BUCHANAN TOWNSHIP — Sonny’s Lounge may have a new name, décor, visions and ownership, but co-owner Cameron Downey, of Buchanan, said its famous chicken is here to stay.

Between a soft opening July 3 and a grand opening celebration Friday, Oct. 25, Downey said he had people all the way from The Windy City visit Cameron’s Restaurant, 1021 W. Front St., to eat a chicken meal.

“They were going to swing around here and go all the way up to South Haven,” he said. “They were telling people over in Chicago they were going to go [Das Dutchmen] Essenhaus for chicken, and somebody stopped them and said, ‘No, if you’re going to that side of the lake, you got to go to Sonny’s.’ It’s got a reputation.”

Downey said he wants to keep the restaurant’s reputation as a family-centered, friendly restaurant, too. When he and co-owner Donna Monell — who moved to Buchanan from Columbus, Ohio — took over the restaurant, they kept all its employees and many menu items.

While fixing and updating some equipment was needed, the property was largely a “turnkey” purchase, Downey said.

With a staff, structure and menu already established, getting into the restaurant business was smooth from the start, the owners said.

Downey was a longtime mold maker for a tool and dye company. Monell is a recently retired emergency manager at the Columbus airport.

The two were looking for something to do together when a friend mentioned opening a restaurant. After a few conversations between the three, Downey and Monell decided to get into the business. Sonny’s, conveniently, was for sale at the time.

After getting clearances, licenses and paperwork, the immediate challenge became decorating the restaurant. The previous owners had taken the space’s assemblage of dear heads, family pictures, hunting pictures and its resident stuffed alligator.

Due to a liquor license agreement, the new owners had 10 days to find new decorations and open.

“It was community garage sales that weekend,” Downey said. “Just about everything you see on the walls here? We just went around and picked up stuff from garage sales.”

Snowshoes, snow skis, water skis and golf clubs now adorn the walls — Downey jokingly claimed that one antique, wooden-shafted club was owned by golf great Ben Hogan.

The owners turned the restaurant from a hunting atmosphere to one that encompassed a multitude of seasonal Michigan sports that can be done in the area.

Part of their décor trek success was thanks to the community. After sharing that they were opening a restaurant at garage sales, sellers began calling them to offer other items that fit their theme.

Buchanan’s community feel is something Monell said she appreciates, especially coming from a large city. She has found its members to be loyal to area businesses, including theirs.

“The community comes together and supports each other,” she said. “The businesses themselves also reach out to support the efforts of the schools and cause, which is good. It makes it a close-knit community.”

Of course, she said, that can have its downsides. If she runs into a maintenance issue at Cameron’s, the whole community might know about it.

Buchanan residents may soon talk about big projects at Cameron’s. Monell said there are plans to create a deck out back to have one of the few places in the area with outdoor seating. Theirs would have a water view.

The deck would be 60 feet by 30 feet, have a sunken area, a fire pit and occasional entertainment.

The owners also plan to expand their beer menu with the help of a full basement, which can house the cooler system needed. They have already been testing different beers on taps, and they plan to feature beers from local breweries.

While offering more lunch options may be a future goal, for now, Cameron’s is open from 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 3 to 10 p.m. Friday to Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. Cooks are needed.