Mama T’s returns to Huntingburg

Brandon Acles is reopening Mama T’s in downtown Huntingburg.

After originally opening the restaurant on Fourth Street in 2011, Acles admits he had big ideas for growing the business and made some mistakes expanding so fast. He opened a second restaurant in Jasper and ran into difficulties operating at both locations.

“I’ve got big dreams I guess,” Acles said. “Jasper was a great spot. The folks at BR and Associates [now Servus – who owned the building Acles moved into in Jasper] were some of the best people I’ve ever had a business relationship with. They literally jumped through hoops for me.”

After closing both locations, Acles spent some time cooking at various restaurants and kitchens in Dubois County before hiring on as the cook on a barge traveling on the Ohio River. He was out for 28 days and back at home in Huntingburg for 28 days. It was good work and Acles enjoyed being part of the nine-person crew.

The hardest part, though, no one on the crew liked Italian food, Acles specialty. “Yeah man, I am a great Italian cook and none of them wanted it,” he laughed. “But they were good people to work with.”

The work on the barge and in the local kitchens confirmed one thing for the Huntingburg native. “I love it here and I am here to stay,” he said. ” With everything going on in Huntingburg over the next five years, I want to be right here with it.”

When Robert Holly, the owner of the building, called Acles to talk about selling, he was ready to come home. Acles moved into the upstairs apartment of the location at the beginning of September and has been working on redecorating since.

Finally, this Thursday, Acles will reopen the doors at 320 E. Fourth Street with a slight variation on the name. Rather than Mama T’s Italian Eatery, it will be Mama T’s Italian Steakhouse. The name change comes with the addition of hand-cut steaks and seafood to the original mounds of spaghetti, meatballs and lasagna Acles is known for.

Acles will be joined by his mother, Theresa Jerger, father, Dennis Acles, and sister, Sarah Schmitt at the restaurant.

“I couldn’t be happier to be back on 4th Street and look forward to seeing everyone enjoying the food I love to cook.”

The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Here is the story we published about Brandon and his family when he opened on Fourth Street originally.