Some deals stay strictly business. This one didn’t. In August 2026, we closed on the sale of Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse at 39550 Seven Mile Road in Northville Township, on the northwest corner of Seven Mile and Haggerty, and the story behind it is close to home in more ways than one.
My neighbor built the building in 1997 as the Bonfire Brewery: 7,400 square feet plus a 2,400-square-foot lower level. By 2007, the brewery market was crowded, and he was ready to sell.
At the same time, I was working with the ownership group behind Gaucho, who wanted to open a Brazilian steakhouse in the area. We had made offers on several sites, but none came together. Then my neighbor’s building came up, and it was the right fit. We closed on the property, and five months later, Gaucho opened its doors.
For the next 19 years, it was my favorite place to eat. I live about three miles away, and I often took my family, friends, coworkers and clients there. The owners always took great care of me, and over the years they became friends.
But 19 years is a long run for any restaurant. Between COVID, road construction around the intersection and more competition in the area, the owners decided it was time to sell.
Selling a restaurant that’s still open takes careful handling. If word reaches patrons or staff before a deal is done, it can hurt the business badly. So instead of a broad marketing push, we took a targeted approach and found our buyer in December 2025. After nearly seven months of negotiating, the deal came together as a 30-day cash offer, and we closed in August 2026.
Like a lot of my deals, this one was personal. My neighbor built the building, I helped bring Gaucho to it, and nearly two decades later I helped the owners through the sale. That’s the kind of long-term relationship I’ve built my career on, right here in the community I call home.
By Steve Valli, Partner, Thomas Duke Company