The Copper Post serves tasty smoked steaks, BBQ fried ribs

tGRAND HAVEN, M he Copper Post has become a local favorite to grab classic barbecue dishes and drinks right in the heart of downtown Grand Haven.

Doug Vanse and Mike Thorp opened the American BBQ restaurant in 2018, located at 100 Washington Ave., with the hope of keeping the historic flare of the 1870s building when it was originally known as the Grand Haven Post Office.

“The building is beautiful,” said David McKay, head chef at The Copper Post. “We got hardwood floors, the ceiling is copper-textured, and there’s a lot of art on the walls. It’s homey.”

The restaurant prides itself on the vintage feel of the tastes good.” The bar and restaurant offer live music, trivia on Wednesday nights and brunch on Saturdays. The Junction will host its first drag brunch in late February, and tickets sold out within a couple of hours. The kitchen will soon introduce TV and movie-themed burgers for a limited time, starting with burgers inspired by the animated series The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers. venue and the comfortable environment, along with mouthwatering BBQ selections, classic beer, wine and cocktails.

One of the top sellers on the menu is the BBQ fried ribs ($12.95) made with in-house slow-cooked ribs individually rubbed and smoked, tossed with house BBQ sauce, and topped with green onions. Other options on the menu include tasty handhelds like the classic double burger ($12.94) and savory smokehouse entrees like the BBQ Mac n’ Cheese baked with pulled pork ($18.95).

“The prime rib is always my favorite,” McKay said. “But we do have a little bit of everything on the menu. There’s a full sandwich section, a lot of appetizers and some pretty good salads.”

Besides the mouthwatering dishes, The Copper Post is equipped with a full bar of specialty gins, bourbons and eight different craft beers. The top seller continues to be the classic Old Fashioned cocktail ($10).

Additionally, The Copper

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For more information, find Saginaw Old Town Junction on Facebook.

Post offers smoked slowroasted prime rib with garlic mashed potatoes and a side house salad every Friday and Saturday night for $22.

McKay touts the business as a unique place to dine in.

“I feel like our prices are better than the neighborhood, and our portions are bigger,” he said. “We smoke meats in-house, which we’re pretty much the only place in town that does that.”

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Hours of operation for The Copper Post are Monday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m., 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday through Saturday and 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Sunday. Breakfast is served every Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Order takeout by calling (616) 414-7950 aPORTAGE, MI new urban winery in Portage wants to be a gathering place for the community.

Customers can enjoy wine and elevated food at 468 Urban Winery, 8842 Portage Road. The winery opened its doors Jan. 20.

“I just hope that people will come in, see what it’s about and hopefully enjoy the ambience that we’ve created, find it like (a) little oasis here in Portage,” winery owner Lauren Bodamer said.

468 Wine is an homage to the three children Bodamer and her husband Brian have. They were born in April, June and August, the fourth, sixth and eighth months of the year.

Bodamer started selling and shipping gift boxes with Michigan-made goods during the coronavirus pandemic through her company Truly Kind. She always had an interest in wine and started making personalized labels to go on wine bottles that shipped in the gift boxes.

From there the idea grew into the opening of an urban winery. Now 468 Wine ferments their own Moscato and Riesling in-house, while bottling other types shipped in from California and Washington, Bodamer said. Wine can be ordered in a tasting flight of four, 2-ounce pours for $10, by the glass or by the bottle. They currently offer 11 wines, from a sparkling white brut, to a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon to a rosé.

The goal is for customers to have great wine in a comfortable setting. The new store front features comfortable bar seating, lounge seating and traditional table seating.

Bodamer wants people to know they genuinely care about them and wants them to feel like more than just a customer.

“I hope that they find this place very welcoming and accepting of anybody and everybody,” Bodamer said. “We want to create that atmosphere of community.”

Simple but artisan dishes made in-house are featured on the winery’s menu. Visitors can select from various hors d’oeuvres and sandwiches, including a baked brie with various jam toppings, $12, a Caesar salad $9, grilled prosciutto and cheese, $8 and avocado toast, $8.

Grab and go charcuterie boards from The Grazing Table are also available at the winery.

468 Wine is opening a tasting room at The Grazing Table in downtown Kalamazoo. Bodamer met The Grazing Table owners about a year and a half ago. They are separate businesses but do work together for various things.