After it was first announced almost four years ago, construction on Bubba’s 33 is nearing completion.
Announced in 2016 as part of the city’s Eureka Way corridor project, construction of the 7,199-square-foot, 256-seat building at 22175 Eureka Road got delayed until last summer.
It’s located in the Burlington Square, in the out lot near Art Van Furniture and Men’s Wearhouse. This Bubba’s 33 will be only the second in the chain’s history to locate in Michigan. The other one is on Hall Road in Macomb County.
So what can diners expect to find at Bubba’s 33?
Karl Ziomek, a spokesman for the city of Taylor, refers to it as a family sports restaurant.
“The eatery features a family dining section and a garage bar,” Ziomek said. “Whether customers are meeting up with coworkers for happy hour or getting the Little League team together, Bubba’s 33 appears to be the place to be.”
In researching the restaurant chain for a city of Taylor publication featuring business news, Ziomek paints a picture of walls lined with TVs playing classic rock music videos, sports jerseys and other local flair.
He said the restaurant’s top seller is the Bubba’s Bacon Burger, which is made with 33 percent bacon grind. Wings and hand-tossed pizza are two other favorites off a deep menu, which includes kids meals for the 12-and-under crowd, he added.
As for the bar, it offers over 40 beers, including 18 beers on tap.
So where did the name come from?
The chain is owned by Texas Roadhouse founder Kent “Bubba” Taylor, whose nickname is referenced by the branding along with the number 33, a nod to the year Prohibition ended in the United States.
The Bubba’s 33 in Taylor will be only the second in the chain’s history to locate in Michigan. The other one is on Hall Road in Macomb County.
Ziomek said the city is hopeful that the eatery’s location in Burlington Square, across from Southland Center, will be a boost for other area businesses.
Burlington’s in-line stores, including Furniture Liquidators, World Gym, Burlington and Perani’s Hockey World, are located well off of Eureka Road so the thought is that traffic to Bubba’s 33 should enhance the greater business district, and possibly attract even more retailers.
“If other Bubba’s around the country are any indication, look for some unique offerings,” Ziomek said. “It’s Wichita (Kansas) site offered free lunch for military veterans, and its Indianapolis location held fundraisers for the local St. Jude’s Hospital.”
Ziomek said he wasn’t aware of any official timeline as to when the restaurant will make its Downriver debut, but it’s expected that doors will open to customers no later than early spring.
(Colin Maloney contributed to this report).