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, 19 and Alexander, 4 years old.” As of June 2012, she also has twin grand babies, Lachlan and Ella.

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 Dining Room Manager
and Event Coordinator

Julie Harkema

A long-term staff member, Julie Harkema is now our Dining Room Manager while keeping her position as Event Coordinator. Both of these positions are a natural fit for Julie since she has a passion for helping people and having fun. She is quite the workaholic and handles both positions well.

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, and Dining Room Manager in January 2013.

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, holiday party or any special event at The Piper, contact her at Julie@PiperRestaurant.com.

Melodie Moermond

Piper Office Manager/Webmaster

I havebeen working at Sandpiper/Piper for over 27 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. I am now bow hunting in the fall with boyfirend, Ken. Love my new crossbow.