Michigan’s list of beloved restaurant losses now includes an Ann Arbor breakfast institution that served generations of students, families and returning alumni. Afternoon Delight Café closed on October 31, 2026, ending a 48-year run in downtown Ann Arbor.
Founder Tom Hackett opened the restaurant in 1978 at 251 East Liberty Street, just blocks from the University of Michigan’s central campus. Longtime employee Joanne Williams, who started working there as a high school student in 1979, eventually became a co-owner and took control of the business when Hackett retired in 2020.
A breakfast menu built for repeat visits
Afternoon Delight was known for made-to-order breakfast and lunch rather than elaborate dining-room polish. Its menu ranged from classic eggs Benedict and vegetable omelets to quiche, homemade soup and the restaurant’s baked French-bread boules filled with eggs, cheese, meat or vegetables…