Dining Icon Opens

February 25, 2008
White Lake Beacon

A restaurant icon in downtown Muskegon has come to Whitehall and has been welcomed with opened arms by diners in its first two weeks.

The U.S. 31 Bar-B-Q, a landmark in downtown Muskegon for 69 years, has branched out to Whitehall with its famous pickle relish on the diner’s choice of pork, beef or ham on a bun.

The parking lot at the former gas station at 604 E. Colby in Whitehall has been often crowded as customers order up the same tasty food they are used to eating in Muskegon.

This is a long time project for franchise owner Scott Marecek who convinced U.S. 31 Bar-B-Q founder, George Buris, to branch out.

“I talked to George in the winter of 2006,” Marecek said. “I told him, ‘I think Whitehall could use something like this.’ He seemed interested.”

Marecek, who had been a former science teacher at Three Oaks charter school and had served in Iraq in 2005 with the 1436th Engineering Co. of the Michigan National Guard, said he went back to the Muskegon restaurant a month later, and was asked if he was ready to begin the project.

His restaurant experience came from working as a bus boy at the former Bill Knapp’s in Muskegon, the Elk’s Country Club and the Chesapeake Crab House in the Holiday Inn in downtown Muskegon.

With no business experience in restauranting, Marecek is glad he’s hooked on with George Buris.

“With 69 years of trial and error, he knows what works and what doesn’t work.”

And, Marecek said Buris is making sure the Whitehall restaurant works. In the first week, he worked side-by-side with Marecek at the new store, and now continues to stop in two or three times a week and to call daily to check on how the business is doing and to ask questions.

Buris’ son, Kyle Buris, has also worked with Marecek. Kyle Buris continues to make the pickle sauce, using the family recipe, and is supplying it to Marecek.

Marecek said they are working hard at gaining consistency of the food quality that customers expect. And, all food is cooked fresh to order.

That means serving the moist sandwiches and French fries with the potato skins.

Marecek said the success of the U.S. 31 Bar-B-Q over the years is that it has a simple menu with food that is quality.

Bar-B-Q sandwiches are the only entree on the menu. Customers have the choice of pork, beef, ham or mixed meat on their sandwich.

French fries or chips can be ordered with the sandwich.

The restaurant also serves chili and the soup of the day by bowl or cup.

And, to finish off the meal the restaurant offers pie, ice cream, including chocolate sundaes.

Beverages include Coke products, iced tea, milk, coffee, tea, lemonade, shakes and floats.

And, Marecek said the open design of the dining and cooking area allows customers to see the meat on the rotisserie and to watch their food being prepared.

“I like that,” he said. “It keeps us on our toes to keep the place clean and we have contact with customers.”

Marecek said all that’s left of the previous building is the roof and walls. “We gutted the place.”

What has resulted, is a pleasant atmosphere decorated with framed posters of popular musicals and framed photographs of the local area by Whitehall resident Jerry Grady. Paul Klinefelter of Klinefelter’s Gallery, did the framing.

“I love the old musicals,” Marecek explained his decorating of the dining area.

All the electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems were all redone.

Marecek did much of the work himself to save money.

The new restaurant is a family endeavor. Scott’s brother, Brian, is a partner, and his brother, Greg, works there. Once they have the Whitehall U.S. 31 Bar-B-Q established, Greg plans to open another franchise in Grand Haven.

Scott’s mother, Sandy Schaller, and his 14- and 10-year old sons work at the restaurant.

In all, there are 12 employees at the Whitehall U.S. 31 Bar-B-Q.

The new owner said he had hoped to open his franchise last summer, but he is glad he waited until February, which is a slower time of year for business.

“We’ve made 600 to 800 Bar-B-Q’s a day. I’ve been overwhelmed with the response.”

But, he plans to be ready for more business during the summer tourist season.

Currently, the restaurant hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. In the spring they will add Sunday hours.