Community Involvement
At Virginia Coney Island, we believe in helping the community as much as possible. On this page you will find news articles about us as well as our sponsorships and donations in the Jackson community. We live in this community, the community supports the restaurant, and we believe in giving back. Contact us for more information.
News Articles
- MLive Article: Local Eats: Opened in 1914, Virginia Coney Island is a Jackson Tradition
Virginia Coney Island has stood the test of time.Opened in 1914, the restaurant has survived two World Wars, the Spanish Flu and dozens of other historic moments in time. The Virginia Coney Island was also named the best place for a coney dog in Michigan, according to a 2019 USA Today reader poll.
A second bout with a pandemic — this one COVID-19 instead of influenza – has been scary for the owners of VCI, but that does not mean Erin and Joe Matthews can’t get through it.
- MLive Article: Virginia Coney Island Has Been Serving Jackson Community Since 1914
See the Gallery on MLive - MLive Article: Virginia Coney Island Has Seen Spike in Business Since Contest
In stopping by Virginia Coney Island, 649 E. Michigan Ave., at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, one would think the lunch rush would be over.Apparently not, however. Virginia Coney Island was bustling with people at that time this week, something owners Eli and Jan Potter say is not an exception these days.
The Potters both said business has been above average since it was included in MLive Media Group’s Best Coney Dog in Michigan contest in April.
“It seems to be a lot of people coming in saying they haven’t been here in a while,” Jan Potter said. “For whatever reason they stopped coming, a lot of people have been giving us another try since the contest.”
Virginia Coney Island and Andy’s Pizza were included as stops for the contest. That was after MLive readers voted the two establishments as the two best places to get coneys in Jackson.
- MLive Article: Quest for Michigan’s Best Coney Makes Stops at Virginia Coney Island
The coney capital of Michigan – Jackson, of course – made its presence known Wednesday in MLive Media Group’s quest for the state’s best coney hot dog.Entertainment writer John Gonzalez, aka “Gonzo,” made stops at Virginia Coney Island, 649 E. Michigan Ave., and Andy’s Pizza, 1208 W. Ganson St., to taste the coneys that MLive readers voted the two best in town.
Gonzo, joined by several Citizen Patriot employees, including Brian Wheeler, Brad Flory, J. Scott Park and myself, started around noon at Virginia, where we got a history lesson in coneys from former owner Craig Christoff and current owners Eli and Jan Potter.
“The soldiers from Fort Custer (in Battle Creek) all used to come over here,” said Christoff, who inherited the business from his father. “This building is made from the same bricks from the train station, which is the oldest working train station in the country.”
Eli Potter, who bought the business from Christoff five years ago, said Virginia goes through 600 to 800 hot dogs a day.
“The sauce, the onions – everything is made fresh every day,” he said.
- MLive Article: Mothers, Daughters Work Side-by-Side at Virginia Coney Island in Jackson
The coney capital of Michigan – Jackson, of course – made its presence known Wednesday in MLive Media Group’s quest for the state’s best coney hot dog.Entertainment writer John Gonzalez, aka “Gonzo,” made stops at Virginia Coney Island, 649 E. Michigan Ave., and Andy’s Pizza, 1208 W. Ganson St., to taste the coneys that MLive readers voted the two best in town.
Gonzo, joined by several Citizen Patriot employees, including Brian Wheeler, Brad Flory, J. Scott Park and myself, started around noon at Virginia, where we got a history lesson in coneys from former owner Craig Christoff and current owners Eli and Jan Potter.
“The soldiers from Fort Custer (in Battle Creek) all used to come over here,” said Christoff, who inherited the business from his father. “This building is made from the same bricks from the train station, which is the oldest working train station in the country.”
Eli Potter, who bought the business from Christoff five years ago, said Virginia goes through 600 to 800 hot dogs a day.
“The sauce, the onions – everything is made fresh every day,” he said.
Sponsorships and Donations
The owner, Eli, is a retired school teacher and believes strongly in supporting youth development. As a result, Virginia Coney Island sponsors many youth sports teams, school programs, churches, and other community projects. Here are a few of our recent sponsorships and donations.
- Northeast T-Ball
- Spring Arbor Little League Baseball
- Wesleyan Church Summer Bible School
- American Veterans Annual Block Party
- Jackson High School Project Graduation
- Hunt Elementary School
- Northwest High School Project Graduation
- The Hunters Safety Program for Children
- Co-ed Sunday League Softball
- McCulloch Academy Carnival
- Queen’s OctoberFest
- 4-H Youth Development Organization
- Jackson Area Catholic Schools Fall Festival
- East Jackson 6th Grade Basketball
- Habitat for Humanity
- Annual Grand River Cleanup
- Jackson Fire Department
