MASON — The owner of Saddleback BBQ will open a new restaurant in the city’s downtown this summer.
The new concept, Assembly, will occupy a storefront at 402 S. Jefferson St. The space, located adjacent to Kean’s Store Co., was previously home to Risen Breakfast & Bakery, a breakfast restaurant that opened in 2023 and closed in February.
Matt Gillett, owner of the restaurant group that includes Saddleback’s locations in Okemos and REO Town, Slice by Saddleback in Lansing and Coach’s Pub & Grill in Delhi Township, said Assembly will offer an “elevated but recognizable menu that focuses on good, fresh ingredients.”
“We wanted to make something where there’s recognizable food, food that’s everyday food that I grew up on, that most people in the community grew up on, and really try to take it further, with better ingredients and more effort on the back end,” Gillett said.
Those dishes could include burgers, fish and chips, steak and fries and salads, he said. Menu prices will be “competitive,” he said. “We’re not trying to put an $80 burger on the menu.”
Menu offerings aren’t finalized yet, Gillett said.
Plans also include transferring the liquor license at Saddleback BBQ’s Okemos location, where beer and wine are served, to Assembly.
“We would have full bar access, a beverage program, cocktail list, wine list, small draft beer list,” Gillett said.
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Gillett, a Mason resident, said he grew up in the community and wanted to open a restaurant that would serve as a gathering space. Hence the name, he said.
“We really want people to come in and kind of enjoy the ambiance of what we’re working towards, the experience, and honestly, downtown Mason,” Gillett said.
The space’s interior will be renovated in the coming months, he said. It offers seating for up to 50 people.
Gillett hopes to open the restaurant in July or August. It would be open seven days a week and employ about 15 to 20 people.
Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on X @GrecoatLSJ.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Saddleback BBQ owner to open new restaurant concept in Mason
Reporting by Rachel Greco, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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