney’s at Pixie!