By Zachary Gorchow
President of Michigan Operations
Posted: June 19, 2018 1:57 PM

Walk into the waiting area of one of Lansing’s most venerable, loved restaurant’s – DeLuca’s – and while you’re waiting for your table, you can gaze upon the local celebrities that have dined at the eatery that Italian immigrants Pat DeLuca and brother-in-law Jim opened in 1960.

And in the capital city, local celebrities means politicians.

Signed photos of former Governors Jim Blanchard, John Engler and Jennifer Granholm, who led Michigan from 1983-2011, adorn the walls. And there’s other former elected officials.

DeLuca’s is cherished among locals for a few reasons.

There’s the pizza, which locals would put up against any other pie.

There’s the portions. Interested in eating your weight? You can do it at DeLuca’s.

And there’s the affordable prices, especially when you consider the joy of having leftovers for days.

But with six months and change remaining in Governor Rick Snyder’s time in office, there’s no sign of Mr. Snyder having partaken. No signed photo.

When I asked one of the owners, Tom DeLuca, if Mr. Snyder had visited, he said to his knowledge he has not.

That’s not exactly shocking. Mr. Snyder is the first governor since a Lansing residence was provided to the state’s chief executive not to live in Lansing. He lived for much of his term in Superior Township near Ann Arbor and now lives in an Ann Arbor condominium. DeLuca’s, located in the northwest part of town, isn’t on his commute.

But here at the Gongwer blog, we deal with both the serious and the silly, and the last time my family and I ate at DeLuca’s I noticed the lack of a Snyder photo and it has nagged at me since.

Which clearly makes me weird (obviously) considering the matter has not been front of mind for the DeLuca family.

“Honestly, I’ve never given it a thought. I’m not politically active,” Mr. DeLuca said when I asked if it had occurred to him the streak of governors eating at his restaurant and providing a signed photo might end.

Mr. DeLuca said Mr. Blanchard was the one who started the photos as best he could remember.

“He just came in and volunteered. That was nice,” he said. “Engler was the same way. And Governor Granholm too. She was real friendly.”

Of what the photos add to the restaurant, Mr. DeLuca said, “People just enjoy seeing notable people that have been in. I know I do.”

I shouldn’t have written this blog before lunch. I need a meatball sub, stat.