Partnering with 4GR8 Food Group to Give Back 🍽️
This week, I had the privilege of partnering with 4GR8 Food Group — a Michigan-based hospitality company led by my good friend Jeff Lobdell — to provide lunch for 100 hardworking TSA employees at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
These men and women have shown incredible dedication — working more than 40 days without pay — yet continuing to show up each day to keep travelers safe and flights running smoothly. Jeff and his team wanted to say thank you in the best way they know how: through great food and genuine hospitality. I was proud that Great Lakes Travel Deals could play a small part in making that happen.
If you’re not familiar with Jeff’s work, his 4GR8 Food Group operates some of Northern Michigan’s most beloved restaurants and hotels, including Apache Trout Grill, Boones Prime Time Pub, West End Tavern, The Omelette Shoppe, and the Sugar Beach and Grand Beach Resort Hotels in Traverse City.
In Grand Rapids, their restaurants include Bagel Beanery, Grand Coney, Real Food Cafe, Sundance Grill, Pete’s Grill and Tavern, and The Beltline Bar — all community favorites.
Beyond running these iconic Michigan restaurants, Jeff’s team has a long history of giving back — contributing to more than 100 fundraisers every year and supporting local schools, first responders, and community causes across the state.
Partnerships like this remind me why I started Great Lakes Travel Deals in the first place — to connect travelers, communities, and the local businesses that make Michigan such an incredible place to live and explore.
👉 Learn more about 4GR8 Food Group — and check out their holiday gift card promotion: buy $40, get $10 free. You have a choice when you dine out — please consider supporting locally owned Michigan restaurants this holiday season.
