Tarra Hurlburt always knew the power of bringing people together over a good meal. Growing up as the child of a restaurateur, she developed a passion for connecting with people over food early on. It wasn’t a surprise when she and her husband John decided to start their own restaurant, Buck’s Port Hope Diner, and found the perfect location in a historic building in downtown Port Hope.

The Hurlburts had been looking to permanently move to Port Hope for years. “We saw a need,” Tarra says. “This building had been a former restaurant, and it had a lot of history. It was just an open canvas for us to start from scratch.” When the location presented itself, they quickly decided it was meant to be.

Starting a restaurant is a huge undertaking, especially with financing and buildout. That’s where the Michigan SBDC stepped in. Tarra and John connected with Business Consultant Shannon Schwabe, who helped them structure their vision into a viable business plan. “Shannon helped us with projections, putting all the financials in place,” Tarra explains. “Shannon was our main point of contact, and she was awesome to work with,” John adds. This crucial assistance allowed the Hurlburts to secure funding from Northern Initiatives to finance the buildout. 

The couple completed much of the building restoration work themselves, carefully preserving the integrity of the historic space and bringing back some of Port Hope’s history. As Tarra notes, “We went back and brought the old history back to the town and put a little twist on it with the modern touch.”

Since opening in 2022, Buck’s Port Hope Diner has become a true destination. The demand for Tarra’s homemade, fresh food has been overwhelming, and the diner now serves hundreds of people who travel from all across the Thumb area. “We have people driving 45, 50 miles away,” Tarra says proudly.

The ripple effect of the diner’s success is being felt by other businesses in the area, which are noticing a significant shift in traffic patterns and a revitalization of the downtown district. Currently home to 10 employees, Tarra and John have already expanded their hours to keep up with the demand.

The Hurlburts have successfully established roots in the community and continue to carry on Tarra’s family’s legacy. They attribute the foundational support to their Michigan SBDC consultant. “Shannon was a huge part of our financing success,” John says. “She was right there with us, hands-on, helping us with all the questions.”

Buck’s Port Hope Diner is a testament to the power of a clear vision, hard work, and the right guidance to serve the needs of a growing community.

This project is being supported in whole or in part, by federal award number SLRFPO127 awarded to Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County by the US Department of Treasury