Bobcat Bonnie’s train rolls into Lansing

In 2015, the first Bobcat Bonnie’s location opened at the revitalized Michigan Central Station in Corktown, Detroit’s oldest neighborhood. Since then, it’s become a thriving chain that’s set to open its seventh location at Lansing’s old Union Depot by the end of the month.

The property was purchased by the Gillespie Group in 2016 after Clara’s Lansing Station restaurant, which had occupied the space since 1979, closed its doors. A Starbucks opened in the western half of the building in 2022, and Bobcat Bonnie’s will occupy the rest of the building as well as the property’s 1,000-square-foot train car.

Matt Buskard, owner of Bobcat Bonnie’s, started scouting the space “in late 2021 or early 2022,” after meeting with the Gillespie Group about becoming a tenant.

“It just fit like a glove,” Buskard said.

The Allendale native has additional locations in Ferndale, where he now resides, plus Grand Rapids, Partridge Creek, Wyandotte and Ypsilanti. Another spot in Kalamazoo is in the works, as well as a long-desired Toledo, Ohio, location, pending the approval of the mixed-use development project in which the restaurant would be located.

“Throughout the years, we’ve continued to open stores based on what makes sense, usually taking over spots where the restaurant was in transition or the owners wanted out. We like to identify neighborhoods we want to be in and really try lean into the character of each, focusing on what’s already around us. So, each one will have a different setup, a different vibe,” Buskard said.

In renovating the Lansing location, he’s tried to stay true to the property’s historic roots, which date back more than a century.

“We’ve tried to keep a lot of little touches but update and revamp things in a way that’s respectful and sensitive to that legacy, as opposed to coming and trying to cut the whole place,” he said.

Customers can expect to see the menu change about three times a year, though Buskard noted that the winter 2023 version, which the Lansing location will open with, “is probably one of our best.”

“We also have a really talented kitchen staff, so they’ll eventually be able to run some specials that will really add to the feel of the Lansing community,” he added.

Buskard said one of the chain’s staples is its fried goat cheese appetizer, which is topped with honey, black pepper and lemon zest and served with naan. It pairs well with the diner-style burgers, which can be made with beef or Impossible meat. Apart from burgers, there’s plenty more for those on a plant-based diet to enjoy, with highlights including the vegan chicken-and-avocado sandwich, fish tacos, potstickers and chili.

The menu also includes five varieties of gourmet tater tots, starting with the standard “loaded” toppings of cheddar, bacon, sour cream and green onion and getting increasingly more creative in style with toppings like black truffle seasoning, vegan chili and spicy Thai peanut sauce.

The goal is to provide “upscale” food with quality ingredients at a “good value,” according to Buskard. Right now, about 60 people are working on finalizing the renovation process. Once things settle, Buskard expects to have 40 to 45 employees on the Lansing payroll.

Bobcat Bonnie’s

637 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing

Follow at facebook.com/bobcatbonnieslansing/ for updates on opening

bobcatbonnies.com