With the slogan “home grown good,” customers who visit 11th Harvest Café can expect a fresh, healthier take on American classics, like the cheeseburger and fries.

The newest addition to the Niles Township restaurant scene opens at 6 a.m. today at 2726 S. 11th St.

To help celebrate, Better World Books will visit the restaurant from 2 to 3 p.m. today for an event dubbed Burgers, Fries and Books.

Community outreach is one aspect that co-owners Santana Hoss and Kim Savage, both of Niles, and Pamela Sebasty, of Buchanan, said they valued. Both Hoss and Savage are former Better World Books employees.

Savage said their goal was to open a family-friendly restaurant that gave people a true taste of the southwest Michigan area, while also serving as a venue that can give back to the community.

“Basically, what we want to do is provide fresh food for our customers through local resources as much as we can,” Savage said.

The restaurant has partnered with Jake’s Country Meats in Cassopolis for ingredients. They also plan to get produce from area farms.  Currently, produce is purchased from Gordon’s Food Service, a restaurant supplier.

To keep it fresh, the menu will change seasonally based upon the produce available in the area, Savage said. Breakfast, lunch and dinner items will be available.

Chef Ben Larson said the fresh ingredients and selection of meat that contains less fat help to make the menu items healthier.

For the summer season, the menu, which ranges in price from $6.99 to $18.99 will offer burgers and hand cut fires or potato chips, steak, fish and a variety of wraps, including the grilled chicken wrap, made of lemon seasoned chicken, arugula and light spicy mayo wrapped in whole wheat flat bread.  A number of lettuce wraps and salads can also be found on the menu. For breakfast, the menu will offer stuffed French toast, biscuits and gravy and stuffed peppers, to name a few. Customers will also have the opportunity to choose from a number of hand crafted teas and lemonades.

The restaurant seats 100 and is decorated with tables and chairs evocative of a family style kitchen.

Savage said her friends felt a calling to have a business that could serve the community in a multitude of ways.

Savage, Hoss and Sebasty have been deeply involved in ministry work. The friends helped to feed people and complete a number of other service projects in the Indiana area. But Savage said the friends felt it was important to return to their hometown and help out.

During one Sunday a month, the restaurant will serve as a soup kitchen to serve those in need.

“Our main focus here is to give back,” Savage said. “We decided that one of the best ways to give back to the community is to open up a restaurant and welcome everybody, no matter where they come from.”

Family was another important aspect to the restaurant owners, who wanted to offer a place where there would be fun, family friendly entertainment or educational opportunities.

Savage said there will also be a number of musical and entertainment options offered. One of the first artists to perform will be singer and songwriter Chris Kang, who will perform from 6 to 9 p.m. July 28.

While the friends have never owned a restaurant before, Savage said each brings their own unique set of skills to the business. Hoss has gained management experience through her prior position at Better World Books, while Savage has helped out at a family-run restaurant in Sturgis called John and Dot’s Prairie Lake Tavern. Sebasty has worked as a cook for Michiana Christian Youth Camp.

Twenty people were hired as full-time restaurant staff.

With an inviting menu and atmosphere, Savage hopes to offer something new to residents in the area.

“I think we have set ourselves apart by how this place looks and the welcoming aspect,” Savage said. “The home grown good is the goodness of the food and people.”

The restaurant will be open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday.