Dammm. Good. Food. (and That’s a Quote)

The Foundry expands, with locations in East Jordan and now Elk Rapids

By Geri Dietze | Oct. 28, 2023

The Foundry Craft Grillery celebrated its Elk Rapids opening this summer in the space previously occupied by American House Pizza and, before that, Siren Hall. Here you’ll find upscale bar food in generous portions, with craft cocktails, wine, and brews—all in a no-nonsense industrial environment that creates its own fun, invites lingering, and caters to all ages.

The venue might be new to Elk Rapids, but its sister location in East Jordan has been prospering since 2019. The originally-named Foundry Bar and Grill was the creation of Andre Bushell and Loren Akerman, two suits who left careers with Fortune 15 companies to put their energies into the restaurant business. (Before coming to EJ, the pair began in Traverse City with a Dickey’s Barbecue Pit franchise, the largest barbecue chain in the nation, headquartered in Texas.)

The 2020 COVID lockdown offered an unexpected, but ultimately valuable, learning curve; by 2023, the Foundry was named Business of the Year by the East Jordan Chamber of Commerce.

The East Jordan venue, in the space previously occupied by Blue Smoke, pays homage to East Jordan Iron Works, the local foundry which dominated the shore of Lake Charlevoix’s south arm since 1883. To wit: Interiors are industrial with rustic elements along with historical photos and memorabilia reflecting the town’s historic past.

(Now that the foundry, renamed EJ USA, Inc., opened its state-of-the-art greenfield facility just 14 miles away in Elmira, East Jordan finds itself with an enormous stretch of undeveloped lake frontage and unlimited opportunities. Get ready for your close-up, East Jordan!)

The Name Says It All

A name change was in store for the Foundry Bar and Grill as well. It was changed to Foundry Craft Grillery to indicate a seriousness of purpose and a dedication to excellence.

“We decided to put on our big boy pants,” Bushell says of their commitment. “We use the term ‘craft’ consistently, in our drinks, our food, and our guest experiences, [and] we take pride in what we do.”

With the rapid growth and success of the East Jordan venue, Bushell and fiancé Kelsi and Akerman and wife Leah set out to expand the brand. They were joined by another entrepreneurial couple Adam and Nichole Earle, owners of two Firehouse Sub locations in Traverse City and Gaylord, and the group turned their focus to the Foundry Craft Grillery in Elk Rapids.

“It was a great summer and one of our best openings yet,” explains Bushell. He says there were “no problems” in getting the new space up and running or in building staff to upwards of 70 in the high season, 30 in the slower months. Expanded seating accommodates “170, comfortably,” and other upgrades include a garage-style door linking the dog-friendly patio to the rest of the space, industrial and rustic design elements, thought-provoking art, and wall murals painted by Nichole Earle.

From the Kitchen

We dare you not to find something to love on this menu. It’s a big, sophisticated spin on the standards, with bold flavors and ample portions. Of course, house-made is expected, from local, regional, and in-state suppliers.

Pretzel Bites make a great warm starter, with beer cheese for dipping. Garlic Cheese Curds are a big favorite. (“The best” says more than one patron.) Also try the Cod or Pulled Chicken Street Tacos; Pig Iron Fries topped with smoked pulled pork, three cheese sauce and roasted red peppers; or the Molten Beer Cheese Sliders, with roasted jalapeños, caramelized onions, bacon jam, and white cheddar on pretzel buns. And don’t forget the seven variations of chicken wings, one for every day of the week.

Flatbread pizzas, fresh and handcrafted, are the perfect vehicle for toppings from the traditional—like Nothing but the Meat and Margherita—to the inventive BBQ Chicken with smoked bacon and blue cheese crumbles. 

Burgers are crafted from Zeeland’s Michigan Craft Beef. Channel your “inner ironworker” with a burger of the same name, featuring double patties topped with caramelized onion, garlic aioli, cheddar, and bacon. (Bushnell indicates that it is the most popular item on the menu.) But the Bronco looks pretty good too: fresh patty topped with crispy onions, mac and cheese puck, bacon, and house BBQ. For those who are really serious, try the Spicy Jaaam: a half-pound patty with sweet jalapeño bacon jam, hickory smoked bacon, hash browns, and fried egg.

Sandwiches include buttermilk chicken, served two ways; Popeye’s Choice with creamy pesto chicken and white cheddar; and Da Reuben, a gutsy take on the classic with Michigan sourdough piled with corned beef, white cheddar, sauerkraut, and crispy onions smothered with stone-ground Dijon honey mustard.

For dinner, try the Foundry Mac with corkscrew-shaped Cavatappi pasta, three cheese sauce, chicken, smoked bacon, buffalo sauce, and blue cheese crumbles. Pan-seared Atlantic Salmon with Korean glaze and Chicken and Waffles raise the bar when it comes to comfort food. If you really want the Foundry dinner experience, try the Foundry Poutine, a Canadian-inspired dish with a spin—think crispy fries and cheese curds topped with grilled steak and smothered with fresh beef gravy.

Elevated bar offerings are also the standard now, and you can expect the Foundry to take craft to the next level. Fine selections from close-to-home small brewers, vintners, and distillers, plus the best offerings from the big guns both nationally and internationally, are all in stock.

Foundry craft cocktails change for the seasons; some fall offerings have included the Apple Cider Hot Toddy with Jim Beam, hot cider, lemon, and honey; the Maple Old Fashioned, with Three Chord Rye from New York state; and the Drunken Pumpkin, with pumpkin vodka, pumpkin cream, and Kahlua.

Living Up to Their Motto

Does all that sound good? We think so—and Foundry patrons do too.

Bushell says the Foundry’s motto, soft expletive included, came about organically. “We were just in the kitchen, and someone looked at the food and said, ‘That looks damn good,’” explains Bushell. And the phrase has stuck ever since.

Although a number of businesses in Elk Rapids close for the season come wintertime, both Foundry locales will stay open year-round. “Both [places] are awesome, small-town gems,” Bushell says.

He adds that community is important to the ethos of the Foundry, and the partners are pleased that patrons have been so welcoming. They’re paying it forward for the shoulder season with plenty of activities to entice local customers. In addition to weekday happy hours, musical entertainment, karaoke, and trivia, look for fundraisers (Toys for Tots, 22-2-NONE for veterans, for example) and other planned events to benefit the communities.

“We’re always looking for ways to give back locally,” Bushell concludes.

Find Foundry Craft Grillery at 151 River St. in Elk Rapids and 101 Main St., Ste. B in East Jordan. foundrycraftgrillery.com