A Popular Steakhouse Chain With Iowa Roots is Coming to Eastern Iowa

A new dining option is headed to Delaware County! An Alabama-based steakhouse chain called Big Mike's Steakhouse will open in Manchester in 2027!

About Big Mike's Steakhouse

If you've never heard of Big Mike's Steakhouse, it's probably because the restaurant chain only has locations in the state of Alabama. According to the restaurant's website, owner Mike Cole, aka Big Mike, "had a vision for opening steakhouses in rural towns to provide a quality alternative for people who were tired of having to drive hours to get to the big city to enjoy a great steak." He teamed up with his friends Scott Powell and Caine Conway to open the first Big Mike's Steakhouse in Thomasville, Alabama in 2013, and there are now eight locations across the state.

The main focus of the menu at Big Mike's Steakhouse is... well, steak! The restaurant was even given the award for the number one ribeye in the entire state of Alabama by the Alabama Cattlemen's Association! Whether you opt for the ribeye, filet mignon, or hamburger steak, each of the entrees come with Bavarian bread & cinnamon butter, plus your choice of two signature sides. You can even choose to smother it with toppings, like parmesan, herbed butter, caramelized onion, or onion straws.

In addition to steak, Big Mike's menu offers shrimp, chicken, fish, pasta, burgers, salads, and made-from-scratch soups. Each location also has weekly specials, which you can find on their social media pages.

About the Manchester Location

The announcement about the new Big Mike's Steakhouse came from a Facebook post by Mitch Peyton, who works for Northwestern Mutual in Manchester. Mitch broke the news on April 20th, writing:

"It’s official. Big Mike’s Steakhouse is coming to Iowa. Mike, Caine and Scott were here early last week and are excited about the opportunity to partner with them on their first location in Iowa. It’s going to be sometime in spring 2027 before we can all enjoy this, but it will be worth the wait."

An article from KMCH reports that owner Mike Cole is actually a native of Manchester, Iowa. He moved to Alabama in 1991, a few years after graduating from West Delaware High School, and opened the first Big Mike's location in 2013. The Manchester steakhouse will be the first one outside of Alabama, and is a partnership between several parties: Mike & Angie Corcoran, Roger & Diane Zearley, Aaron & Kelly Wulfekuhle, and Mitch & Angie Peyton.

Big Mike's Steakhouse will take over the building at 116 S Franklin St in Manchester, the former home of Franklin Street Brewing Company. The building has remained empty since the brewery closed at the end of 2024. According to KMCH:

"They’ll be transforming the old brewery building into the steakhouse on the main floor, with lofts on the upper level. Work on both the restaurant and the lofts should be starting at the end of June, with hopes to open Big Mike’s Steakhouse in March 2027."

For more information on Big Mike's Steakhouse, you can check out the official website HERE. We can't wait to give it a try next year!

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