New Sports Bar Opens Downtown Brighton

After much anticipation, The Pound! Bar & Grill will open its doors for the first time Thursday at 4 p.m.

Owners, partners and friends Kevin Montagano and Brian Mexico have worked hard to create what they hope to be a family friendly sports bar during day time hours and a fun atmosphere for the younger crowd at night.

Montagano, who coached a youth league in Brighton, began to formulate the concept for The Pound! in October 2010.

"We were going to Buffalo Wild Wings a lot - like three times a week and spending time there on Saturdays," Montagano said. "I just thought this was kind of crazy, every time I asked my kid where he wanted to go, it was there. They were doing very well at the time and rumor has it that it was one of the top in the country. I just thought we needed to do some sort of community centric sports bar and bring it to downtown."

Montagano is a partner of another bar in Plymouth called , where Mexico worked as the manager. They decided to go into business together.

"I always wanted to open a bar in downtown Brighton," Mexico, who grew up in Brighton said.

Montagano said they decided on the name The Pound because how  football field is called The Dog Pound.

"I didn't want to call it the Dog Pound because I didn't know if there would be an issue with an affiliation - this being a bar where we serve alcohol," he said. "People might frown on that."

Mexico also said they didn't want to alienate people from Pinckney, South Lyon, Howell and other surrounding communities.

"We want all of Livingston County coming in," Montagano said.

Menu items include pizza, burgers, sandwiches, calzones and more. Mexico said they wanted dishes that were affordable and easy to serve in a timely manner.

"The things on our menu, we're going to do very well," Montagano said "But you're not going to come here for fine dining."

"A family of four can come in, grab a pizza and leave for under $30," Mexico added.

The newest addition to downtown has received positive support from community members like Emma Davis, who commented on Brighton Patch's Facebook Page.

"More original restaurants please!" Davis said. "I'm so tired of Applebee's type places."

Larry Johnson commented that he could remember when the Hotel and Marine Bar were the only bars in downtown Brighton. He agreed that a variety in nightlife is a good addition to the area.

"Brighton is a much larger city than it was when I was born and lived there," Johnson said. "(There were) 39 in my graduating class! And some of them did not live in Brighton."

For more information on The Pound!, visit them online at www.thepoundbar.com.