Sunset Ridge BBQ to open takeout business at former Tecumseh Bread & Pastry location

Mary Lowe, The Daily Telegram
Updated ·4 min read
Michael Caudill, aka "BBQ Mike," owner of Sunset Ridge BBQ, a food truck that travels around Southeast Michigan, will soon be opening a takeout business at 113 S. Evans St. in Tecumseh.
Michael Caudill, aka "BBQ Mike," owner of Sunset Ridge BBQ, a food truck that travels around Southeast Michigan, will soon be opening a takeout business at 113 S. Evans St. in Tecumseh.

TECUMSEH — Michael Caudill aka "BBQ Mike," owner of Sunset Ridge BBQ, the popular food truck that travels around Southeast Michigan offering its fan favorite — a traditional, Texas-style beef brisket — will soon be opening a takeout business at the old site of Tecumseh Bread & Pastry.

Caudill bought the food truck in late 2018 and officially opened in 2020. He uses the food truck for private catering events and festivals such as Appleumpkin, the Clinton Fall Festival, the Tecumseh Ice Sculpture Festival and Artalicious.

“The food truck is always very popular with a loyal group of followers. We do see new customers at almost every outing, and everyone is always pleasant to serve,” Caudill said. “Currently, the food truck is scheduled to be at G&Js Frosty Boy in Tecumseh every Thursday this season. Watch our Facebook for scheduling. The transition to the new building is not complete yet. We are anticipating opening mid-May. Our smokers and cooking woods will be located onsite in our enclosed cookhouse in the lot behind our building.”

Michael Caudill bought his food truck in late 2018 and officially opened in 2020. He uses the food truck for private catering events and festivals such as Appleumpkin, the Clinton Fall Festival, the Tecumseh Ice Sculpture Festival and Artalicious.
Michael Caudill bought his food truck in late 2018 and officially opened in 2020. He uses the food truck for private catering events and festivals such as Appleumpkin, the Clinton Fall Festival, the Tecumseh Ice Sculpture Festival and Artalicious.

The food truck typically operates from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. depending on the day and location. The former Tecumseh Bread & Pastry location at 113 S. Evans St. will be a takeout spot and will be open initially from 3 p.m. until sellout or 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Tecumseh Bread & Pastry moved to a larger location at 118 W. Chicago Blvd.

Caudill recently received a $25,000 state Match on Main grant. The Michigan Department of Economic Development program provides funding to communities that participate as a select and master-level community in the Michigan Main Street program or are considered an Essentials or Certified Redevelopment Ready Community. The communities, which receive the grant funding from the MEDC, in turn award grants of up to $25,000 to eligible businesses seeking support, a news release from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office said.  

Twenty-eight communities around Michigan have been awarded a total of $697,325 in grants aimed at supporting small, local businesses to create resiliency and strengthen downtowns. The grants are expected to create 70 full-time jobs and 144 part-time jobs, and the projects are expected to generate a total private investment of more than $2.6 million.

The grants may be used by the business for eligible expenses that support technical assistance, interior building renovations, permanent or semi-permanent activation of an outdoor space, permanent or semi-permanent business infrastructure, and other working capital needs such as marketing and inventory. Additional needs identified by the business and supported by the local community are also considered.  

Sunset Ridge BBQ's transition to the new building is not complete. Owner Michael Caudill plans on opening in late May. His smokers and cooking woods will be located onsite in an enclosed cookhouse in the lot behind the building.
Sunset Ridge BBQ's transition to the new building is not complete. Owner Michael Caudill plans on opening in late May. His smokers and cooking woods will be located onsite in an enclosed cookhouse in the lot behind the building.

“The grant is a huge blessing, and the opportunity to apply came out of the blue. We are so thankful for the opportunity to receive such a big hand up and thankful to the city of Tecumseh for embracing small business development,” Caudill said. “The grant will allow us to purchase necessary equipment, complete building upgrades, complete marketing efforts and overcome start-up debt quicker than if we self-funded everything.”

Caudill is currently the only full-time employee for Sunset Ridge BBQ. He has approximately 10 part-time employees who work during the summer. This crew is trained to do everything from cooking to dishwashing. Caudill plans to add approximately five full-time employees by fall to staff the takeout business. The new business will have limited outdoor seating.

“The food truck menu rotates monthly. April's menu featured pulled pork, smoked chicken and brisket for meats with mac and cheese and coleslaw for sides. The occasional banana pudding or hot peach cobbler grace the dessert menu,” Caudill said. “Our traditional Texas-style beef brisket is by far the most popular item we serve.”

The new takeout location will have a set menu with rotating specials with a wide variety of traditional barbecue items and house-made southern sides to keep things fresh. And Sunset Ridge BBQ will still offer its staples like pork, brisket, ribs, mac and cheese, slaw, beans, banana pudding and cobblers.   

At a glance

WHAT: Sunset Ridge BBQ takeout location set to open in late May

WHERE: 113 S. Evans St., Tecumseh

HOURS: Initially, Wednesday through Saturday from 3 p.m. until sellout or 9 p.m.

PHONE: 517-424-2026

WEBSITE: sunsetridgebbq.com

SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: @sunset_ridge_bbq, Facebook: sunsetridgebbq, Twitter: @BBQMike_SRB, TikTok: sunsetridgebbq

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Sunset Ridge BBQ to open takeout business, receives state grant