Piper Restaurant - Dining Room Staff

Piper Dining Room/Office Staff

Pat Eldean

Patricia Eldean

Piper Owner and General Manager

The Piper’s owner and general manager is Pat Eldean. Pat opened the Piper Restaurant to complement Eldean Shipyard, which is owned by her husband, Herb. In the course of 26 years, the restaurant has had one major revision. For the first 12 years, it was the Sandpiper, an up-scale fine dining restaurant, which won several awards including the best restaurant in West Michigan. In 1997, it became the Piper, a more casual place where guests felt comfortable visiting more frequently and spending less money.

Over the years, Pat has maintained her love for the hospitality business. She enjoys finding ways to enhance the dining experience. Nothing could be more challenging, more diverse and more fun. Pat tremendously enjoys her young and talented staff. She is thrilled to meet former staff (or their parents), and they share how their job at Sandpiper/Piper made a real difference in their lives.

Pat likes variety in everything—how she chooses to rest, exercise and have fun…. She says, “I love cooking and I like diversity in food. I don’t have a favorite recipe because I get bored. I want new flavors, and I like trying new things. I like to read and enjoy all genres of books. I really enjoy my grandchildren, Ryan, 17 and Alexander, 3 years old.”

Pat Eldean and Chef Keaton Stearns

Pat with Chef Keaton

Another interest of Pat’s is travel. Her goal is to try to go to the spots in the world that haven’t been overrun with tourism. But of course, that’s getting hard. I guess you could say she is passionate about having variety in all areas in life.

Julie Harkema

Piper Event Coordinator

Julie Harkema

A long-term staff member, Julie Harkema is our Event Coordinator. This position is a natural fit for Julie since she has a passion for helping people and having fun.

Since August of 2002, she has calmed blushing brides, anxious grooms and nervous parents through hundreds of weddings, receptions and rehearsal dinners. She is the ultimate "mistress of ceremonies."

Julie began her Piper career as a server and bartender and moved into her position of Event Coordinator in 2002, forfeiting her job as a Zeeland High School diving coach.

Her family is quickly expanding and is capturing more of her unlimited energy. She is married to Brian; mother to Dria, Danielle and Tony; stepparent to Riley and Mason and grandmother to three beautiful granddaughters. Besides her family as her number one interest, Julie enjoys golfing, traveling and entertaining.

If you would like to have Julie help plan your reception or any special event at The Piper, contact her at Julie@PiperRestaurant.com. Julie will also help you plan an off-site party catered by The Piper.

Kara Westerhof

Piper Dining Room Manager

Kara Westerhof

Kara has just begun her new Dining Room Manager duties at The Piper. She is young, energetic and has an outgoing personality and a bright smiling face. She is a welcome addition to our staff.

She is a West Ottawa graduate and came to us from Crossmark, where she was the Lead Event Specialist. Kara was Service Coordinator at Meijer, Manager at Pizza Hut, Head of Marketing at Ruby Tuesday, and also worked at The Rental Company and Caryle Pastore and Co.

Kara has a six-month-old daughter named, Kira, whose father helps take care of her when mommy's working.

Melodie Moermond

Piper Office Manager/Webmaster

Ihave been working at Sandpiper/Piper for over 25 years. With a picture window looking out on my corner of Lake Macatawa, I enjoy a wonderful view of the marina, bay and all the ducks.

In my younger years, I taught dance lessons such as tap, ballet, acrobatics, jazz and some ballroom. I've also done some choreography for musicals at Holland Civic Theatre and other local groups. I also did a short stint as a gogo dancer, would you believe.

I enjoy golfing, bowling, fishing, walking in the woods and to the beach, flying sport kites, going to the theatre and concerts, and of course, dancing. Going deer hunting this fall with my new crossbow.