About
Our mission
The mission of The Lunch Room LLC* is to prepare high-quality, nutritious vegan food, and to demonstrate the breadth and versatility of plant-based whole foods. The Lunch Room, when possible, uses local and organic produce, makes everything from scratch from fine ingredients, and emphasizes environmental sustainability.
*The Lunch Room LLC is the parent organization of The Lunch Room Bakery & Cafe, Detroit Street Filling Station, and North Star Lounge
OUR STORY
Phillis Engelbert is owner of Detroit Street Filling Station, The Lunch Room Bakery & Cafe and North Star Lounge. Prior to the COVID pandemic, she also owned and operated The Lunch Room Diner & Canteen.
The company was founded in 2011 by Phillis Engelbert and Joel Panozzo—good friends and next-door neighbors who love cooking and serving vegan food. The philosophy behind the business has always been that “work” should be the pursuit of what you love and should reflect your values, passions and interests. Work at The Lunch Room locations embrace freedom, creativity, fun, egalitarianism, social justice and community.
The Lunch Room began as a twinkle in Joel’s and Phillis’ eye in the summer of 2010. They started out by preparing dinner parties and brunches for friends, featuring experimental vegan dishes. From October 2010 through February 2011 they hosted a series of “pop-up” dining events at local retail establishments.
The Lunch Room’s next step was to open a food cart, which operated during the 2011 and 2012 seasons at the downtown Ann Arbor food cart courtyard, Mark’s Carts. After completing a successful second season, The Lunch Room decided to sell the cart and move on to bigger adventures.
The vegan eatery then went brick-and-mortar with a The Lunch Room Diner & Canteen in Kerrytown Market & Shops August 2013 and added a bar a year later. A second location, The Lunch Room Bakery & Cafe, opened in February 2015 in the Huron Towers Apartments on the north side of Ann Arbor. In 2016 Lunch Room Acres was founded in Belleville, to supply fresh produce and flowers.
In August 2017 the Detroit Street Filling Station location opened in the historic Staebler Family Oil Company filling station. The space was previously occupied by Argiero's Family Italian Restaurant for 40+ years. This location provides table service and carryout options. It features a plant-filled outdoor patio, and in the warm weather weekly live music and sidewalk seating.
The Lunch Room Diner & Canteen closed in 2020 near the start of the pandemic, and North Star Lounge opened in October 2022 — next door to Detroit Street Filling Station — as a music venue and vegan bar. It reminds us to gather with others and enjoy ourselves in the pandemic’s waning years.
Joel left the business at the end of 2019 to pursue new chapters in life. Phillis continues to run three locations with a very talented team of managers, cooks and servers.
