If you live in Buffalo, and you like food and good beer, by now you’ve heard the name Mike Shatzel. He is the co-owner of many of Buffalo’s hottest eateries including Allen Burger Venture, Liberty Hound, Moor Pat, Colter Bay, and two anticipated new openings: Thin Man and The Terrace (in the Marcy Casino in Delaware Park). He was also co-owner of craft beer pioneer Blue Monk, which closed in April due to a landlord dispute.
After growing up in North Buffalo and graduating from Nichols, Mike attended John Hopkins University and the University of Rochester. He then moved to San Diego to pursue his MBA, but ended up returning to Buffalo to help run the iconic Cole’s on Elmwood Avenue when his dad and uncle retired from the family business. The local food scene is abuzz about Shatzel’s newest venture, Thin Man, which will include a restaurant as well as a brewery run by his wife, Suzanne, and Bridget Termini, the wife of Rocco Termini (Shatzel’s co-owner in Thin Man). We sat down with Shatzel to find out a little bit about his life, business ventures and what’s next.
Can you tell us a little about your family? Are they involved in the restaurant business?
I met my wife, Suzanne, in the Buffalo bar scene. We have two children, Cole and Nola. Cole is named after the restaurant that has been in our family for decades, and Nola is named after the location Suzanne and I got married (New Orleans). My dad bought Brennan’s (in Eggertsville) and Cole’s years ago, but I’ve always been more involved with Cole’s. I used to help my dad, bussing tables back in the 4th grade during Cole’s brunch.
How did growing up in a ‘restaurant family’ prepare you for creating what’s becoming a local restaurant empire?
Watching Buffalo grow and improve has really kept me motivated, along with traveling to other states and countries to see what they are doing and bring those ideas back here. Belgium and Amsterdam really inspired Blue Monk. I met the owner of Struise, a brewery in Belgium, at a conference in Florida. When I handed him a business card after talking for awhile, he noticed the Blue Monk logo. The owner had recently created a beer and was having a difficult time naming it, so he asked me if he could name the beer Blue Monk and put our logo on it, and of course I said yes.
Your business ventures have gone so well in Buffalo — what’s your secret?
Having excellent partners, managers and employees that I trust contributes greatly to the success of the businesses. I can still be involved in the existing businesses, but know that things are taken care of while I’m working on a new business venture.
What do all of your places have in common? Do you have a favorite?
A common element is the craft beer and the vibe. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Cole’s because that’s where I feel most at home. Cole’s will be 82 years old this year, and you just can’t call a contractor and say “I want this place to feel like Cole’s.” It takes many years of wear and tear to have a place that feels like home.
What can we expect from Thin Man when it opens? What about your newest acquisition, Colter Bay?
Thin Man will be in the old Toro location [on Elmwood], and the brewery will be in the old Faherty’s. The restaurant will serve upscale pub food. The chef, Bruce Wieszala, is known for his charcuterie. I grew up with the Brinkworth family who previously owned Colter Bay. When Dennis Jr. was ready to step down, I took the opportunity to keep Colter Bay going. I plan to give it a facelift, knock the wall out that separated the dining area and the bar, and bring in some craft beers and highlight a hearty cider menu.
How has the “new Buffalo” made way for your success?
Canalside, opening Liberty Hound. The concerts moving down there — I mean, it used to be nothing. People who moved away are moving back along with their fresh ideas they’ve collected elsewhere. There is a huge sense of community here. Can’t beat that.
Any hard feelings about Blue Monk closing?
“It’s definitely a tough thing to see Blue Monk closing. At the same time, it’s really nice to hear all the patrons tell me how Blue Monk has positively affected them. I’m hearing a lot of “we’ll follow you wherever you go,” which is both motivating and gratifying.
