Make friends, money, and memories off the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula in the heart of Lake Superior
We are Lake Effect Bar and Grill, and we are focused on serving made-from-scratch dishes in a professional, upbeat setting. We boast the status as the only burger joint in town and are also proud to serve numerous vegetarian and vegan items in a remote area. We are also one of the only establishments in town to have air conditioning!
About Lake Effect Bar and Grill
Thanks for taking the time to check out our company! We are Lake Effect Bar and Grill, an entity of Lake Fanny Hooe Resort and Campground. Lake Fanny Hooe Resort has been established in Copper Harbor for more than 40 years. It has transferred owners a few times, and most recently went under new ownership 3 years ago. Lake Effect Bar and Grill was purchased by these new owners in 2021. The property was previously known as The Pines Resort for 20 years and operated at about half the capacity as it does now. All-in-all, Lake Fanny Hooe Resort owns Lake Effect Bar and Grill, an 80 site campground with everything from rustic to full hook-up amenities, 2 motels, and 10 cabins.
We are located in Copper Harbor, MI, a town of 100 residents and ground zero of the 19th-century copper mining boom in Upper Michigan. As the name alludes, Copper Harbor was in the business of getting copper out of the ground and shipping it across Lake Superior to help the world toward the industrial revolution. Thankfully, the revolution stopped an hour south of Copper Harbor! Massive 400-year-old white pines, luscious old-growth forest, and crystal clear inland lakes and water bodies are still very much intact. We are surrounded by the pristine waters of Lake Superior, public land, geological wonders, and boast a tight-knit community of folks that live by nature's rules.
Lake Effect Bar and Grill serves traditional breakfast, claims the status as the only burger joint in town, and we create and serve a few vegetarian and vegan options. Our establishment features a modernized full-service bar, a 21st-century point-of-sale system, and air conditioning! Lake Effect is one of the hippest places in Copper Harbor, as it has seen the most recent updates and has an average staff age of 26.
We think you will love working for our company because we offer a lot of perks, and our management team and team members are incredibly friendly. But all of that is just cherries on top of living in Copper Harbor, home of prestigious mountain biking trails, rated silver by IMBA, miles of hiking trails to gorgeous outdoor destinations, and you are surrounded by the clean and crisp waters of Lake Superior and a familial community.
The Employee Experience
Lake Effect is a growing business, but our staff consists of 12-15 individuals, creating an intimate family-like work environment. Expect to make lasting friendships, try something new, and learn what it is like to live in a small community in the heart of Lake Superior. We value friendships, teamwork, experience, having fun, and overcoming challenges.
Ideal Candidate
An ideal Lake Effect employee is an adventure seeker who embraces hard work and challenges, one who puts the team before themselves, and finds solutions rather than problems. Individuals must be mature and know how to get along with others, harbor effective communication, and uphold kindness.
Room and Board
Lodging is free as long as you are meeting your weekly 40 hour requirement. Line cooks start at $15/hour, servers and bartenders start at $5/hour plus un-pooled tips at the end of the night, housekeepers start at $14/hour. For more information on pay, please see our jobs page. Every employee receives a free shift meal and beverage for every full 8 hours they work. When an employee is not working, they will receive 50% off meals up to $30, before discounts, per day.
The company decides indoor lodging assignments based on individual needs, requests, and availability.
Outdoor lodging options are as follows: campsites suitable for tenting or RV. Water and 30 amp hookups. Showers/bathrooms/laundry is located 500 feet away.
If it is needed, we do have limited storage space available.
Employee Perks
As an employee, you would receive access to a company-matched 401k with no vesting period, opportunities for overtime pay, 50% off meals when not working, and access to health benefits. Year-round employees have the option to opt in to a salary and receive a paycheck all year while still having 3 months a year off.
But what about the fun stuff??
Just down the road from the restaurant is our Lake Fanny Hooe Resort operation, where our campground is located. Here is the 2 mile long inland lake from which the resort is named. Employees are welcome to enjoy our SUPs, kayaks, canoes, and rowboats for free on the lake. We also have a few extra bikes on hand that employees are welcome to use for the season.
Getting Here and Getting Around
An airport, that is only reachable by flying out of O'Hare International Airport, is located an hour south of us, and we would happy to pick you up or arrange transportation from the airport to us. Everything in Copper Harbor is within walking distance, but we recommend bringing a bike. If you are looking to explore the areas outside of Copper Harbor, a personal vehicle is recommended. Our employees are generally willing to help each other out by coordinating carpooling for grocery runs. All of our lodging is within 1000 feet of the worksite.
For Fun
Copper Harbor has an extensive grocery store that includes allergen-free selections. There is also a post office, a community garden that you are welcome to claim a plot in if available, a coin laundry mat, a gas station, and a brewery.
Our staff and community enjoy so many things in their off time. Water sports, biking, campfires, movie nights, rollerblading, longboarding, hiking, disc golfing, exploring the backwoods, climbing, repelling, fishing, stargazing and aurora hunting, gardening, hammocking, and so much more. Copper Harbor is particularly a destination for mountain bikers as it is home to an extensive IMBA silver-rated trail system, and there is another mountain biking mecca developing a few miles east of town.
If you need a break from the Harbor life, there is a small university town an hour south of us in Houghton. Houghton hosts lots of food and grocery options, cheaper gas (Copper Harbor gas is $0.60 above the national average generally), libraries, local shops, a nightclub, and many of the other amenities of a city!
How to Apply
We are excited to learn about you! Please email us your cover letter and resume, or an introduction of yourself and what you have been up to for the last 2 years. Please also include 3 times that you would be available for an interview, and we will contact you shortly to schedule that.