Angelo’s - One Last Breakfast
October 27, 2023
Writer: Brooke Edelman
Editor: KayLynn Young
“Finally, I’d like to thank everyone who’s ever stopped by for a meal, for a cup of coffee, for a slice of raisin toast, for a carryout order- this is your place. We are grateful to have served you. Closing Angelo’s was a difficult decision but it’s one that had to be made.”
- Steve Vangelatos, Owner of Angelo’s
For 67 years, the University of Michigan community has lined up on the corner of Catherine Street, waiting patiently for a table and a delicious Angelo’s meal. Angelo’s has become the center of a Wolverine’s college experience. Alumni return to Angelo’s with friends and family, insisting on reminiscing on those four fun years, while current students create similar memories within the same four walls.
Whether it’s an omelet, deep-fried french toast (my mom’s favorite), a burger, the “special breakfast,” or the iconic raisin bread, there is truly something for everyone at Angelo’s. The family-run diner embraces comfort and care, embodying what it feels like to be at home.
Growing up, nothing could ever compare to my mom’s favorite spot in Ann Arbor. But once I got here, Angelo’s became our place. During our meals together, my mom shares stories about the times spent here, like when it was open until 2 a.m. for an event back in 1990. It was clear that I followed in my mom’s footsteps, as Angelo’s quickly became my place too. At the booth my friends and I deemed “ours,” I celebrated birthdays wearing party hats, mourned heartbreaks over coffee, praised successful test scores, and debriefed nights out over a delicious stack of pumpkin pancakes.
Although the food is undeniably amazing, and I will (as you can imagine) miss my mornings with a side of their famous bread, Angelo’s ambiance is really what wins everyone’s hearts over. The warmth and comfort that’s found within this space are unique to Angelo’s and unique to Ann Arbor. But, I find myself feeling grateful for the place that transformed so many ordinary mornings into some of my core college memories.
Leaving home and your favorite places is difficult, but Angelo’s has shown the Michigan community that you can find a taste of home wherever life takes you. For some, it’s on the corner of Catherine Street. Angelo’s closing is a reminder to enjoy the staples while they’re still available and to explore everywhere you go in search of a place that takes you back home — where your meal is best served with a side of comfort.
Thank you, Angelo’s and the Vanegelatos family, for welcoming the Michigan community with open arms for the past 67 years. We are the lucky ones because we get to thank you for all of the meals, the cups of coffee, and the slices of toast — all with a side of our best college memories.
My first Angelo’s, 2011
