Est. 1960s • Saugatuck, Michigan
Our Story
Three generations. One waterfront. The most iconic destination on Michigan’s west coast.
The Heart & Soul of Saugatuck
Built by Hand. Driven by Heart.
What started as one man’s dream on the banks of the Kalamazoo River grew into something nobody could have predicted — a waterfront empire of restaurants, bars, live music, and memories that spans over half a century. This is the story of a Greek-American football player, a renamed bar, and a family that turned a small Michigan resort town into the place to be.
Where It All Started
Tom Johnson played football at Michigan State in ’39, ’40, and ’41. Greek Orthodox kid, grandparents born in Greece, tough as they come.
After football, he started managing a bar outside East Lansing called the Green Gables. The owner, Stan Bauer, came back from Florida one day and said: “Tom, let’s call it Coral Gables.” The name stuck — and every one of the 19 restaurants and bars he eventually built carried it.
1960s — THE YOUTH INVASION
10,000 Strong Every Weekend
Every summer, college students swarmed Saugatuck by the thousands. Cars lined up all the way to the highway. The bands played, the dancing went all night — no air conditioning — and when you finally left dripping with sweat, you’d run to the beach or hit the Dog House for hot dogs.
The MSU football team worked the doors. You didn’t start trouble when the Spartan linemen were checking IDs.
“Saugatuck someday will be the resort spot on the west coast here. A teenager doesn’t stay a teenager all his life — and I think a little friendliness would go a long way in developing Saugatuck.”
— Tom Johnson, Founder
NowThen
Mike Johnson
Mike and his brother Topper grew up in the business. When Tom passed in 1979 and Topper in 1985, Mike carried the whole thing forward — and made it bigger than anyone imagined.
He raced powerboats on the national circuit, ran for city council, hosted the Live Mike Show on 15 cable access stations. His wife Ruth and daughters Julian and Thea are the heart of the family that keeps this place alive.
Today & Tomorrow
The Coral Gables complex now spans over 40,000 square feet of waterfront property. Multiple restaurants, six bars, a comedy club, live music seven nights a week in season, and events that draw people from across the Midwest.
It’s still family-owned. Still on the same waterfront. And still the place where the best memories are made.
A Look Back
The history of Coral Gables and the Saugatuck waterfront — from the early days of Hotel Saugatuck to the vibrant destination it is today.
