Costela Brazilian Steak House Announces its Grand Opening in Uptown Bay City

BAY CITY, MICHIGAN – October 22, 2018 – Jose and Alicia Costilla and Shaheen Development of Saginaw are pleased to announce the grand opening of the Costela Brazilian Steak House located at 110 Uptown Drive, Uptown Place, Bay City, MI. Costela Brazilian Steak House brings an authentic Churrascaria experience to the Great Lakes Bay Region. It has been a dream of Jose and Alicia Costilla’s to open an authentic Churrascaria. That dream will come true on Saturday, November 10, 2018 when Costela Brazilian Steak House opens to the public.

On November 8, 2018, Costela will host a VIP Grand Opening dinner as a fundraiser for the Bay Area Community Foundation. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Foundation’s Bay Commitment Scholarship Program, a scholarship for first-generation college students. For reservations, please contact guest services at the restaurant at (989) 778-2640.
Costela promises to create a distinctive dining experience in Bay City, located on the first floor of Uptown Place on the corner of Uptown Drive and Columbus. Jose and Alicia Costilla live in Bay City and have been successful local entrepreneurs for over two decades.

“Fifteen years ago, I was introduced to a Brazilian steak house, an authentic Churrascaria. I truly believe it was destiny,” said owner Jose Costilla. “It was by accident that I was looking for a place to eat. They told me about this restaurant. Honestly, I didn’t care; I was just hungry. The person who told me about it sounded so excited, so I decided to give it a shot. When I got there, the place was all booked and there was no seating. I was told that I needed to make a reservation and that the soonest reservation was a week from then. It was my last day in DC, so there was no way I could make a reservation. As soon as I was about to walk out, the hostess caught me and said there was a cancellation. The hostess took me to my table, and right away a waitress came to the table. She explained how the concept of this restaurant worked, and from that moment on I fell in love with the churrasco style. I am so pleased to be bringing an authentic Brazilian Steak House to my hometown of Bay City. We have brought in authentic woodfire grills from Brazil and will serve only the finest meats and produce available.”

The restaurant will feature a continuous parade of fifteen authentic Brazilian cuts of beef, pork, poultry and freshly-made sausages carved tableside by Gaucho chefs. Guests will begin their meal with a gourmet Brazilian market table complete with fresh salads, smoked fish, meats, soups, vegetables, and accompaniments. Fine wines and a full bar selection will offer guests many unique options. The restaurant will specialize in preparing Caipirinha Cocktails, Brazil’s national cocktail featuring Cachaca liquor and fresh lime. The Costillas have been perfecting the recipes over the last several months.

The interiors have been carefully planned and personally designed by Alicia Costilla with the help of Pinnacle Design, a local interior design firm. The restaurant decor includes hand-painted murals and locally produced artwork. Finishing touches on the interiors are now being completed.
City officials Dana Muscott and Sara Dimitroff are equally excited. “Bay City has always been a great city for food lovers. We are excited to add another independent, high-quality restaurant to our dining scene,” said Sara Dimitroff, economic development manager for the City of Bay City.

Dana Muscott, city manager adds, “It is very exciting to see great progress in our City. There is a great mix of local entrepreneurs opening small businesses throughout Bay City from specialty retail, and restaurants to great places to live and work. The City of Bay City is proud to be a catalyst for this investment.”

“Shaheen Development and Alicia and Jose Costilla share a passion for investing in the community where they live and creating a vibrant, thriving region,” said Sam Shaheen, M.D. “Costela Brazilian Steak House will offer a high quality dining and very fun experience the community will love. We are thrilled to help bring this dining destination to the Great Lakes Bay Region.”

The public is invited to grand opening events including a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce to be held 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 8. A VIP grand opening fundraising dinner in support of the Bay Area Community Foundation’s Bay Commitment Scholarship Program will be held immediately following at $125 per person. Reservations are available from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 pm. The evening includes an authentic Brazilian-inspired dinner featuring some of Costela’s finest entrees paired with the gourmet Brazilian market table and a special selection of wine. Call Costela Guest Services at (989) 778-2640 for reservations.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the grand opening of Costela Brazilian Steak House in such a special way,” said Diane Fong, president & CEO of the Bay Area Community Foundation. “The Bay Commitment Scholarship has been helping first-generation Bay County students achieve their educational dreams for ten years. We are thankful for the support of the Costilla family and Shaheen Development.”

The restaurant opens to the public on Saturday, November 10, 2018. Reservations are encouraged, but not required. Normal hours of operation begin on Saturday, November 10th and are:
Mon-Thurs: Lunch 11 am – 2:30 pm Dinner 5 pm – 10 pm
Friday: Lunch 11 am – 2:30 pm Dinner 5 pm – 10:30 pm
Saturday: 11 am – 10:30 pm
Sunday: 11 am – 9 pm
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About the Bay Area Community Foundation:
The Bay Area Community Foundation is celebrating 10 years of success of the Bay Commitment Scholarship Program, which has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships to Bay County’s first-generation college students. These students are graduating at a higher rate than their local peers and the national average of first-generation students. Thanks to generous donors and community support, Bay Commitment students are succeeding. Learn more and read their stories at www.bayfoundation.org/BCsuccess.

Bay Commitment is a program of the Bay Area Community Foundation, a philanthropic organization working to improve the quality of life in Bay and Arenac counties. The Foundation’s mission is to fulfill a wide array of donors’ charitable wishes by building permanent endowment funds and serving as a leader for community improvement through effective grantmaking and collaboration. The Bay Area Community Foundation is located in the Pere Marquette Depot at 1000 Adams Street, Suite 200, Bay City, Michigan 48708. For more information, visit www.bayfoundation.org.