08/20/2026
Friend,
10 Years of Henry’s Place
Ten years ago, it took some brass balls to walk away from a stable job in inventory management as a third-tier supplier to the Big Three.
But goals needed to be realigned.
As a newlywed with a baby on the way, the pressure was real. There was one idea, one opportunity, and one shot to make it work.
And from that, Henry’s Place was born. It was David against Goliath. At the time, small businesses were struggling to survive in Okemos. Many were falling by the wayside, and I knew that if Henry’s Place was going to have a chance, we needed to be different. We needed a niche. We needed a food menu that was elevated and, most importantly, authentic to who I was.
The menu was built around foods I loved—things I discovered while traveling from a young age in New York, through my college years, and during my time as a young professional in some of the country’s major cities.
Almost everything about Henry’s Place was personally defined and curated. As an MSU fanatic, the walls are filled with Spartan memorabilia. As someone who grew up locally in Meridian Township, there are old photographs and pieces of history celebrating places like Dodge Park and Schmidt’s. And then there is the bourbon collection—not just a collection of ordinary bottles, but bottles that have been enjoyed, shared, discussed, and remembered.
Those details are what made me excited to be at Henry’s Place from open to close every day.
I loved seeing people enjoy the food I created. I loved sharing something that came from my own experiences with all of you. There has never been a shortage of creativity at Henry’s Place. And while this was never intended to be a Michelin-star concept, it was always meant to be my concept—my version of the foods and experiences I love, elevated in my own way.
Over these past ten years, something even more meaningful happened.
We built relationships.
We met countless incredible patrons and became part of communities like Lansing Chowhounds, Lansing Foodies, Lansing Area Whisky Society, and 517Living. We developed friendships with industry leaders, restaurant workers, fellow business owners, and, most importantly, many of you who have continued to walk through our doors year after year.
Ten years has been one hell of a ride. I didn't know how to operate an American bar and restaurant when we started. Everything had to be learned, taught, relearned, and retaught.
Then came COVID.
Then massive increases in costs. Supply chain problems. Workforce challenges. And plenty of moments when walking away would have been the easier choice. But we kept going. That drive to keep going is something I learned from my greatest mentor—my mother, who has been running Asian Buffet for nearly 30 years.
She taught me that the most important thing about owning your own business is simple:
Give it everything you have.
Support the employees who work tirelessly to bring your vision to life. Be there to greet your customers. Lead by example. Stay humble.
And perhaps most importantly, never compare yourself to someone else.
Business isn't a race against the person next to you.
It's a race against yourself—to become the best version of who you are and to see what you're truly capable of.
So, as we celebrate 10 years, I don't look at this as the finish line.It's just the beginning. And we're kicking off our 10-year celebration with some exciting things at Henry's Place. Starting September 5th, we'll be softly opening our new brunch service every Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 3 PM. On September 13th, we'll be hosting a charity brunch car show dedicated to the late Richard Dunham, a legend in the car community, with portion of the proceeds from sales going toward what he loved, animals. So all the proceeds will go to a local charity, Saved by Zade.
And throughout our week-long anniversary celebration from September 8th thru the 14th, we'll be giving back to the people who helped make these ten years possible, with giveaways including a pair of Detroit Lions tickets, a year's worth of lobster rolls, and many other prizes.
Ten years ago, I took a chance. Today, I look around Henry's Place and realize that chance became something much bigger than a restaurant. It became a fabric of the community. To everyone who has eaten here, shared a drink, brought friends and family, supported us through the hard times, recommended us to someone else, posted about us, or simply walked through our doors:
Thank you.
Thank you for allowing me to share my passion with you for the last ten years.
Here's to the first 10. The best is yet to come.
— Henry Kwok
Henry’s Place
