A South Lyon Q&A with Lake Street Tavern
Herald: Tell us about your business, including the types of
services and/or products you feature.
Mary Poole: Lake Street Tavern is a non-smoking neighborhood
tavern where friends can meet for a cold beer and a great burger. We serve
tavern-style, offering a wide range of options including baskets of fries or
onion rings, burgers, sandwiches, salads, a selection of dinner entrees
including pulled pork, ribs, meatloaf, and steak bits with hummus. It's a
simple menu appealing to those that enjoy a lunch or dinner prepared with
quality ingredients and served in a relaxed atmosphere.
Our kitchen is run by Chef Keith who is well
trained with a diverse background. A graduate of Schoolcraft's culinary arts
program, Keith has worked in many familiar places including the Golden
Mushroom, (where our Golden Mushroom Soup comes from), The Little Club in
Grosse Pointe, Kickers, and Joe's Produce. Chef creates unique specials for the
weekends including menu items such as crab cakes, beef brisket, sautéed perch,
or a seared salmon. Desserts include crème brulee, pie, and homemade cookies.
We are also offering catering, party trays, and carry-out.
We accept dinner reservations for eight or
more people and are available for showers, business meetings, dinner parties,
and birthdays. A perfect spot for parties is our common table capable of
seating 14 at one time.
Herald: How did you get started in this business?
Poole: I started waitressing for Betty Stremich at the
Hillside Inn's Bottom of the Hill in Plymouth back in the ‘70s. Betty was a
great mentor for me. She taught me great serving techniques and I was a keen
observer of her style of management. I then worked for Norm LaPage at Salvatore
Scallopini in Franklin, learning food quality and great management techniques
that led me to operate one of the company franchises in Dearborn Heights.
While raising a family and taking college
courses from Schoolcraft College, and Eastern Michigan University, I pursued a
degree in fine art, eventually graduating in 2001. It was shortly before
graduation, in 1997, my family purchased Getzie's Pub in Northville turning it
into Poole's Tavern. We became a community staple frequented by locals, winning
numerous awards for food, service, and atmosphere. The Tavern was sold in 2006.
It remains Poole's Tavern and is still implementing our concept. LST co-owner
Lauren Poole Romeo started learning the business at the local Coney Island,
Poole's and a few nightclubs in Chicago. She worked her way from waitress to
management by the time she worked for the family business. Her business and
marketing degree from the University of Illinois is helping to propel our
business.
Herald: What's the best reason to do business in the South
Lyon area?
Poole: We found South Lyon to be a growing, developing community
with a diverse customer base that attracted us. We have lived and worked in
small towns from Berkley, to Plymouth, Northville and now South Lyon. We love
the heart and soul of small towns as opposed to the innocuousness of the big
city.
Herald: How are things going lately?
Poole: Great! We are growing daily, working out some of the
bugs, listening to our customers needs, and improving every day. We have found
the community to be warm and receptive to the Tavern.
Herald: What's in store for the future of your business?
Poole: We have just rolled out a few new specials, a 10
under $10 menu featuring some of our most popular items of smaller proportions
at a price point of $4.95 to $9.95. We also offer our “5-4-3-2-1 HAPPY HOUR”
from 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Here you will find $5 martinis, $4 wine
(Tunnel of Elms), $3 well drinks, $2 drafts (Labatt Light, Detroit Lager, and
Blue Moon), and $1 off appetizers. We also have additional specials for each
day of the week such as 25¢ wings on Monday, $5 ladies night martinis on
Thursdays and Bloody Mary's and breakfast on Saturdays. We are also introducing
our children's menu with six items under $5.
This fall we will be introducing beer and
wine tastings for your education and enjoyment. You can sign up at the Tavern
or go on line at www.LakeStreetTavern.com.
We are also looking for music in the fall, some good blues or interesting
talented musicians. Come talk to us if you fit the bill!
Herald: Do you have a funny tidbit or story to share with
our readers about your experience so far as a small business owner?
Poole: I would like to take this opportunity to tell the
community how fortunate I am for the great friends, loyal purveyors, and
community that helped to open Lake Street Tavern. Without all of their
generousness of spirit and work we would not have opened in as good of shape as
we are in today. We are grateful. We will continue to serve you with open
hospitality, great food and beverage. Thanks for your welcome!
