By Josh Bootsma
LANSING, Ill. (October 11, 2022) – 3545 Ridge Road has sat vacant since Bakers Square abruptly shuttered in January of 2020. Now, Honey Berry Cafe is making plans to rehab the building and open in the spring of 2023.
Honey Berry Cafe
With 10 locations nationwide, including five in Chicagoland, Honey Berry Cafe offers breakfast and brunch options like pancakes, skillets, omelets, waffles, and sandwiches. The 11th location will fill the 3545 Ridge Road space after renovations are completed.
Matt Ahmeti, CEO of Wall Street Capital LLC, the company that purchased the building, said plans are in place for the restaurant to be open from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., seven days a week. Though subject to material shortages and other delays, Ahmeti hopes to be open for business in March or April of 2023.
“We are hunting for Bakers Square everywhere” Ahmeti said, referring to a major sell-off of Bakers Square properties throughout the country that occurred in 2020. Lansing’s Bakers Square closed abruptly on January 24, 2020, news that was mourned by many of the restaurant’s regulars.
Buying, planning, renovating
Ahmeti said his company was very motivated to close the deal on the property and open another Honey Berry Cafe in the Chicago area.
“We closed the deal in 2.5 hours,” he said. “When we like something we put a good offer on it.”
Ahmeti said Wall Street Capital is in the process of “submitting blueprints” for the new space, and plans to start work on the parking lot in the coming weeks. New landscaping is also planned on the exterior. On the inside, Ahmeti said his company will “gut everything,” though much of the Bakers Square furniture was left intact. He also said new kitchen equipment will be installed, estimating the total renovation will cost around $2 million.
Honey Berry Cafe plans to include cocktail offerings on its brunch menu, and is currently in the process of applying for a liquor license from the Village, Ahmeti said. Video gaming is also planned for the site.
Ahmeti estimated 80 part-time and full-time employees will work at the restaurant once it is open.
“This concept really fit well for this area,” Ahmeti said. “That’s why we’re investing in the area and we’re going to be here for a long long time.”
Wall Street Capital has also purchased Jack’s Sports Pub & Eatery in Lansing.
Related
- Local Voices: Missing Bakers Square (April 30, 2022)
- Lansing Bakers Square among nine closings in four states (January 27, 2020)
It is about time ! Lansing needs more family dining places ! No more fast food places or drive thrus !
Is there a way to contact the new owners of baker’square of to find out if they will be selling the table and chairs.. particularly interested in a small table for 2 with the chairs.