MadJacks Café: A Little Touch of Britain on the North Channel of Lake Huron

Did you know that a little café named after Maddy (Mad) and Jackie (Jacks) Knisley, a daughter/mother duo, who teamed up to open British-themed MadJacks Café opened in the pretty village of Hilton Beach on St. Joseph Island, just thirty minutes east of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario?

I had the opportunity to meet up with them both on a sunny afternoon recently, “We opened in May 2022, so this is our second season,” said Jackie. 

“I moved to the island from Collingwood, Ontario. I was a registered nurse there. My daughter lived in the area, and they gave me a tour of the island. I liked it so much I thought that I would love to live here. One thing led to another, we saw that this business and land were for sale, and we decided to buy it. I also purchased a home here in Hilton Beach. Then my daughter and I set out to transform the business into to MadJacks Café,” she added.

It’s a seasonal business, opening around the May long weekend until the end of October. “Last year we did a Halloween-themed party for the local kids,” said Maddy. 

The café started with one building which had a kitchen and a small food service counter, with outdoor picnic tables. Building on the success of the previous season, in early 2023, expansion took place by adding two new buildings on the property, a dedicated retail store, and a larger food counter, with room for additional food and beverages, along with a covered eating area and gazebo. There are additional picnic tables out front. It's also a dog-friendly business with bowls of water on offer and special doggy scones available for purchase. 

The Menu

The café offers the “Rollin’ Willy” a jumbo hotdog, named after the café's mascot dog, Willy. Also on offer are loaded jacket potatoes both British (shredded cheese and baked beans) and Canadian (sour cream, shredded cheese, bacon, green onion) styles, along with a variety of delicious grilled cheese sandwiches. 

Scones, gluten-free brownies, cookies, and more are baked fresh daily. Craving something cool? "We do not offer ice cream cones, but do offer slices of ice cream pie,” Maddy says. A unique treat for a warm day! 

In the little retail store, MadJacks offers imported British treats including crisps, chocolates, teas, and jams, as well as MadJack's own Apple Ginger jam, along with sparkling water, iced coffee, and British brand fizzy drinks. Their customers love finding foods not found anywhere else close by. 

Where did the British theme come from? Jackie is originally from London, England. She moved to Canada in 1979. Her British influence not only shows in what the café offers in food and beverages, but her strong London accent is a welcoming voice to all their customers, tourists, and locals alike. 

This mum-and-daughter team is well on their way to making MadJacks Café a favourite, welcoming stop for a bite for everyone who visits beautiful St. Joseph Island whether by car or boat.

MadJacks Cafe

Owners Jackie and Maddy Knisley
Location: 3112 Marks Street, Hilton Beach, (steps from the Hilton Beach marina), St. Joseph Island, Ontario
Open: 6 days per week – Closed Wednesdays, May to October – check social media for specific dates and times
Facebook: www.facebook.com/madjackscafehiltonbeach
Instagram: @madjackscafe 

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