A bigger, better Village Grille
will emphasize sports, outdoor seating
The Village is about to become livelier.
Village Grille restaurant and bar owner Dan Lemanske is remodeling, expanding and adding two outdoor seating areas to his spot on Kercheval Avenue.
“We’re happy to see the Village Grille investing in the Village,” said John Jackson, Grosse Pointe City planner and executive vice president of McKenna & Associates in Northville.
The 3,300-square-foot bar and grill is leasing and remodeling more than half of the vacant space next door, the former Sherman Shoes at the corner of Kercheval and Notre Dame. This will add 2,200 square feet to the restaurant. When a retail business is more than 5,000 square feet, it requires a special use variance, which the Grosse Pointe City Council approved at its meeting this week.
The council also approved parking changes and heard the City manager volunteer to take a pay cut.
Lemanske said the current restaurant will become a sports bar with a half-dozen televisions. The addition will serve as the primary restaurant with larger booths and a separate game room to accommodate Little League and other sports parties. Pizza will be added to the menu.
The council also approved storefront remodeling to the restaurant. The stone façade will be pushed back 5 feet to allow for 10 feet of outdoor seating in front of the restaurant. It will be enclosed with removable fencing.
A black awning with minimal signage will run the length of the business. The addition, called the Great Room, will have additional outdoor seating along Notre Dame under the brick arcade. Wrought iron tables and chairs will be added to both outdoor areas and removed during the off season. Outdoor eating areas will not be open between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. The site plan was approved by the council.
Lemanske leases the building for his business but owns other buildings in the Village, including the space for Chico’s and Tresses. He would not disclose how much he is spending on the remodeling and expansion, but called it “a big investment.” He expects the restaurant addition to be completed soon and the sports bar at the beginning of next year.
In other business, City Manager Peter Dame announced he will take a 5% salary reduction in the next budget year to help balance the city budget. Employees will absorb more of their health care costs.
“This is a wonderful gesture on the part of our manager,” said Mayor Dale Scrace.
Additionally, the council approved permit parking for residents between Kercheval Avenue and St. Paul on St. Clair. Because shoppers, employees and other patrons of the Village were frequently parking along this block, residents and their guests sometimes could not park in front of their homes. Residents submitted a petition to the city requesting permit parking only. The permit parking will cost the city $200.
Council members approved waiving parking fees in the Village for the four weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The business community will reimburse the city for half of the program’s cost. The Edward P. Frohlich Family Trust, which owns about 40% of the Village’s property, will sponsor the first two weekends of parking. The Village Association, the Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Trader Joe’s will sponsor the second two weekends of parking.
