Jonna's B-Line Bar and Grill in Howell plans to open in early 2025. Here are the details

HOWELL — The former site of the B-Line Bar and Grill in Howell will soon become the third Livingston County restaurant operated by President Michael Jonna and his real estate development firm MKJ Companies.

By the first quarter of 2025, Jonna expects that the new Jonna’s B-Line Bar and Grill at 5960 Pinckney Road will be open to the public. He plans to finalize the purchase of the nearly 3,500 square-foot building this week and will begin a demolition and rebuild over the next several months.

MKJ Companies owns two Jonna’s Bar & Grill locations in Howell and New Hudson. Jonna is also the president of Jonna’s Market, a full-service gourmet market with locations in Howell and Brighton. The Howell market has been a family owned and operated 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, and 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 credited its owners, Mike Poole and his family, for providing a great venue over the years.

Jonna felt that the location on Pinckney Road is an ideal one to add to his group of restaurants.

“We’re very fortunate to have (found) this property,” Jonna said. “It’s been a great team effort to get here. But we still have a lot of work to do.”

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Once Jonna’s new location opens, he expects it will offer some of the same menu items as its sister restaurants, but will include different featured specials, with more of an emphasis on steak dishes. There will be capacity for around 70 patrons, including at the restaurant’s bar area. Jonna envisions it as a “contemporary and modern” atmosphere that will be a good location to watch sporting events as well.

“We always want to give (diners) that feeling that they can be comfortable in a place that is familiar with great food and service,” Jonna said. “We want it to become a local favorite.”

Once opened, Jonna expects to hire 20-30 full- and part-time employees, which is similar to his other restaurants.

“The food industry is tough and I’m sure we’ve 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 newsroom at newsroom@livingstondaily.com .

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Jonna's B-Line Bar and Grill in Howell plans to open in early 2025. Here are the details