Papa Lou‘s takes pizza up a notch

Sept. 21, 2005

Petoskey area residents are likely to remember a laid-back little pizza place on Mitchell Street that served up generous slices and was one of the few places in Petoskey that wasP open late at night. Well, even though that oizza place was a success while it lasted (it’s no longer in business now), it wasn’t quite enough for the ever-ambitious Stacy Vandenbrouck, so he decided to take things a step further with his latest venture, Papa Lou’s Pizza Pub and Grill.
Located just a couple of blocks over on Petoskey’s Lake Street, Papa Lou’s Pizza
Pub and Grill - named after Vandenbrouck’s grandfather, Louie - opened in mid-June, and fulfills a long-time goal for Vandenbrouck.
“This has been a dream of his ever since he was old enough to be thinking about it,” Debbie Houseworth chuckles. Houseworth, who co-owns Papa Lou’s with her son Stacy and his wife Amy, says that while Fat Daddy’s was, of course, an accomplishment, ownership of a bar-slash-restaurant is what Vandenbrouck has always wanted.
Residing on two levels in the old Bear River Brewery building, the Papa Lou’s experience begins on the red-carpeted lower floor, where the bar sits on a rustic brick wall, overhung with small red hanging lamps and Vandenbrouck’s collection of beer mirrors, overlooking the red-topped pool table to the right. The bar itself offers all the usual drinks you’d expect, plus a half-dozen slightly more unique offerings on tap – namely five top-level beers (Bass, Guinness, Oberon, Newcastle Ale, and Leinenkugel) and the strong, licorice-birch flavored authentic Iron Horse Draft Root Beer. There’s a second full bar upstairs, with a deck on each floor offering outside seating. “The upper-level deck offers a view of the bay,” Houseworth points out, “and we have plastic sides that roll down and a heater so you can even sit out there in colder or inclement weather.”
And one look at the menu tells you that there’s plenty to sit down for at Papa Lou’s besides their beer. The range of appetizers includes spinach-artichoke dip, shrimp purses, fried mushrooms, and the famed Brew City beer-battered fries. Entrees include everything from Papa Lou’s Half-Pound Burger or sirloin steak or hot wings (ranked from “Sissy” to “Nukes”) to sandwiches, grinders, and salads. “We’ve got a little bit of everything,” says Debbie Houseworth. And, of course, there’s the pizza menu, which Vandenbrouck has plenty of experience with - Papa Lou’s specialty pizzas are especially worth ordering.
After you enjoy a cold drink and a meal, there’s always the entertainment to consider. Papa Lou’s offers entertainment Tuesday through Saturday each week, with Tuesday being Blues Night, Wednesday offering up Karaoke, Thursday being Ladies’ Night, and a different band, mostly local favorites, coming through every Friday and Saturday, with cover charge averaging around $5 bucks. With every detail apparantly accounted for, plus assistance from his mother and wife, Stacy Vandenbrouck really thought his newest business plan through this time around, and it seems to be working, according to Houseworth. “It’s going fantastic so far.,” she enthuses, “busier than we planned. So we’re happy.”

Papa Lou’s Pizza Pub and Grill is located at 317 East Lake Street in downtown Petoskey, telephone 231-348-3663 - you can also visit them to check out their menus online at www.papalous.us.