HOWELL – The former location of B-Line Bar and Grill in Howell will soon become the third restaurant in Livingston County operated by President Michael Jonna and his real estate development firm, MKJ Companies.
By the first quarter of 2025, Jonna expects the new Jonna’s B-Line Bar and Grill at 5960 Pinckney Road to be open to the public. He plans to close on the purchase of the nearly 35,000-square-foot building this week and will begin demolition and reconstruction in the next few months.
MKJ Companies owns two Jonna’s Bar & Grill locations in Howell and New Hudson. Jonna is also president of Jonna’s Market, a full-service deli with locations in Howell and Brighton. The Howell market has been a family-owned business for over 25 years.
As the new restaurant evolves throughout the rest of 2024, Jonna said it will have a new layout and floor plan, as well as a completely new kitchen and dining area, compared to the old B-Line Bar and Grill, which closed permanently after the COVID-19 pandemic began. He called the former restaurant a local “icon” and praised its owners, Mike Poole and his family, for creating a great venue over the years.
Jonna felt the Pinckney Road location was an ideal addition to his restaurant group.
“We are very happy to have found this property,” Jonna said. “It was a great team effort to get here. But there is still a lot of work ahead of us.”
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Once Jonna’s new location opens, he expects to offer some of the same menu items as his sister restaurants, but other specialty items, with more of an emphasis on steak dishes. There will be room for about 70 guests, including in the bar area of the restaurant. Jonna envisions a “contemporary and modern” atmosphere that will also be a good place to watch sporting events.
“We always want (guests) to feel like they can enjoy a place that is known for good food and good service,” Jonna said. “We want it to be a local favorite.”
Once open, Jonna expects to hire 20 to 30 full-time and part-time employees, comparable to his other restaurants.
“The food business is tough and I’m sure we made some mistakes along the way,” Jonna said of his other businesses. “This is an exciting new location for us. There’s a lot of history here.”
— M. Alan Scott is a freelance writer for The Livingston Daily. Contact the editor at [email protected].
