Northport Council To Consider Incentives For Big Mike's This Week

NORTHPORT, AL — The Northport City Council will hold a special called meeting later this week to consider a development agreement for a new Big Mike's Steakhouse in the city.

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As Patch previously reported, if the project development agreement is approved, the City of Northport would finance a newly constructed restaurant building, equipment package and project site for the restaurant, with the city's total investment capped at $4.8 million.

The restaurant would be operated by Sucarnoochee Investments LLC, while the project would be developed by Winship LLC.

The firms are doing business as Big Mike’s Steakhouse and will be joined by the property owner 1871, LLC. This property sits on Highway 82 adjacent to Lowe's and on the other side of the highway from the Walmart Supercenter.

The popular Alabama-based steakhouse brand operates locations in Auburn, Guntersville, Moundville, Orange Beach and Thomasville.

However, if the council approves the project agreement, this would pave the way for Big Mike's to leave Moundville to relocate to Northport.

The agreement calls for the construction of a new 6,720-square-foot Big Mike's Steakhouse on vacant commercial property in Northport.

The restaurant is expected to generate more than $4.8 million in annual sales and employ more than 35 workers.

Under the proposal, Big Mike's would commit to operating the restaurant in Northport for at least 20 years.

The agreement also contemplates the formation of a cooperative district that would impose a 2% user fee on sales at the restaurant. Along with a portion of the city's sales tax revenue generated by the business and monthly lease payments, those revenues would be used to repay the city's project debt.

Developers said the proposed restaurant would be modeled after existing Big Mike's Steakhouse locations in Andalusia and Thomasville and is described in the agreement as a "modern, clean, upscale restaurant."

If approved by the council, the agreement would still be contingent on several additional steps, including the formation of a cooperative district, financing arrangements and the completion of legal validation proceedings through Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court.

The Northport City Council's special called meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Northport City Hall.

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