Founded in 2023 by sisters-in-law Holly and Alexis Baldwin, The Gooleyguk (pronounced: GOO-lee-Guk) was born out of a desire to offer a cozy space with creative drinks and a warm atmosphere. When a partnership with The 490 Bakery revealed itself, Alexis and Holly jumped at the chance to make their dream a reality.

For the last few years we have seen a major need for positivity, kindness, empathy, community, and peace. We wanted to create a place that is safe for everyone, where you can come in and feel at ease. We love Muskegon and we want to see it thrive into a place of growth, diversity, and care for the people who call it home. While our cafe is currently small, we’re aiming for a big positive impact!

The Name

Gooleyguks (pronounced: GOO-lee-Guks) were created by Holly’s great-grandmother, Faith Murray, a poet and author who wrote a series of poems about little creatures called Gooleyguks, dating back to 1931. They live in trees, ride on bumblebees, and always help their neighbors.

• The full poem can be found in the cafe.
• The fantastical and sweet nature of the poems inspired the environment of the cafe as well as the names of the smoothies on the menu. 
• Our logo features a bumblebee, the ride of choice for Gooleyguks. Save the bees!

The Gooleyguks

The Gooleyguks are funny folk,
They live way up in trees.
They’re very tiny, for, you see,
They ride on Bumble Bees.

All day they’re flying far and near
But always come at night
Back to their homes in Silver Woods;
They’re never lost in flight.

One came one day where Marjorie lay
So quietly in bed
And with a bag of Sandman’s Dust
He stood right near her head.

Her eyelids soon grew heavy
As around that dust he shook
Then off she flew to Silver Woods
Beside that Gooleyguk.

And there she saw the strangest sight
That she did ever see;
For lots of little houses
Were built up in a tree.

Each house was neat and tidy
As every house should be.
Upon the tiny birch-bark rugs
No dust could Marjorie see.

The acorn-pans were hung in place
Along the kitchen wall -
But there weren’t any windows
In either side at all!

But out along the roadway
That ran along the limb
Each house had two big windows,
The light was never dim.

“I see,” said Mr. Gooleyguk,
“You think it rather queer,
The way we place the windows
In all our houses here.

“We do not put them on the sides
For this one cause,” said he
“Just what my neighbor does at home
I’m not supposed to see.

But out along the roadway
We might see someone pass
Who needs our help, so toward the front
We have our Window Glass.

And thus we have no gossip,
We know no tales to tell
And everyone is friendly;
The village goes on well.”

I softly called to Marjorie.
So quick was her return
I did not know she had been gone
These funny things to learn.

But as I tried to feed her
She told this tale to me
About the funny Gooleyguks
Who live up in a tree

Faith Murray
February 3, 1931