The Wilkies’ business grew from the grief of losing their son days after he was born. About a month later, when their daughter asked for a "Barbie" birthday cake, Yvette Wilkie created it. She said the cake brought her spark back, "The cake turned out so nice. It was so cute." Soon, family members and Robert Wilkie's coworkers began asking her to bake one for them.

From there, baking turned into a small business in the couple’s basement. They opened their first storefront on what would have been RJ’s third birthday, and the Jackson location on what would have been his tenth. 

The Wilikes said they have people come to their Jackson location and share their experiences of loss. They add that these patrons say their story gives them hope. "We call our business more like a marketplace ministry," Yvette Wilkie said. 

"It’s so much more. It’s a happy place," Yvette Wilkie said. "It’s really what helped us move forward from such a painful loss."

The restaurant, famous for its smash burgers and crazy shakes, is a colorful storefront nestled in downtown Jackson. Motivational signs hang on one wall, and customer reviews, featuring an ice cream decal, hang on the other. 

London Moore, a senior at Jackson High School, works as a cashier at RJ’s. She said the workplace is a "great community," and everyone takes pride in providing a good experience for customers. 

Kily’An Thomas, a student at Jackson College who works as a cook, said he loves the bosses. "Rob’s a real funny guy," he said. "Yvette is nice and sweet."

"They (Robert and Yvette) have taken us all in as family, they understand everything," Moore said. 

The idea to expand to East Lansing, Yvette Wilkie said, was because her parents moved to Lansing from the South. The couple also sees "a large base" of people from Lansing come to the Jackson location. "It was a natural fit," she said. 

"We’re excited to go to a college town," Yvette Wilkie said. "To continue telling our story, to continue building our son’s legacy and let his memory carry on."

The new location will be at 1399 E. Grand River Ave., next to Grand Traverse Pie Company, and will feature an interior "very similar" to the Jackson location’s, Robert Wilkie said. 

"We feel honored, blessed, and privileged that people would take the time to patronize our business," Yvette Wilkie said. "So, we want to do our very best to show them our appreciation for doing that."

Learn more about RJ's Burgers & Ice Cream Co. online and on Facebook.