History of The Pier | The Pointer Boat | Pointer Boat Catering | How to Get Here

A welcome from the general manager

General Manager, Brian Ewbank

Having the privilege of working in an industy that I love in an area so special to me makes every day a memorable one. Now a resident of northern Michigan with my wife Jody, I am proud to be responsible for taking the helm of Stafford's first expansion operation.

My wife and I put a great deal of energy into assuring that our guests are welcomed and treated as family while dining at our property. That feeling of welcome stems from my family's roots in the hospitality business and in particular my grandmother's love for Harbor Springs. In early drives to the area, we would crest the bluff in Petoskey with that first glimpse of Little Traverse Bay and she would awe at the vista and the splendor of everything northern Michigan encompassed including friendly people, down-home cooking, and the historical sites (items with us then and still with us today).

Jody and I thank you for making Stafford's Pier Restaurant the place that it is and for allowing us to share in the joy of all things "north".

Warmly,
Brian Ewbank, General Manager

Stafford's Pier circa 1980

An all new meaning to "On the water"

As is the case with most renowned watering holes, it is the bar tender who boasts the greatest knowledge of real stories about the establishment.

The truth can be said for the Pier's Bar Manager, Dale Beatty. Dale has been serving libations to the property's visitors since 1960 when his father bought the already established business. Paul S. (Pete) Beatty owned the restaurant with his young son as the bartender from 1960-1967.

Built before prohibition, the original structure consisted only of the current Chart Room. The Pointer Room was added in about 1970 and was a project of extreme detail and planning requiring the services of the Army Corps of Engineers. A request was made to extend the property out over the water and to build a new dining room with spectacular views of the popular harbor. 75 ft. pilings were planted in the waters of the harbor in preparation for the Pointer Room. The end result is what we have today, Harbor Springs premier dining area, quite literally on the water.

Today the Pier serves a busy year round clientele with the busiest day of the year being America's Birthday, July 4th. It is on that day that the Pier serves over 6,000 bottles of beer to a celebratory crowd.

Serving libations since 1960, Bar Manager Dale Beatty flames his signature "Awesome Coffee"