By Sara L. Smith
VIEW Staff Writer

GRAND BLANC TWP. — Current renovations to Brick Street Bar & Grill are expected to catapult the eatery into a whole new direction.

The restaurant, 1223 E. Grand Blanc Rd., is in the midst of a two-phase renovation and upgrade project. Phase I — encompassing a 2,000-square-foot addition including two new dining rooms for private functions — should be complete in September. Phase II — a large-scale outdoor patio open-air eating area, similar to a steetscape design — will be finished in May 2009.

Phase I construction started earlier this summer. This project entails two dining room areas, each self-sustaining, to provide for audio-visual productions, featuring: a drop down screen for corporate functions, wireless microphones, hardline and wireless internet connections, Wi-Fi, data port connections and projectors hidden in the ceiling. Each room will accommodate upwards of 40-50 people.

Each room will remain private to the rest of facility and will have all the hallmarks of a traditional dining room atmosphere, complete with fireplaces.

The rooms will be heavily marketed toward the business community, but will not have the stuffy appearance or corporate feel of a conventional conference room, says owner Mike Jablonski. The rooms are expected to be marketed for use as special event/occasion rentals, ranging from small weddings, bridal & baby showers, anniversary and birthday parties, class reunions, bereavement dinners, and the like.

These rooms will be cozy and thoroughly modern with “all the bells and whistles” of popular technological gadgetry, indicated Jablonski. While they will be perfect for corporate functions, though, they will still retain the charm and appearance of a dining room for other events and will lack the cold sterility of a business/conference center, he mentioned.

“These rooms will be ready to go on a moment’s notice,” said Jablonski. “It takes the guess-work out of it.”

The new open-air eating location will be expanded out considerably from the eatery’s current patio area. The old patio area will be carried out extensively in an effort to provide for expanded outdoor dining opportunities.

Jablonski says that his goal for the eatery is clear: he wants to continue to offer something unique and special to the local community that the people of Grand Blanc may call their own.

He says that he started considering the expansion project a couple of years ago, but that now he’s ready to put the plans in motion.

In addition to an expanded outdoor eating area and two new dining areas, the restaurant’s staff is expected to get an expansion of its own.

Jablonski says that he plans to add to the staff, increasing it from 60 to at least 75.
A Sunday brunch offering is also expected to kick off in October.

The eatery currently boasts an old-fashioned pub area, complete with a piano bar and humidor housing an array of cigars.

A full cordial drink menu and stellar wine list are offered, with custom-made martinis shaken and mixed at the customer’s request tableside.

Thai lettuce wraps, bistro shrimp pasta, spinach artichoke dip, spicy chipotle chicken pasta, Mongolian skillet, whitefish piccatta, and Brick Street shrimp are among menu staples.

“We’re taking a hard road here,” Jablonski said. “I don’t want any mediocrity.”

Jablonski says that his eatery is aimed at the 30-and-older crowd who need a place to unwind, have a drink and dessert at the end of the day, and maybe allow for a couple to enjoy a private meal together, lingering over an aperitif or just enjoy a great bottle of wine together after a casual evening out.

Hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and noon-9 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, call 810-603-2114.

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