The restaurant, cigar lounge and club, a joint venture with investor partners Tom Celani and Dario Bergamo, is scheduled to open summer of 2024

BIRMINGHAM, Mich., (June 8, 2023) – Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, LLC. is excited to announce a new concept to its family of restaurants, Big Rock Italian Chophouse. Located at 245 S. Eton Street in Birmingham in the former Grand Trunk Western Railroad Depot, Big Rock Italian Chophouse is scheduled to open in the summer of 2024. The project is a joint venture with Cameron Mitchell Restaurants and a number of local investor partners including Tom Celani and Dario Bergamo.

This $10 million investment in Big Rock Italian Chophouse will transform the landmark building into a luxurious signature restaurant to gather with family, friends, and business associates for all occasions. The 11,000 sq ft fine-dining Italian chophouse will feature a curated menu of best-in-class prime steaks and chops, an indulgent selection of handmade pastas, rich sauces, and a robust, world-class wine list. Big Rock Italian Chophouse will also offer an extensive bourbon collection and a signature handcrafted cocktail menu composed with the highest quality ingredients.

“We’re thrilled to introduce Big Rock Italian Chophouse to Birmingham. Over the next year, our team will work to update and reintroduce this spectacular property,” said Cameron Mitchell, Founder & CEO, CMR. “We consider Southeast Michigan a second home market and are eagerly looking forward to the opening and success of another new concept in Birmingham.”

Throughout its 30-year history, CMR has operated several restaurants in Michigan including Cameron’s Steakhouse in Birmingham and Mitchell’s Fish Market in Livonia, Lansing, Rochester Hills and Birmingham, which were sold to Ruth’s Hospitality in 2008. CMR’s sister-company, the Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern, currently operates four locations in Bloomfield Hills, Northville, Park Place, and Bingham Farms. Most notably, CMR introduced the first Ocean Prime in Troy 15 years ago, and has since opened 17 more across the country from New York to Beverly Hills, with the newest location opening June 21, 2023, in Las Vegas.

Big Rock Italian Chophouse will be designed by Chicago-based design firm, Knauer, Inc. The iconic property will seat approximately 375 guests including more than 100 outdoor seats and will have three unique bars and multiple private dining rooms. It will feature a club and terrace with an intimate setting for members to enjoy exclusive, specialty cigar offerings. Each space will invite a unique experience by mixing contemporary details into a classic setting to give a timeless feel. Rich leather and wood details contrasted by dramatic overhead canopies will create a warm and comfortable ambiance. Throughout the expansive restaurant, Big Rock Italian Chophouse guests will experience Cameron Mitchell Restaurants’ signature Genuine Hospitality where “Yes is the Answer, What is the Question?”

According to Celani, “As a Detroit native, it is exciting to partner with an organization like Cameron Mitchell Restaurants to create Big Rock Italian Chophouse. From dining and drinking to enjoying a cigar with friends after a long day, this will be a premier destination for many years to come.”

“Our goal is to create a comfortable space that will bring people together, not just for a special occasion but to enjoy each other’s company over a glass of wine, a great meal or a cigar,” said Bergamo. “Tom and I have a deep-rooted understanding of the Metro Detroit market and we are excited to see the realization of our and CMR’s vision.”

Big Rock Italian Chophouse will open in summer 2024. Learn more about Membership

ABOUT CAMERON MITCHELL RESTAURANTS

Founded by Cameron Mitchell in 1993, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, LLC (CMR) has built a diverse portfolio of varied concepts, ranging from multi-location upscale destinations to single neighborhood favorites. Today, CMR operates 45 restaurants company-wide under 20 different concepts, with 23 restaurants located in Columbus, Ohio.

In addition, Cameron Mitchell Premier Events, the premier catering and event planning company in Central Ohio, oversees three venues in Columbus. The national Ocean Prime concept has 17 locations in 14 states plus the District of Columbia, and in summer 2023, will open its 18th location and first one in Las Vegas on June 21, 2023. The Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern, a sister company of CMR, currently operates 22 locations in five states. CMR is partnering with Crawford Hoying to open a luxury boutique hotel in Dublin, Ohio in 2026. CMR and the various concepts have received numerous culinary, leadership, entrepreneur, community service and readers’ choice awards. Visit the Cameron Mitchell website

As seen on CNN, Forbes and Smart Business, Mitchell shares his story and the wisdom he has gained through the years in his new book Yes is the Answer. What is the Question?, available for purchase online.

Media Contacts:
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