With three locations already established, one in Lake Orion, the Hamlin Pub is bringing its atmosphere to the Clarkston area.
Hamlin Pub will occupy the space vacated by La Villa Italiano Ristorante at 6397 Sashabaw Road and is hoping to be open for business the first week of November.
Crews began making renovations in June to remodel the 4,000-square-foot building. The whole building has been stripped apart and is being remodeled, area General Manager Jim Tavano said.
The restaurant will be modeled after the existing locations, he added.
Owner John DeAngelis said the company is in an expansion phase with more locations planned for cities such as Novi, Canton and Ann Arbor.
The company’s original location in Rochester Hills has been in business for 14 years and the Lake Orion location for 10 years. The company also opened a store in Shelby Township in 2005.
The perimeter of the building will feature 15 32? high-definition plasma screen televisions, four 32? flat-screen TVs and three big screen TVs on the outer walls of the restaurant.
The restaurant and bar will have a maximum occupancy of 132. Of those seats, 120 will be dedicated to the dining room. The tables will be ‘signature pub tables? with seating for 8-10 people. Both the tables and the bar will be made of oak.
The floor of the room will be tiled and carpeted, and the inside of the walls will be finished with stone.
A decorator is expected to be in one of the latter stages in the remodel, hoisting nostalgic and local photos along the pub walls.
The menu will be similar to the other locations, including pizza, an item not available at all stores. The menu items are from a pub menu, Tavano said, ranging from chicken and dumpling stew to fish and chips. There will also be daily food specials created by the kitchen manager.
The pub will also have happy hour from 2-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with both beer and mixed drink specials.
Tavano said the service that guests receive at the Hamlin Pub makes a significant difference in return business for the restaurant.
‘Our staff is what sets us apart. The TV and live entertainment are great, but if you don’t have the staff, people won’t come back,? he said.
‘We like to give it that ‘Cheers? feel.?
The restaurant will feature live entertainment Tuesday through Saturday, with acts ranging from a one-man acoustic show to a full-band.
Sunday night’s entertainment will be ? anyone, as the pub opens its microphones and music catalogues for karaoke.
The laid-back appeal of the restaurant should make the restaurant attractive to people from the area, DeAngelis said.
‘It’s not a destination, it’s in your neighborhood. We’ll give you everything you would get in going to a destination (restaurant).?
Both Tavano and DeAngelis agreed the Clarkston area is a good spot to expand Hamlin Pub into.
‘We’re excited about the area because it’s growing, it fits our niche. From what I’ve seen, there isn’t a pub like us around here,? Tavano said.
‘They’re (the Clarkston area) in a growth pattern and we want to grow with them,? DeAngelis said.
The Clarkston area has a good number of young families, a demographic the pub would like to reach.
‘We know where we want to be. Clarkston is the utopia of what we want to be.?
The Hamlin Pub is planned to be open every day of the week from 11a.m. until 2a.m., with the exception of Sundays, when it will open at noon.