About Max & Emily's
Max & Emily's is a deli and café on East Broadway in downtown Mt. Pleasant, about a mile from Central Michigan University. Rick Ervin started it in the early 1990s; his parents had earlier founded Max & Emily's Classic Cheesecakes. Later owners Tim and Liz Brockman expanded it, and Chris "Elmo" Walton has owned it since February 2017, with manager Brandy Boyle.
The menu covers breakfast and lunch, with numbered sandwiches such as The Mudhoney and The Fiery Turkinator, wraps, burgers, salads and soups like broccoli and cheese. Bread comes from Michigan Bread in Detroit, turkey is Michigan-raised, and some dressings and mixes are made in-house. You can also build your own sandwich, and blueberry scones, big cookies and croissant sandwiches round out the counter.
In summer the café hosts an outdoor concert series. The 2026 lineup ran on August 6, August 13 and August 29, with a local opener at 6 p.m. and the headliner at 7; guests bring lawn chairs and blankets and eat from the outdoor grill or the indoor menu. Catering is available by phone, with 2026 prices starting at $12.50 per person for wraps or sandwich trays.
Sixteen Sprigs Lavender Farm in Alma is about 25 minutes south on US-127. Lunch here makes an easy start or finish to a summer day at the lavender fields.
What to do
- Order a numbered house sandwich such as The Mudhoney
- Build your own sandwich on Michigan-made bread
- Grab a blueberry scone or a large cookie for the road
- Catch an August evening concert on the lawn
- Order catering trays for a group by phone
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Open year-round; summer concert series in August
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; Sat–Sun 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (posted on their website, 2026)
Tips for your visit
- Online ordering is paused, so call ahead for pickup orders
- Bring a lawn chair or blanket for the summer concerts
- The café closes at 4 p.m., so plan it as a breakfast or lunch stop
Pair it with a lavender farm
Sixteen Sprigs Lavender Farm · about 25 minutes away
Sixteen Sprigs Lavender Farm is about 25 minutes south in Alma, so lunch here fits before an afternoon among the lavender in June or July.
Getting there
Questions
What are the hours?
Weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., per their website in 2026.
Do they cater?
Yes. Call to plan an order; wraps and sandwich trays start at $12.50 per person.
When are the summer concerts?
In 2026 they were held August 6, August 13 and August 29, starting at 6 p.m.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of Gratiot County & Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
