06/08/2026
An Open Letter to Our Customers
To our friends, neighbors, and valued customers,
The past few months have been challenging for many people across Northern Michigan. The combination of a very hard winter, heavy rainfall, and flooding has tested our communities in ways few could have imagined.
Many families experienced damage to their homes, cottages, and property when water levels rose dramatically and the volume of water became too much for the Cheboygan Dam, causing water to back up into surrounding lakes and waterways. Others spent anxious days watching water levels rise, worried about crawl space damage, flooded basements, and the possibility of losing everything they had worked so hard to build.
Our thoughts remain with those who have suffered losses and those who continue the difficult work of cleaning up and rebuilding.
Yet, as so often happens in times of adversity, we have witnessed the very best of Northern Michigan. Neighbors have helped neighbors. Volunteers have stepped forward. Funds have been raised to support those in need. Local banks have offered assistance through special loan programs. Community organizations, businesses, and individuals have come together with a shared determination to help one another recover.
As summer residents return to check on their cottages and seasonal homes, many are relieved to find things better than they feared. Others still face significant clean-up efforts. Wherever you find yourself in that journey, please know that this community stands with you.
It has also been a time when many heroes have quietly emerged - people helping others without seeking recognition, simply because it was the right thing to do. Their kindness and generosity remind us what makes this region so special.
Today, Northern Michigan is once again showing its beauty. Fresh green leaves have returned to the trees. The lakes and rivers sparkle with a remarkable blue freshness. The landscape is alive with the promise of summer.
And yes - Cheboygan Main Street is open for business.
Our businesses are open, and we and our fellow shop keepers Pups and Restaurants are looking forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new visitors throughout the season. Whether you are returning to your summer cottage, visiting for the first time, or simply enjoying a weekend getaway, we welcome you back.
Cheboygan has always been a community known for its warmth, friendliness, and resilience. Those qualities have never been more evident than they are today.
Thank you for your continued support of our businesses, our community, and one another.
We look forward to welcoming you back to Cheboygan.
With gratitude,
John and Marcella Costin
The Crown on Main Family of Businesses
The Queens Head • The Pig N Whistle • The Lark Theater • The Lark Lounge • Stormy Kromer Cap & Ale House • Simply Marcella
