Team Recommendations
Here are some popular spots in Jackson for you and your crew to grab coffee or food. There are tons of good options throughout Jackson and surrounding areas. There are just some local favs that different members of our team would recommend.
SOAR Cafe
401 N Mechanic St
Jackson MI 49201
SOAR is a Brunch restaurant that opens at 8AM and closes at 3PM. SOAR opened in 2024 as a non-profit. A portion of all sales goes to SOAR House which provides healing, housing, and employment for female survivors of human trafficking, sexual abuse, and trauma in Jackson.
About a 10-minute drive from the conference venue.
~$10-$20 per person for a meal
Jackson Coffee Company
201 S Mechanic St
Jackson MI 49201
Founded in 2006, Jackson's oldest coffee shop prides itself on offering fantastic in-house roasted coffee. The upstairs is a cozy quirky space to chill for awhile or you grab a quick coffee as you adventure.
About a 30 minute drive from the conference venue.
~$4-$7 per coffee
AKA Sushi Bar & Restaurant
1801 NW Ave
Jackson MI 29202
Features a innovative rotating menus that brings a unique take to Traditional Japanese Cuisine and several classics.
About a 12 minute drive from the conference venue
~$10-$20 per person
Lucero's Mexican Bar and Grill
4243 Oaklane Rd
Jackson, MI 49203
One of the newest restaurants in Jackson! Opened in April of 2025 Lucero's offers Tex-Mex style food.
Less than 5 minutes from the conference venue.
~$10-$20 per person for a meal
Klavon's Pizzeria & Pub
1361 E McDevitt Ave
Jackson MI 49203
Signature stuffed pizza, plus calzones, burgers & other casual eat amid sports-themed decor & TVs.
Less than 5 minutes from the conference venue.
~$15-$25 per person for a meal
One North Kitchen & Bar
2115 Bondsteel Drive
Jackson MI 4902
Known for its scratch kitchen One North is popular in the area. (Note that live music is featured on Friday and Saturday nights from 7-10 PM.) Menu contains an array of popular American food.
About a 13 minute drive from the conference venue
~$10-$20 per person
Roxy Cafe
606 N West Ave
Jackson MI 49202
A local breakfast and brunch spot open from 7 am to 2 pm. They offer a variety of options, including good meals for vegetarians. The atmosphere is 1920 family-friendly vibe.
Parking can be a little hectic as it's right downtown.
About a 12-minute drive from the conference venue.
~$10-$20 per person
RJ's Metropolitan Ice Cream CO
135 E Michigan Ave
Jackson MI 49201
Recommended as one of the best local places for burgers and fries. Not to mention their variety of ice cream!
About a 10-minute drive from the conference venue.
~$10-$20 per meal
City Crepe
145 N Jackson Street
Jackson MI 49201
If you're looking for made to order crepes this is the place. One their website they claim to be better than the crepes in Paris. We don't know we've never been. Options for those with gluten intolerances and any vegans.
They also have good coffee options.
About a 10-minute drive from the conference venue.
~$10-15 per person
~$5 for a coffee
Non-local but popular places include...
(Drive from venue in parenthesis)
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Burger King (~5 minutes)
Bigbee Coffee (~5 minutes)
Chick-fil-a (~13 minutes)
Cracker Barrell (~15 minutes)
Denny's (~12 minutes)
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There are many, many more too!
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