Brighton Gem to Reopen as New Restaurant in 2013

Green Oak resident Frank Ghneim wasn't looking to buy another restaurant, but it kind of just fell into his lap.

The owner of Captain Joe's Grill in Whitmore Lake recently purchased The Brighton House for $450,000. The restaurant, located on Grand River east of US-23, had closed in July 2011. Alexander's Land & Sea Grill is expected to open in its place sometime in mid-March 2013.

"It's going to me more like a steak and seafood menu, with a twist of Mediterranean," Ghneim said. "We'll be mixing that stuff with American. It will be similar to Captain Joe's, but it will be different. It's not going to be the same menu - it will be completely different. I don't want to compete with myself."

Brighton was the only place Ghneim said he was interested in because he's familiar with the area and it's only about 10 minutes away from his current business.

Ghneim said expects to spend between $400,000 to $500,000 in remodeling. He plans to completely redo the kitchen and dining areas, as well as take out the current wall shared between the restaurant and patio to install a glass façade.

"It will bring a lot more light to the dining room," he said. "Right now, the way it is, you don't really know what's going on outside."

Construction and renovations are beginning this week.

Starting in mid-January and February 2013, Ghneim said he will be looking to hire about 50 new employees for the new restaurant. He is looking for chefs, bartenders, kitchen crew, waitstaff, hostesses as well as managers and supervisors. Those interested can inquire about positions at Captain Joe's in Whitmore Lake.

While Ghneim said he doesn't know what the new restaurant's hours will be yet, he is planning on offering a Sunday brunch. He also plans to offer acoustic-style music on the patio during the spring and summer on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

"This place had a pretty good reputation," Ghneim said. "Nobody has ever said anything bad about the place (to me). So we're going to bring it back even better."