MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, MI – A new Muskegon Heights eatery has opened its doors at 395 West Broadway Ave., touting that it’s built for those who clock in early and stay up late.
West Michigan native Jordan Donselar and his wife, Katey, opened Hustlin’ Heights in August alongside longtime friends Cody and Kendra Ireland.
“When we named it Hustlin’ Heights, there’s a history there — Cody and I, we’re grinders,” Jordan Donselar told MLive. “We’ve worked multitudes of two to three jobs at a time for years and years, just hustling to make money to build something for our families.”
He said that they were looking at the history of Muskegon Heights’ community of hard workers, and wanted to pay homage to them and provide something unique for the area.
Both having manufacturing experience, Hustlin’ Heights marks the first entrepreneur venture for Donselar and Ireland, who don’t even live in Muskegon Heights.
While Donselar live in Allendale, Ireland lives in Holland. The two make time to commute while still working full-time at their day jobs.
“It comes with its challenges,” Donselar said. “There were three months where we were working 70 to 100 hours a week between here and doing renovations.”
Before the building was home to Hustlin’ Heights, locals knew it as The Schultz Haus. Now, after renovations, the neighborhood bar is adorned with graffiti artwork both inside and outside.
“We were kind of looking for an opportunity, and we saw the old Schultz Haus, and thought that was a great area to invest in,” Donselar said. “One of the owners had passed away, and it was just kind of being neglected. It was a good opportunity to pick up a bar that had some good roots but just needed some love and a revitalization.”
Equipped with a full bar and all set for karaoke nights, the space has a menu full of comfort food options such as homemade mozzarella sticks, loaded fries, pretzel bites, sandwiches, pizza and wings.
The top order is the pepperoni and hot honey pizza. It comes with spicy pepperoni and a lingering sweet sting.
Customers can choose from a 12-inch for $13 or a 14-inch for $14.50. Additional toppings are $1 extra.
Another favorite is the barbecue chicken pizza, described as a Sunday cookout meets street heat. A 12-inch is $13 and a 14-inch is $14.75.
To finish it off, those 21 and over can get a house cocktail, craft beer, seltzers and ciders.
Donselar touts that he and Ireland have been growing Hustlin’ Heights every week. Each day, there’s new faces walking in, excited to have a new restaurant in the area.
The business partners are ready to dismantle the stigma that surrounds the Muskegon Heights area.
“When I was leaving the bar at night and had my windows down in my car, I just see all these people in their neighborhoods all hanging outside, having cookouts, the music’s on, they’re all enjoying each other’s company,” Donselar said. “There’s such a rich community feel. It’s so cool to see and I just wish other neighborhoods were like that.”
The hours of operation for Hustlin’ Heights are from 3 to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
To place an order for carryout, call 231-780-6763. View the full menu here.