Management Breathes New Life into Katie's Food & Spirits in Dexter

Classy, but casual. Sporty, but friendly. Great taste without great cost.

These were just a few of the things Angela Kitchen and the management team at  hoped to accomplish more than a year ago, when the small pub on Baker Road in the Village of Dexter underwent an extensive personnel shift and business transformation.

Flash forward to the present and a much different restaurant is now open for business. Gone are the dark colors on the pub's interior walls, a complicated menu that at one time boasted upward of 20 entree specials, and outdated cash registers. In their place are colorful posters, new carpet, and a smiling staff of bartenders and cooks.

"People thought we were a dark, dingy place, and that had to change," Kitchen said. "We didn't want to be the scary place in town."

Instead, Katie's is taking strides to transform itself into a local sports bar/restaurant.

"We have five TVs tuned to sports channels, WiFi access, free pool games on Sunday, and daily drink specials," Kitchen explained. "We might not be a five-star restaurant, but we are a place where you can come and relax after work or after dinner."

In July 2011, the pub purchased and trained its employees on a new POS (point of sale) computer system and downsized its menu to eliminate breakfast and retain only the most popular entrees for customers.

"There's no more screaming out orders down the bar to a busy team member," Kitchen explained. "The POS system streamlines everything, and allows our staff to focus more on our customers. It has allowed us to build a team that works well together."

Recently the pub began renovating its stage area, which used to be a bowling alley until the late '90s, in order to accommodate live bands and other entertainment acts.

"We've had some succes with local musicians, and I think our regulars really appreciate that we're bringing Katie's back to what it once was," Kitchen said. "In the future, we may add a comedy night once a month just to have some variety."

In addition, the pub offers karaoke every Thursday night from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., a live DJ on Saturdays, fundraisers and other special events. 

Strippers, costume parties planned for summer

On Aug. 6, the pub is hosting a Ladies Night Out from 7-10:30 p.m., featuring a male exotic revue show with members of Exposed. Tickets for the event are $5 in advance and $10 at the door. The event will include games and prizes, giveaways, and licensed male strippers.

"Being a female, I took my 25-year-old daughter to see the movie Magic Mike, and I was horribly disappointed," Kitchen said. "Between the movie coming out, and the popularity of the book series, 50 Shades of Gray, I thought it would be a perfect time to host a revue.

"There's not a lot of events that cater just to women in Dexter."

For Dexter Daze, the pub will provide a DJ on Aug. 10-11 with a food cart and drink specials at the establishment. And on Aug. 25, a Back to School party will include a costume contest, drink specials, and music.

Bar manager Eric Galdes, who moved to Dexter from Chicago this year, said he's impressed with the direction Katie's has taken.

"The employees at Katie's see Dexter as their home and this community as their home. The customers are part of a big family and we want to offer them the best experience we can," he said.

In March, the pub  for the Dexter Relief Fund by hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser.

For more information about upcoming events at Katie's, call 734-426-4707.