MITCHELL — A restaurant and the road to meet it are to be completed next year.
The Mitchell Planning and Zoning Commission, during its meeting on Monday, Dec. 8, approved the plan for Chef Louie’s Steakhouse and Lounge on Commerce Street.
Mitchell developer Chuck Mauszycki, Sr. plans to break ground as soon as possible, weather permitting. He is optimistic to open late 2026.
“We’re doing it right rather than fast,” Mauszycki said.
Construction bids are planned to be opened on Friday, according to Mauszycki. The money for the project has been raised, but Mauszycki noted that there’s nothing like opening a bid to find out how prepared you were.
Mauszycki, 82, hopes to recreate the experience of Chef Louie’s with the previous service, menu and recipes of the steakhouse. Chef Louie’s is an institution in Mitchell, he said.
“We don’t need to change much from the old place,” Mauszycki said.
However, Mauszycki noted it will be significantly bigger and newer.
The proposed new build is 13,100 square feet building on a 3.14 acres plat. The steakhouse plans include nearly 2,500-square feet of main dining, a bar, a banquet hall, a private dining area, and casino.
New architectural renderings show a two-tone gray building with a black covered drop off area. The Chef Louie’s face logo and the steakhouse name in a signature script appear on the front.
Chef Louie’s will still go through the standard building permit process, according to City Planner Mark Jenniges.
An architectural rendering of the Chef Louie’s Steakhouse and Lounge coming in 2026 to Commerce Street.
Courtesy of the city of Mitchell
The building’s front and the parking lot will face Highway 37, with road entry from Commerce Street. The restaurant’s reincarnation will be north of Little Learners, which is at the intersection of Highway 37 bypass and West 15th Street.
The steakhouse will have seating for 319, but will have parking spaces for 136 vehicles, 19 more than needed according to city code. In addition, more than 27 trees are planned to be planted around Chef Louie’s.
Tax Increment District (TID) No. 44’s boundaries includes three plats, including Chef Louie’s. The tax district’s boundary, project plan and developer’s agreement was approved by the Mitchell City Council this fall. The city annexed the property in May. Mauszycki noted that the steakhouse will be built before the two other businesses are established near Chef Louie’s.
The $9.2 million project includes construction costs as well as continuing Commerce Street north with curb and cutter, sanitary sewer and 4-foot wide sidewalks. The project plan calls for 600 feet of 4 inch asphalt surfacing to continue Commerce Street north to connect the road to the planned steakhouse.
The tax district has $2.9 million in eligible project costs, with the street’s phase one construction and professional services costs are estimated at $330,000, and phase two construction and professional services costs are estimated at $260,000.
“We’re trying to get work done as the weather permits,” Mauszycki said.
The former Chef Louie’s Steakhouse closed in Jan. 2022.
At the southeast corner of South Burr Street and East Havens Avenue, the original Chef Louie’s Steakhouse and Lounge was built in 1946 and was operated by Louie Russell. A 1960 gas tank explosion destroyed the building, but in 1961, a new steakhouse building was constructed. This building was demolished in 2022 and Plains Commerce Bank was constructed on the site.
A liquor license was approved for the steakhouse by the Davison County Commissioners in November 2024 for a fee of $78,000.
“I like doing this,” Mauszycki said. “I think Mitchell deserves this.”
Marshall Mitchell is a reporter with the Mitchell Republic covering local news and politics. He has over 15 years of experience working with leaders, authors, non-profits, and small businesses in publishing, marketing, and content creation. He moved to Mitchell in December 2024, and can’t wait to hear from you. Reach out to him at mmitchell@mitchellrepublic.com.
Dining and Cooking