Submitted photo
The Greenbush Brisket Van will be serving lunch outside Massimo’s Backside Bar patio on Friday.

The Greenbush Brewing Company’s Brisket Van will be offering its brand of barbeque goodness beginning this Friday in downtown Niles.

Nicole Miller, general manager for the Sawyer-based brewery, said the van would be serving lunch in Niles every Friday through October, depending on demand.

“We are excited to be coming to Niles and we want to encourage people to take an early start to their weekend,” said Miller.

The Brisket Van will be parked adjacent to the patio at Massimo’s Backside Bar, 20 E. Main St.

Cindy Cataldo, owner of Massimo’s, said she’s excited about the partnership.

“I think it will be a good thing for both of us,” Cataldo said. “It is exposure for them and exposure for our patio. Plus, I think it will help get more people into downtown Niles for lunch and shopping.”

Patrons will have the opportunity to pick up their food from the truck and have a seat in the Backside Bar patio area. While the van itself doesn’t serve Greenbush’s signature brews, Massimo’s will have several selections of Greenbush beer on tap or in bottles.

“It’s the only location where you can get a sandwich and a Greenbush beer to enjoy with it,” Miller said.

The Brisket Van will open for business at 11 a.m. and close when it runs out of food, generally around 1:30 p.m. Miller said they hope to extend service hours as summer gets into full swing.

Miller said Greenbush had been looking to establish a presence in Niles for a while when Niles Community Development Director Juan Ganum helped facilitate the partnership between the brewery and Massimo’s.

“The city has been incredibly welcoming to us,” she said.

The Brisket Van began hitting the road the first week in April, making several stops throughout southwest Michigan.

The menu features sandwiches served on fresh-baked bread, beef brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken, Texas hot link sausage and a barbeque sampler plate. All meats are brined, spice-rubbed or cured in house before being smoked. The van also offers several side dishes, homemade cookies and Faygo soda.

Ganum said the city does not have a permitting mechanism specific to food trucks. The city is procession Greenbush’s application through transient merchant/peddler regulations.