October 29, 2019

Sports bar, family eatery Joe Kool's open near Brighton

Owners of Joe Kool's Sports Bar and Grill are expanding to new locations in Michigan, starting with Green Oak Township.

After about 10 months of extensive interior renovations to a restaurant building at 9555 Village Place Blvd., in the Green Oak Village Place shopping mall near Brighton, owners and brothers Dante and Dorayd Bacall have opened their second location there.

The new restaurant opened Wednesday. Regular hours will be 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week, beginning a week after the opening. Until then, they plan to open at 4 p.m.

"Basically, it's a high-end sports bar with lots of TVs, and we can have all kinds of channels on at the same time for sports...," Dante Bacall said. "It will also be a place for families to come eat."

Joe_Kools_to_open_01

Dante Bacall, co-owner of Joe Kool's Sports Bar and Grill, stands in front of nine large-screen TVs that will also unify into one big image behind the bar Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019.
Bacall looks forward to opening the pub in Green Oak Village Place mall.GILLIS BENEDICT/LIVINGSTON DAILY

The restaurant features about 45 televisions. There are sets mounted on every wall and more than a dozen hanging from the ceiling. Nine sets behind the bar can act as one large screen for big games.

"We did a whole tear down" of the building's interior," Bacall said. "We went over and beyond with this location to show the community what Joe Kool's is all about."

Bacall said the cost of renovations was more than $1 million.

Joe_Kools_to_open_02

At least 45 flat-screen televisions will give patrons of the Joe Kool's Sports Bar and Grill, shown Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019, plenty of sports action options.
GILLIS BENEDICT/LIVINGSTON DAILY

The building was previously occupied by Jameson's Irish Pub and Grill before the Irish pub moved and reopened at 108 and 118 Grand River Avenue in downtown Brighton earlier this year. The previous interior decor scheme, a lot of dark wood and Irish green, has been removed and replaced with neutral tones. The eatery features a new bar and two long high-top tables, as well as booths, dining tables and new kitchen equipment.

Frank Sallan, the restaurant's director of operations, said the menu in Green Oak Township will feature many choices.

"We do pizza, all-American food and then about a third of the menu is south of the border," Sallan said. "My top-selling meal is chicken quesadillas. We sell almost 1,000 of those a month at the Troy location."

Joe_Kools_to_open_06

Although Joe Kool's is in the former location Jameson's Irish Pub and Grill in the Green Oak Village Place mall, all the interior has been completely changed to reflect the style of the new restaurant, shown Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019.
GILLIS BENEDICT/LIVINGSTON DAILY

He said another favorite among customers has been the southwest chopped chicken salad with house-made dressing.

"We have a good atmosphere for families and the bar crowd ... a lot of sports customers," he said.

The restaurant has a full bar with more than 30 types of beer on tap.

It will seat 156 inside.

Joe_Kools_to_open_05

Stop by for a drink; stay for the game at Joe Kool’s Sports Bar and Grill, shown Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019.GILLIS BENEDICT/LIVINGSTON DAILY

Bacall said they will add an enclosed, all-season patio at a later date. He estimates the patio will add at least 100 more seats.

They will also start booking live entertainment at a later date.

"I think this is a good area for a Joe Kool's," Bacall said. "There's a lot of development going on here. There are more hotels, and also the mall attracts more people into the parking lot."

Joe_Kools_to_open_03

A number of games lend a casual flair to the Joe Kool's Sports Bar and Grill, shown Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019.GILLIS BENEDICT/LIVINGSTON DAILY

Just the beginning of expansion plans

Dante Bacall said he hopes in the next 5 to 10 years to have more locations.

He and his brother, who live in the Bloomfield Hills area, also own Joe Kool's Bar and Grill in Troy.

"We're hoping 20 locations minimum, all in Michigan, probably," Bacall said.

Joe Kool's was first established in London, Ontario, Canada in 1983. That location still exists and is operated by different owners.

The Bacall brothers purchased the Troy location and the business name and trademark in 2016.

Joe_Kools_to_open_04

Several jerseys of local sports celebrities decorate the Joe Kool's Sports Bar and Grill in Green Oak Township, shown Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019.GILLIS BENEDICT/LIVINGSTON DAILY

NEW COFFEEHOUSE AND THEATER: New coffeehouse and theater serving up beverages, live entertainment in Brighton

NEW EATERY: Single Barrel Social founders show new $5 million restaurant

STATE BOOST: New Italian eatery and bocce ball venue coming to Howell

BBQ JOINT: Ginopolis’ Bar-BQ & Speakeasy opening Monday in Brighton

They own two other restaurants, Central Kitchen + Bar, in Detroit, and CJ Mahoney's Sports Grille, in Troy. They also own and operate 25 Marriott, Hilton and Holiday Inn hotels in Michigan.

Dante Bacall said they hope to open their next Joe Kool's establishment in Detroit.

Joe Kool's Sports Bar and Grill

Joe Kool’s Sports Bar and Grill, shown Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019, will open Oct. 30 at the Green Oak Village Place mall.
GILLIS BENEDICT/LIVINGSTON DAILY

Support our journalism and become a digital subscriber and download our app today. Click here for our special offers.

Contact Livingston Daily reporter Jennifer Timar at 517-548-7148 or at jtimar@livingstondaily.com. Follow her on Facebook @Jennifer.Timar99 and Twitter @JenTimar99.

© 2024. All Rights Reserved.