Nestled in the heart of coastal Southwest Michigan, often referred to as the “Hamptons of the Midwest,” (WSJ), PostBoy, the highly-anticipated 10,000 sq ft indoor-outdoor restaurant by Entrepreneur Ben Holland and partner Chef/Restaurateur James Galbraith (Anemel, Houndstooth) is set to open in New Buffalo on Friday, November 1st.
Postboy is located at 207 N Whittaker Street, just steps from the town’s Amtrak station and 70 miles up the coast of Lake Michigan from Chicago. To launch the venue, the restaurant has assembled a team of some of the region’s most impressive hospitality talent. Additionally, PostBoy plans to host a series of curated guest chef dinners featuring some of the nation’s most acclaimed chefs, with the goal of presenting a world-class dining experience in the Midwest while remaining deeply rooted in the local community.
“Southwest Michigan is really having a moment,” says Holland. “With PostBoy, we’re aiming to present something ambitious that could rival what you’d find in any of the big food cities through food, drink, design and experience. We hope to become one of the most exciting restaurants in the Midwest and to really shine the spotlight on a region that has long been overlooked…but we’re going to have a lot of fun while we’re doing it.”
The collaboration between Holland and Galbraith is rooted in a deep personal connection to the area. Holland, who spent his summers in New Buffalo, has long envisioned creating a destination that reflects the town’s unique coastal charm. Galbraith, already known for doing some of the most serious food in the region at his Benton Harbor restaurants Houndstooth and Anemel, brings over 20 years of industry experience, which includes studying under some of Chicago’s most acclaimed chefs at celebrated dining institutions such as Intro, Blackbird, Elske, S.K.Y., Bellemore, BOKA and more, to the project. Together, the duo has created a high-design space with all-day dining that has something for everyone.
THE TEAM: Dont’e Shaw joins PostBoy as chef de cuisine, bringing two years of experience working in the kitchen of Alinea, a three star MICHELIN-recognized restaurant often regarded as one of the best in the world. Aaron Mace was named General Manager of PostBoy, who served as a seasoned manager across several highly regarded restaurants in Chicago including Lyra, BLVD, The Promontory, City Winery and Big Star. Krystin Reuber jumps on board as Bar Director, recently leading the bar program at New Buffalo’s Brewster’s Italian Café and making her way behind the bar of some of the most popular drinking spots in the area including The False Front and Tomcat Tavern. Finally, Samantha Noble will serve as Assistant General Manager, and has racked up several years of local experience at Southwest Michigan’s beloved Journeyman Distillery and under Chef James at his restaurant Anemel.
THE FOOD & DRINKS: Centered around Chef James Galbraith’s knack for playful takes on New American food marked by global flavors, PostBoy’s menu boldly elevates familiar favorites. Dishes like loaded potato gnocchi, channeling the flavors of a baked potato with cheddar mornay, citrus cream, and bacon, the chilaquiles mussels with chipotle broth, chorizo and crispy tostadas, and a whole branzino with Japanese bubu arare rice pearls and miso-yaki are center stage, presented in new ways that are both creative and exciting. There’s even a classic fried chicken sandwich that’s amped up with Calabrian chile oil and cacio e pepe mayo. The drink menu contains adventurous cocktails like the Necromancer with tequila, absinthe, plum and sparkling sake and non-alcoholic options such as the California Sober featuring zero-proof tequila, umeboshi, grapefruit and CBD tincture. The menu’s voyage ends with a collection of desserts like the black lime blondie with Zarlengo’s coconut sorbet and the whoopie pie-esque molé cookie with marshmallow fluff.
THE SPACE: PostBoy’s design captures the essence of New Buffalo’s coastal charm, blending Danish and coastal-retro aesthetics to create a nostalgic yet modern dining environment. The high-design space was designed by Chicago’s 555 International, whose previous work includes Logan Square’s Andros Taverna, Roister, and Gemini. The space features custom touches like a 1949 Ford mail truck procured from Eureka, Montana, which was restored by nearby Dixon MotoWorks in Stevensville, Michigan. The truck will sell merch on the 6,000-square-foot patio, sharing the space with a stage for live music and entertainment. The outdoor area also includes a custom pergola from Italy, two outdoor fire pits, London Planetree & Ginko trees, mural work commissioned by Saint Joseph native Alexia Barreiro, and a takeout window, with more details forthcoming. Look for the venue to offer seating for up to 100 guests indoors and 140 on the outdoor patio, with an additional event space for up to 80.
STAR CHEF DINNER SERIES: Chef James Galbraith has begun curating a lineup of several top regional chefs for a monthly wine dinner and chef series at PostBoy, kicking off with Chicago’s Zach Engel of MICHELIN-starred Galit on Sunday, November 17. David Posey of MICHELIN-starred Elske, and Stephen Gillanders (S.K.Y.) will be future guests in 2025. Down the line, Galbraith and Holland plan to expand the space’s programming to include live music and entertainment. More details to be released in the near future and tickets will be available via Tock.
