LANSING, MI -- In just five years, Saddleback BBQ has come full circle.
Pitmaster Matthew Gillett started his BBQ business as a way to help school and community groups with fundraisers, then opened a full-fledged brick and mortar restaurant in Lansing’s REO Town neighborhood. From there it went on to win awards and acclaim, and even opened a second location.
Now, it’s back to focusing on community.
On Tuesday, Saddleback BBQ was able to provide meals to more than 900 people in the Lansing area thanks in part to donations from loyal customers. Those meals went to families in the Lansing School District, as well as Trinity Church for families at a low-income apartment complex that primarily serves immigrant and refugee families.
“We tend to focus on the negative in the world, and it’s really easy right now with everything going on,” said Travis Stoliker, an early investor in Saddleback, referring to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“But there is a lot of good out there...A lot of people are doing good work. It puts a smile on your face to help.”
Saddleback BBQ was one of the restaurants submitted in our Love Letters to Michigan restaurants initiative. We asked readers for their favorite locally-owned places that are consistently generous with their food, their time, their money and their talents.
We’re still accepting nominations for future stories.
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See our full interview with Saddleback BBQ here or below.
On Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020, Saddleback BBQ in Lansing distributed nearly 1,000 meals for families in need for the Thanksgiving holiday.Saddleback BBQ
Stoliker said one of the reasons he got involved with Matt’s vision of opening up a BBQ joint was his love for the community.
“Knowing Matt, and knowing his determined nature, and his ability to see things through,” made him want to invest, Stoliker said.
“My style of investing is that you’re usually betting on the person, more than the business. I didn’t expect the restaurant to be a success. I know all the horror stories with restaurants.”
Not only did he get his money back, “it’s been fun,” he said.
Gillett’s original business plan was to use his mobile smoker to cater community fundraisers for cheerleading groups, high school marching bands and other organizations in need.
“It opened my eyes for the first time to say, ‘People need help,’” Gillett said. “Funding is not always there for them.... Not local ones.”
Opening in REO Town was a calculated move because it was an area of Lansing that needed help.
“Back then it was a little different game. We just gritted our teeth and tried to stay afloat,” said Gillett, referring to opening Saddleback BBQ back in 2015.
As success came, so did opportunity, and awards. In 2017 they opened a second location in Okemos, which expanded their reach. They even added alcohol and catered to the Michigan State University community.
In 2018, we picked Saddleback as one of our Top 10 picks for Michigan’s Best BBQ. Saddleback is known for great brisket, ribs, pulled pork, wings and pork rinds. Oh, and they may have Michigan’s Best Deviled Eggs!
RELATED: These are the 10 best BBQ restaurants in Michigan
Saddleback BBQ is one of Michigan's Best BBQ joints.
In mid March, when the first wave of Covid-19 shutdowns and guidelines were put into place, Saddleback immediately jumped into action.
First, they helped local restaurants by putting together a list of restaurants offering takeout. And then they donated meals for school-aged children and first responders. More than 1,000 of their customers made donations.
Their efforts were noticed by Kingsford Charcoal, which awarded them a $10,000 grant.
RELATED: Kingsford gifts $10K to a mouthwatering Michigan’s Best BBQ pick
“It was a time when $10,000 meant a lot to us,” said Stoliker, noting that they had to lay off 12 people at the height of the pandemic during the stay at home order.
As Thanksgiving approached, and Covid-19 numbers starting ticking up in Michigan like other parts of the country, they knew “a lot of people would be separated from their family, and we knew a lot of them would be in need of meals,” Stoliker said.
They asked followers to donate $25 to serve two people or one person with a lot of leftovers, Stoliker said.
“The community really stepped it up,” he said. “We sold like 150 meals in 24 hours.”
On top of that, for every meal that was purchased, Saddleback matched it with an additional meal.
“We had some people donate $500, with a $100 tip on top of it,” Stoliker said. “That’s helping out a lot,” especially the staff, which pools its tips.
To be transparent about costs, they even posted a breakdown on their Facebook page.
As the uncertainty of Christmas approaches for family gatherings and those who will need meals, Saddleback is already getting messages on their Facebook page from people who want to help. They’ll do something.
For now, they are just thankful for their loyal employees, who they were able to hire back, and their own families.
Stoliker, 40, who’s originally from Holt has a two-year-old son, Lane, with his wife Laken.
Gillett, 39, who’s originally from Mason, has three children, Matthew (6), Evie (4) and Presley (2), with his wife Courtney.
With a young family, Gillett said his perspective of life has changed.
“Older movies that you could never figure out why your parents got teary-eyed or hit home with them…..I’m right in that phase,” Gillett said.
“Spending time with my kids, and watching them grow up is really important. And being able to actually take a step back, and think about the people who are in my same position, with children, and figuring out ways to help them out, is just unbelievably fulfilling for me, and our team.”
“It’s been a great ride,” he added. “I think we’re on the right path to help some people out, and I hope we can continue to do things like this.”
Saddleback is known for great brisket, ribs, pulled pork, wings and pork rinds.
IF YOU GO
Saddleback BBQ
1754 Central Park Drive, Suite G2, Okemos, MI 48864; 517-306-9002
1147 S Washington Ave., Lansing, MI 48910; 517-306-9002
Mac N' Cheese Burger at The Win Tavern 33, 7628 Georgetown Center Drive, in Jenison on Monday, March 2, 2020. The restaurant is a finalist for Michigan's Best Burger. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse | MLive.com
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