The Okemos community, as well as the friends and family of Val Korrey were saddened when the
Sip N’ Snack closed its doors when owner Korrey passed away earlier this year. It was therefore an exciting day last week when the restaurant, an Okemos staple for 57 years, reopened. Perhaps no one was as excited as the owner herself, Josie Bordayo.
“I’m here to serve the community,” says Bordayo. “I’m very pleased and happy, because this is my dream.”
Bordayo worked as a cook at Michigan State University for years, as well as took culinary classes there to complement the cooking skills she developed growing up cooking for 15 siblings. Once she gets the Sip N’ Snack back up and running, she will pass ownership on to her son, Nick Turrubiates, and his wife Olivia.
Under the new ownership, Sip N’ Snack will feature new menu items such as chef salads and her family recipes for enchiladas and fajitas. Eventually, she says, the family may change the name of the restaurant.
Sip N’ Snack now employs three workers in addition to Bordayo and her family members who help out. Throughout the renovation, Bordayo says several members of the community stopped by frequently to find out when the restaurant would reopen. When it did on Monday of last week, a large crowd came to welcome them.
“It was wonderful,” Bordayo says. “Everyone was waiting patiently for the doors to the open. Some had breakfast, and came back for lunch and then dinner.”
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