Lennie's restaurant in Bloomington sold to 2 former employees

NOTE: This article that features Chamber Member, Lennie's, was published on July 12, 2023 in the Herald-Times by Carol Kugler. Photos are provided by the Herald-Times.

Michael Fox, left, Lennie Busch, middle, and Samantha Ezzo, right, pose inside Lennie's on Monday, July 10, 2023. Photo by: Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times

Lennie Busch is excited about the future of Lennie's restaurant, even though she and her business partner Jeff Mease no longer own the establishment that bears her name.
On July 3, Michael Fox and Samantha Ezzo purchased the restaurant at 514 E. Kirkwood Ave. Although the couple are starting a new venture together, Lennie's isn't new to either of them — it's been part of their lives for years.
"We started working at Lennie's in 2002 and sort of fell in love and have been together for 20 years," Fox said.
Fox continued to work at Lennie's, one of the One World Enterprises companies owned by Busch and Mease, until February. When he left, he was director of operations for Lennie's and Hive, a position he had since 2017.

Ezzo worked at Lennie's as a server, bartender and manager for several years and was the first general manager of One World Catering, where she worked for three years. Currently she is chief operating officer of Curare Physician Recruiting, a position she plans to keep.

Fox, Busch and Mease all said the sale keeps the longtime Bloomington restaurant "in the family."
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"Lennie's will be in good hands for the next generation, and that feels great," Mease wrote recently in a message.

Busch agrees, adding, "Michael and Sami, they have the passion. They have the history. They have the youth, which is so important in the restaurant industry. I'm so excited with what they will do with it."

Busch said the transition came about "in a magical way, it just worked. We weren't looking for this."

Fox says Mease has been a mentor and the two talked "off and on" about possibilities for a couple years.

"I love the business. I love the restaurant industry. I'm good at it," Fox said. "I'm passionate about it. I missed the hustle and grind and the people, both guests and staff."

Fox was reluctant to talk about the recent sale, concerned about what the employees may be feeling. For the first couple of months, he wants to ensure the staff feel "comfortable, safe and secure" with the change.

There is no plan to change the name or the layout, Fox said. "It's a reputable brand in Bloomington and has a lot of history in Bloomington."

But Busch anticipates the new owners will make some changes. She said having Fox there will make a big difference, stating, "That kind of restaurant needs to have someone who is there and is the face of that restaurant."

Fox and Ezzo, Busch said, will "bring back the excitement" as she works to help them take over the accounting and Mease helps with operations. "We want them to succeed and we will do everything in our power to make that happen.
"It's the best. You want to leave the legacy," Busch said. "I think it's the best way to continue the legacy."