GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Paul and Jessica Lee opened The Winchester restaurant in 2008 to honor a “hometown bar” feeling and put a twist on classic club sandwiches.
The idea behind The Winchester, located at 648 Wealthy St. SE, revolved around traveling, Paul Lee said, and the desire to create a “neighborhood bar.”
“We were the type that when we traveled, we didn’t do downtowns, we loved neighborhoods,” Lee said about the couple. “And so, we always imagined what it would be like in each neighborhood, whether it was a big city like New York and San Francisco.”
Since the restaurant opened, Lee said the Naan Club, rather than the traditional triple-decker club sandwich, has been the number one seller. Priced at $13, he said Naan bread is the foundation of the sandwich piled with roasted turkey, bacon, arugula, smoked ham, white cheddar cheese and a savory chipotle aioli.
In addition to classic food items, the restaurant also serves us seasonally inspired dishes. The chefs bring in new, creative dishes for customers to try, Lee said, while still, “sticking to the comforting feeling,” by having specials such as burger nights on Mondays.
Patrons can enjoy their classic, olive or weekly featured burgers with a select draft for $14, a can for $13 or glass of wine for $15, according to the website.
Currently, a favorite item on the menu is the Ramen. Priced at $14, customers can enjoy roasted root vegetables, shaved cabbage, toasted garlic, sesame and a drizzle of chili oil basked in wild mushroom broth.
To make the most of a comforting meal, customers can order beer and handcrafted cocktails like the Winchester Mule or The Pear Necessities.
At the beginning of Lee’s career, he said he was on an entirely different path while studying at Western Michigan University for sports medicine.
During his sophomore year, Lee transferred to Grand Rapids Community College to continue studying, and eventually wanted to transfer to the East Coast.
However, Lee met a new group of friends and soon finished his college career at Grand Valley State University, but with a different major in mind.
“When you’re young, you have all these grand ideas,” Lee said. “I realized sports medicine was not what I wanted to get into. In the meantime, I was always working in restaurants, and it just was one of those things that I didn’t realize I loved.”
While catching late-night shifts during college, Lee met his wife Jessica at a bar in Grand Rapids.
Lee said that they both were about to graduate college and needed a “big boy or girl job.” He said he started experimenting with bartending and then moved up to management as a general manager for a year.
“I always found myself back in the service industry,” Lee said. “I’ve done everything from bussing tables, working hotlines, doing work in the kitchen, bartending and serving. I wanted to go into sports medicine, but working in a restaurant came more naturally, and it was fun.”
Currently, the Lees own three other restaurants on Wealthy Street: Donkey Taqueria, a Mexican-infused cuisine; Royals, a classic diner and Hancock, Lee’s first potential start of a new fast-food chain.
The Winchester is open Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday. The restaurant can be reached at 616-451-4969.
Brunch is served every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and happy hour is from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Customers can dine in or pick up their order to go by calling or through the website.
Updates to the restaurant’s hours on New Year’s Day can be found on the Facebook page.
Paul Lee, co-owner of The Winchester, is pictured outside the neighborhood pub in Grand Rapids. (Skyla Jewell-Hammie | MLive.com)
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