810 Munchies serves up flavor and creativity in Flint’s food scene

FLINT, Michigan — It’s not easy for families with autistic children to go out for an enjoyable dining experience at a local restaurant. They often have to deal with poor lighting, distracting sounds, and even unwelcome stares or rude remarks from other diners. Steven and Mackenzie Brewer know how hard it is to go to traditional restaurants with two sons on the spectrum. 

Together with their niece and nephew, Hannah and Jose opened their own restaurant, 810 Munchies, as a safe place for everyone to enjoy a good meal. They opened the doors at 3600 S. Dort Hwy. inside the Dort Mall in August 2025. 

“We have two autistic kids and would like them to be able to experience life the same way any neurotypical child would,” Brewer says. “That’s our main mission right there. I always say it’s not just about my kids, it’s about making all kids’ lives better. I want to change the stigma and break the cycle.”

810 Munchies is specifically set up to be sensory-friendly for guests, with dim lighting, no TVs, no music, and even the kitchen staff tries as hard as possible to be quiet while working. If patrons want to color on the walls, there are chalkboard walls and chalk markers for the windows. When kids come into the restaurant, they get gift bags with candy, stickers, crayons, fidget spinners, or finger puppets. 

Steve’s wife, Mackenzie, another co-owner, has seen firsthand the obstacles and barriers faced by parents of children with special needs. She hopes the judgment-free environment of 810 Munchies can serve as a place of gathering, of hope, and community. 

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“We know how lonely it is to be parents to autistic or special needs children,” she says. “It can get very lonely because we’re afraid of the judgment or our child doing something that’s disruptive or disgusting. So to be able to make a place that welcomes the chaos and doesn’t judge anyone for it is a relief. It’s nice to be able to have a place to meet other parents of special needs children as well.”

The Brewers recently had a field-trip group of folks come into the restaurant — some of them were almost 40 years old and had never experienced a restaurant setting before. Creating and facilitating a space that allows people to experience a part of life most of us take for granted every day is humbling for these restaurateurs. 

“Being able to provide that experience for them — whether it’s a first or a try-again after having a bad experience, we’re happy to provide people with that stepping stone to be able to get out more and experience life,” Mackenzie says. 

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It’s not uncommon for parents to meet other parents in similar situations, leading to impromptu ‘therapy’ sessions, resource sharing, and a sense of belonging. Having the restaurant has even led the Brewers to be more involved and educated within the resources and organizations in the Flint and Saginaw communities. 

To give back to that supportive community, 810 Munchies hosts free community-based dinners each month. On the third Saturday of each month, there’s a free meal from 3 p.m. until food is gone. Brewer makes between 200 to 300 plates from donated food.

Everything is made fresh in the restaurant; there’s not even a single microwave in the entire place. Brewer prides himself on cooking everything and keeping costs affordable for families. Menu items include breakfast omelettes, French toast, eggs, hot dogs, sandwiches, subs, and salads. Special requests will not receive any raised eyebrows or ‘no’ replies here. There’s even a Ninja food processor in the back for those who might require pureed foods. 

“If it’s not on my menu, all you need to do is just ask me, and I’ll make it,” Brewer says. “We’re trying to make it affordable and accessible for everybody. 

The restaurant has already received positive feedback and reviews from residents and travelers alike. While other restaurants and public places offer sensory-friendly nights or special activities, Brewer hopes to set his restaurant as an example of how things could be. 

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“We’re still in our first year of building a foundation and developing our restaurant,” he says. “We’ve done things in the restaurant industry that restaurants that have been open for 60 years haven’t done. We’re one of the three percent of restaurants that are part of the Better Business Bureau. We got the cleanest restaurant award in Genesee County four months after we opened.”

The couple started a nonprofit, The Autism Parents Support Network, in 2022, which began as a podcast to shine a light on the barriers that parents of children with special needs have to work through. The Brewers consider this restaurant a stepping stone to the foundation they hope to create. In the meantime, they are happy and proud to see the support of the restaurant and its mission. 

“The community is definitely on board, supportive, and standing behind what we’re doing,” Steve says. “Robert Perani Jr. donated us the space in the mall. We didn’t start paying rent until January, and I signed the lease in June of last year. He didn’t ask us for a single dollar for the first six months we were open. Right now, I only pay half the cost it would cost for the rental of a building that size. The landlord gives us that 50% off because he stands behind us in what we’re doing. I can’t give him enough props because there’s not a lot of business owners or property owners out there that would do that. That says a lot about him and his character. This probably would have never opened if it were not for Robert Perani Jr.”

810 Munchies, inside Dort Mall, is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and is closed Sunday for deep cleaning. You can also check them out on Facebook.