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DOWAGIAC — A new dining option has opened its doors in downtown Dowagiac.

Brookie’s Cafe, 105 Beeson St., Dowagiac, opened its doors to the community for the first time Thursday morning in the space formerly home to the Beeson Street Bar and Grill. The brunch cafe will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

“It has been a complete success today,” said Jake Arnold, who co-owns Brookie’s with his wife Brooke. “I’m just so proud of my staff, they just took it and ran with it and have done an awesome job.”

According to Arnold, the cafe also has the space next door, which will be used for overflow seating for the cafe as well as a space to host events. For Arnold, seeing the space brimming with life was refreshing to see.

“Seeing every seat filled and people communing and having a good breakfast. I love it; It’s been good so far and we’ve been really busy.”

As the owner of Happy Jake’s and Arnie’s in Dowagiac, Wakey Jakes in Marcellus and now Brookie’s Cafe, the Arnolds enjoy sharing their passion for food with Cass County residents. 

Arnold said the business owes its name to his wife and said that the restaurant will offer a variety of brunch options including skillets, omelettes, sandwiches, soups, paninis and more.

“You can drive three minutes anywhere in Dowagiac and get a burger and fries. You can go to any of the other three restaurants that I own and you can get a burger and fries and so we were trying to think what the town was missing and what type of food wasn’t here that I think people would enjoy,” Arnold said. “The fresh soups and salads, fresh a little bit elevated – a step up from a normal breakfast place but still really good prices and good food. I’ve gotten nothing but good feedback from every single customer that’s come in and we were on an hour wait.”