Restaurant will move to former Mitch’s Prime Time Steak House location
By Kellen Olshefski
Staff Writer
Area fans of The Grist Mill will likely have to make other dinner plans June 30, though Troy Strand, who owns the restaurant along side his wife Kate, assures customers not to worry, breakfast will be available July 1 at the restaurant’s new location.
Strand is currently finalizing plans to shift operations to the property formerly known as Mitch’s Prime Time Steak House and Charlie B’s, a goal he’s had his eye on since he opened in March of 2010.
Strand graduated from East Troy High School in 2007 and returned to East Troy after studying at the Culinary Institute of America in New York City.
He currently owns both The Grist Mill and a catering company that he said is continuing to grow.
Strand said the remodel of the old steakhouse will include for the most part, a heavy cleaning, possibly painting, and the biggest addition, an outdoor patio.
“It seemed to be getting a good response from the village,” he said. “We go in front of the Plan Commission next Monday and then the Village Board the following Monday, but I’ve had pre-meetings with them and they all seem real positive about it.”
Strand also noted that among the remodels, they would be removing the old charcoal grill to make room for a new menu item.
“We feel that East Troy’s in need of a good pizza, so we’re ripping out that charcoal grill that’s in the dining room and doing hand-tossed pizzas on top of the menu we have now,” he said.
Strand said people have asked about how his menu will change, though aside from pizza and a broader wine selection, he said it will stay pretty consistent.
He said five or six months down the road he might do a complete new menu, featuring some more dinner entrees and a few nicer entrees, however he said this is nothing new as he currently changes his menu twice a year to keep things fresh.
Though Strand is moving his business into a larger venue, he stressed he has no intentions of drastically changing his menu or jacking up prices.
“The biggest thing we need to get out to the people – get them to understand – is that it’s not going to be a steakhouse, it’s not going to be a high-end place like it was the last two times,” he said. “It’s going to be The Grist Mill, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week, same prices that we have now, same friendly staff.”
“That’s the biggest thing for me that I think I need to tell everyone,” he continued.
“Same great food, same great family atmosphere, just a bigger place with more opportunity.”
Strand explained that the current location has somewhat limited his business growth, even though it always appears busy.
“Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there’s times we’re full to the gills and people keep driving by the restaurant because the parking lot looks full,” he explained.
“I can do more business, but I’m not because it looks like I’m super packed, because of the facility size and what it looks like when we’re super busy.”
However, the new location, he said, will not only allow him to bring in more people, but also allow for his catering business to expand as well.
Strand, who owns two catering vehicles with full kitchens and drives as far as Illinois and Milwaukee to cater, said it’ll be nice to be able to work “in-house” for a change.
“I hope the business end increases. I hope the catering business continues to grow; I hope we can bring to the table a new wedding venue, a new meeting area for people,” he said.
Strand said the community has given him positive feedback and support since rumors about the move began to spread.
“I’ve actually had a half-dozen people email me or stop in to see me about booking class reunions already, booking weddings already, graduation parties this summer,” he said in regards to the banquet hall. “It’s phenomenal to see the response just by the rumors that are going around that I’m moving.”
With the move, Strand is looking to bring on an additional 10-15 employees on top of the 39 he already employs.
Strand said with a larger kitchen, bar and parking lot, among many other things, it’s hard to pick a favorite.
“I couldn’t put my finger on one thing that’s the most exciting but I just really feel East Troy needs it,” he said. “I need the area to support me because I need to sell a lot of eggs and a lot of burgers in that place to pay the bills.”
Strand said he will be liquidating almost all assets at the current location through the use of Craig’s List, including bar stools, neon lights and décor.
The current location is set to close at 2 p.m. on June 30, and the new location at 2645 E. Main St. in East Troy will open at 7 a.m. the very next morning.
