HOWELL — While strolling through downtown Howell last spring with her husband Joe, Dena Rheaume noticed there didn't seem to be a place where she could stop, grab a sandwich and go on her way.
Take-and-go eateries were common for her growing up near Shelby Township, but she noticed many of Howell's downtown restaurants don't open until later.
"I look at my husband and I'm like, 'Yeah, a sandwich shop would be great,' because back on the east side we'd have so many more Italian delicacies out there and we loved being able to grab a sandwich that was hearty and healthier than a fast-food chain," she said.
The couple, who had recently moved to the Howell area with their family, kept the idea in the back of their minds.
"My family and I know how to run a business and I know deli, and it just sounds like it would do well," she said.
Rheaume eventually put together a business plan at her husband's urging and then, after considering a food truck, decided to buy the downtown space. Now, the Crunchy Pickle is set to open its doors in mid-March at 116 N. State St., formerly Weaver's Kava House.
Rheaume is planning lunchtime hours, typically, with some exceptions. She plans to be open during the Howell Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays from May through October.
"I think any restaurant that is open on Sunday during the market is going to enjoy a wonderful relationship with the market. Hundreds of people come from all over for the market and it will be nice for them to have another dining choice," Howell Market Manager Colleen Monroe said. "Many times, on Sundays the restaurants currently don’t open until lunch or dinner. A sandwich shop will be welcomed by both market patrons and vendors. As it is a sandwich shop it won’t compete with my current food booths at the market so that is nice, too."
What's on the menu
Rheaume said the name of the restaurant just "came to her" one night and part of the menu will include pickles.
"We're going to have pickles and some pickle items. I have a pickle sauce I'm going to be serving on one of the sandwiches, so we're going to have a signature pickle sandwich, but a lot of the things we're carrying are going to be more on the Italian delicacy," she said.
Sandwich lovers will find a number of options served on artisan bread, with the exception of a gluten-free option.
"They are going to be larger sandwiches, so they're definitely going to be something that you're going to bring home. It's going to keep you full. You might even have some extra," she said.
Rheaume plans to serve a variety of Italian meats, including soppressata, capicola, prosciutto and others. They will also offer turkey and white meats, along with a selection of cheeses and spreads.
"We're Italian, so we always had, we didn't call them charcuterie things at home, but we always had meats and cheeses, every party and wine and all of the things," Rheaume said. "We want to bring a little taste of my ethnicity here. The things I grew up on. The things to be remind me of home and comfort."
Rheaume said there are two sandwiches on the menu dedicated to her mother and father.
"They are the two most important people in my life," she said.
Her dad's sandwich is called "The Bruno" and it includes mortadella, salami, prosciutto, whipped ricotta, fig jam and provolone cheese. Her mom's sandwich is called "The Lori," has honey turkey, muenster cheese, apricot jam and arugula.
Rheaume said she chose her menu items by conducting a taste test with her family at one of her daughter's birthday parties.
"It was a whole thing. I had different family members at different times taste. What do you like with this? What do you like with that? We ended up going and pairing things that tasted well together," she said.
In addition to sandwiches, the Crunchy Pickle will offer gourmet sodas, grab-and-go desserts and other options.
"A really big part of it was being able to find something that was sugar-free, but tasted good, too. I love that nowadays there's so many different ways you can make it," she said. "I'm going to try and offer things here and there for everybody to enjoy."
Rheaume also is planning a small section with goods and merchandise for sale.
Family ties
Rheaume, a mother of three — 12-year-old Carmella, 10-year-old Mia and 7-year-old Aurora, grew up near Shelby Township. After graduating from high school, she became a hairstylist until 2017. She also was manager at her family's ice cream store for a few years in her 20s. She said her dad has owned multiple businesses all her life.
"I've always kind of looked up to owning my own business from my family," she said.
When she started having children, she stepped away and took on administrative work and dabbled in other things and then became a stay-at-home mom. Joe Rheaume owns his own construction business, installing floors for a living.
"I really kind of sat in the back burner and raised my kids while he took the reins and went off with his business," she said.
The Rheaumes lived in Linden for a time and then moved to Howell in May 2022.
"I just loved it out here so much because I had that feeling of having space, but I also have that more feel of having the things you need," she said.
Livingston Daily reporterPatricia Alvord can be reached at palvord@livingstondaily.com.
