McKenna Graham | Daily Press Ash Ammel prepares a gyro for a hungry customer at Bobaloon’s Cafe recently. Bobaloon’s offers a wide variety of hot and cold menu items.

EDITOR NOTE: The Daily Press will be featuring a series of articles on local businesses, highlighting their history and what makes them unique. The series will run on a regular basis in the Daily Press.

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ESCANABA — Having opened in the late 1990s, Bobaloon’s Cafe in downtown Escanaba is a lunchtime eatery that offers eclectic atmosphere and appetizing food that has been a large contributing factor to its continued appeal to customers.

Mark Ammel and his family took over the business in 2004 and have continued to be successful for almost 20 years.

When Bobaloon’s first opened, it featured Chicago-style street food including hot dogs, gyros, Italian beef, and pitas.

Ammel says that during the winter months, most of the restaurant’s business is seen on weekends. Bobaloon’s is currently open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“We always like to provide a high level of customer service and quality products for everyone,” said Ammel.

Bobaloon’s offers a wide variety of hot and cold menu items.

Recently, Escanaba has seen an influx in tourism, and with that brings more business in the summertime.

“We generally get a good mix of regular customers, as well as tourists and new people in the spring and summertime,” said Ammel.

Bobaloon’s catering vehicle, also known as The Little Red Trailer, is used to travel to festivals and fairs including the U.P State Fair, where they offer limited menu items including pitas and hot sandwiches. Aside from other festivals, Bobaloon’s also hosts its own festival in which they serve several different types of chicken.

“We run our own festival every year, and that includes free beer from Hereford and Hops,” said Ammel.

In hopes to draw in more customers this year, Bobaloon’s is also working on adding to its outdoor dining experience by adding more seating and offering brick-oven pizza starting in the late spring.

Bobaloon’s will also be adding the pizza to their dine-in menu.

In addition to festivals and fairs, Bobaloon’s also offers extensive catering for any and all events.

Catering information, menu items, and other information about the restaurant can be found online at bobaloonscafe.square.site