Bay City's downtown will be home to a new restaurant soon, as Latitude 43 opens this month in place of the former Paddock restaurant on the corner of Hart and Henry streets.
The new establishment is named for the city's geographical location, on the 43rd latitude, and brings a local feeling into the style of the place with historical Bay City photographs and local artwork adorning the walls. It will have a 110-customer capacity
Two brothers, Ray and Joe VanMullekom, bought the building and plan to open their new restaurant in October after extensive renovations and hiring a full staff of 48 cooks, bartenders and servers through the Michigan Works! office.
Among the changes were a relocation of the main entrance, the addition of several large windows, and an addition for office space and future kitchen expansion.
The menu and décor also are new, the first created with Ray's extensive restaurant experience, and the second with the help of Joe's construction business. The horse-racing theme of the old Paddock has been replaced by an upscale-casual look.
While family dining staples like surf and turf will remain on the menu, new options include pretzel-bun turkey burgers, vegetarian sandwiches, and grilled salmon. Latitude 43 will also offer a traditional prime rib on Saturdays and a brunch on Sundays.
As for prices, the VanMullekoms aren't shooting for expensive, but more for family-affordable.
"Our goal is not to be over-priced, but be very competitive," says Ray. "We want to create frequency with our customers."
Latitude 43 is scheduled to be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, until midnight on Friday and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Ray VanMullekom, Latitude 43
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