40 Eighty-Eight is coming to St. Joseph.
Owner Christian Schlueter said he chose the name for his new restaurant because they are “roughly St. Joe’s coordinates.”
Schlueter said the coordinates represent many towns in the area.
“It kinda represents most people around here,” he said.
Schlueter said St Joseph is the perfect place to open his restaurant.
“There really is no place quite like St. Joe,” he said. “The feeling of community, family, and pride can be felt no matter where you go. Those values are very important to me. I also want to give back to a community that has given so much to me. Growing up here, I felt all those things; and I’m ready to share those feelings back with the community.”
The new restaurant, with the opening date to be determined, will be housed in the former Scratch restaurant, located at 227 E Lincoln St.
Schlueter’s ties to the building go back to the start. He and his father did the buildout and remodel for the original Scratch owner when the restaurant first opened. He also worked at Scratch.
“I’ve always been connected to the building and the restaurant, now it feels like it’s come full circle,” he said.
Schlueter’s love of food started young and at 16 he gravitated toward jobs in the restaurant industry, working almost solely in that industry since then taking on different roles.
“I’ve been talking with family members about doing this and I can’t tell you how many of them have told me they’ve known I’d open a restaurant someday,” he said. “And they’ve known it since I was in single digits. It just took me a little while to figure it out myself.”
His attachment to the building will not prevent him from changing the space, Schlueter said. He plans to change the color palette, expand the seating area and change the flow of the restaurant.
“I plan on getting the community involved with the inside decoration of the space as well,” he said.
Schlueter said it is essential for the restaurant to be welcoming and a part of the community.
“I want anyone to feel like they belong the second they walk through the door,” Schlueter said. “It doesn’t matter if you came from church or work out.”
Schlueter’s restaurant will offer online ordering for business people and students and will have space that is able to be rented out for meetings, bridal showers, or other events and gatherings.
“That seems to be something that’s missing in St. Joe,” she said.
The menu will focus on fast, delicious food, Schlueter said, including salads and sandwiches. There will also be plant-based and vegan options.
Schlueter hopes to open later this Fall and he said he hopes the community’s excitement will carry over to the opening.
“I know a lot of you are excited and trust me I’m even more excited,” He said. “I can’t wait to be part of the community and I have big ideas I’m working on. I’m so excited for this journey and am honored to have so many people rooting for me.”
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