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BUSINESS CONNECTIONS

Buckhorn Grill: The Beef’s at Bay Street

Roger Brigham
Connection Staff
December 2007

The formula for success at the Buckhorn Grill combines patience and punctuality. The regionally owned chain of seven restaurants spends its time aging its Angus beef for 21 days – then promises to get your tri-tip steak sandwich to you in 5 minutes or less.

They’re hoping that proven formula and a refurbished look will help bolster business at their Emeryville location.

The Buckhorn Grill is part of the second-story oasis of eateries in Bay Street Emeryville. Their common goal is to serve shoppers, local workers and movie goers with fast but well prepared food while leaving their customers with enough time and money to spend at the center’s stores and movie theater.

“We’re happy to have them here,” said Whitney Tresidder, marketing manager for Bay Street. “We want to be able to offer a wide variety of choices. We have a sushi store that’s coming in. We think Buckhorn is a great fit because they offer the tri-tip steaks and sandwiches. With Emeryville’s daytime population, we wanted to be sure to off good lunch options.”

Soups and desserts vary depending on the day, but the staples that bring people back are roast tri-tip beef, broiled chicken and grilled salmon, served in a variety of sandwiches and platters. A variety of salads and side orders of onions and potatoes round out the menu. The counter service is brisk and friendly and customers are given pagers to alert you them their orders are ready.

“The customers who come in are mostly people who live in this area or Oakland,” Rocio Quiñones, manager at the Emeryville location, said. “I love working with my team. They’re very helpful. And I enjoy serving the customers.”

John Pickerel, restaurateur from Winters owns the Buckhorn establishments. He said he is hopeful business will increase. He said the restaurant brought in a new manager earlier this year and realized an increase in sales.

Pickerel said Madison Marquette Realty Services, owners of Bay Street, will be going before Emeryville city officials for approval of plans to upgrade the upstairs food court area. Pickerel said, “They’ve done a good job of landscaping on the downstairs court. But that’s really competing with the upstairs locations. They have to upgrade the look and feel.”

“We’ve been working on it for the 30 or 40 days. They’re 90 percent done and they’ll go the City of Emeryville for approval within the next few days. They’ve been working hard to make it more attractive.”