Russell family buys Porterhouse

MOSES LAKE — A deal selling the Porterhouse Restaurant & Lounge to owners of the Lake Bowl and Ameristay Inn & Suites was expected to close Friday.

Bob Russell, one of the new owners, said Tuesday he will work as the general manager of the new Porterhouse Steakhouse.

The business closed Tuesday for the interim.

It is expected to reopen as soon as possible after updating equipment, work is completed in the kitchen and people are brought up to speed, he said.

Russell said there are many great people at the Porterhouse. Many will continue to work there under the new ownership, he added.

Once the restaurant reopens, they will probably open at 4 p.m. and serve dinners to start with, Russell commented.

No square footage will be added to the building with the kitchen improvements.

There will be no gambling at the restaurant, like there had previously.

Instead, a food and family steakhouse concept will be emphasized, he explained.

The decision to buy the Moses Lake business came after owner Joe Stanek, a real estate investor, approached to the Russell family, Russell said.

“Our concept will go back to its (the restaurant’s) roots as one of the earliest steakhouses or dinner houses in Moses Lake,” he said.

“It’s just kind of exciting for our family to have the opportunity,” he noted. “My children are now grown up and excited to be part of it.”

During the 1960s, Russell said he would dine at the Porterhouse as a child.

“They had these pickled cherry peppers in the salad,” he recalled.

He added dining out at the Porterhouse was a big deal.

The Russells plan to serve steaks and emphasize “some really good salads and sandwiches” on the menu.

There are plans to have a banquet room at the restaurant and making space available for meetings.