After 34 years in downtown Battle Creek, a beloved restaurant has closed its doors and is now up for sale. The transition marks the end of a long-running staple, leaving many across West Michigan wondering what comes next for the historic space.
Clara’s on the River hosted its last Sunday brunch on September 6, 2026. The local favorite had been serving up its French onion soup, burgers, Tex-Mex, pasta, ribs, steak, seafood, and Sunday buffet spreads for more than thirty years.
Beyond enjoying the restaurant’s expansive menu, community members spent decades on the patio along the river, gathering for summer live music and celebrating family milestones.
Aside from the food and entertainment, what made Clara’s unique was its connection to local history.
Located at 44 McCamly St., Clara’s on the River sits inside one of the city’s best-known landmarks. Founders Peter Jubeck and Ross Simpson opened the restaurant in 1992 after remodeling the historic Michigan Central Railroad Depot.
Built in 1888 out of Lake Superior red sandstone, the depot handled passenger travel and served thousands of World War I and World War II troops heading out from nearby Fort Custer.
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After passenger train service ended in the early 1980s, community efforts saved the structure, earning it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Converting the building preserved its clock tower, stained glass ceiling, and original architecture.
In a farewell message posted to Facebook, the Simpson family expressed mixed emotions about their decision to close. They pointed out that escalating competition from national chain restaurants, rising food and energy expenses, and the overwhelming cost of replacing the building’s 35-year-old heating and cooling system forced them to step away.
Now, the future of the space hangs in the balance. According to Wood TV 8, the building was quietly put up for sale at the start of the year with an asking price of $2.5 million. Real estate broker Wayne Deering is handling the listing.
The closure announcement triggered an outpouring of support online, with residents urging local leaders to step in, brainstorming historical preservation grants for the HVAC system, and trading nostalgic memories of the old train depot…