Original opening delayed, but owner Avery Hall is ready now
by Ashlee De Wit
“I started cooking for Lent at the church,” he said. “I did all the fish fries, and people liked the flavor. At first, some student organizations would order out, but the kids wouldn’t eat it—they would wait for me to cook. So that really encouraged me.”
His current repertoire includes recipes from his mother, his wife, and his kids’ former babysitter. He has adjusted the recipes, tested them, and perfected them—and now he wants to bring them to the Lansing community in a new restaurant, Ooo Wee Chicken & Ribs, which officially opened on June 9.
Five years of planning
Hall first considered opening a restaurant about five years ago. Then, he was looking for a place in the city. But after his retirement in June 2017, he began instead to consider Lansing, where he has lived for the last 11 years.
Ooo Wee Chicken & Ribs is on Ridge and Roy, in what was most recently Backyard Que. The building itself is a perfect fit for his restaurant, but Hall initially had concerns about the location. The entrance to the restaurant is in the back, across from the post office.
He hopes that the upcoming opening of Fox Pointe, along with a serious marketing campaign, will get people in the door—and that his low prices, quality service, and six difference sauces will encourage them to come back.
That extra touch
“When I go to restaurants, I want things a certain way,” he said. “My wife gets upset when I complain, but I know how I like things—and I want to provide that same type of service to the public.” He had tastings at his home with friends and family to help him finalize the menu, which features pork ribs, wings, tips, and links.
“Everything we cook has to have that extra touch—I want people to rave about the flavor, the seasonings, and the tenderness [of the meat],” he said. “I know you can’t please everyone, but I like to cook, and to see people eat and be happy.”
You can find Ooo Wee Chicken & Ribs at 18155 Roy Street. Restaurant hours are:
- Monday–Thursday: 11:00am–9:00pm
- Friday–Saturday: 11:00am–11:00pm
- Sunday: 11:00am–7:00pm
