New downtown eatery focuses on plant-based menu

A career pivot for a former human resources professional has resulted in a soon-to-open downtown restaurant centered around plant-based food.

Bosky’s Vegan Grill owner Amy Bennett said she expects to open her 405 W. Walnut St. eatery by month’s end. She estimated $30,000 in startup costs to launch her first-ever ownership venture in the 1,600-square-foot building previously occupied by restaurant Mo’ Beef, which closed last year.

Bennett is on a three-year lease for an undisclosed rate with landlord Don Fairchild, who owned Mo’ Beef.

“We joked with the name going from Mo’ Beef to no beef,” she said with a laugh.

Bosky, which means covered with trees or shrubs, is a nod towards the restaurant’s vegan focus.

“I was trying to come up with what to call this place and it kind of in my mind went along with the plant vibe that we’ve got here of plant food, vegan food,” she said.

The all-vegan menu will include plant-based burgers, chicken and fish sandwiches, chicken nuggets, bratwurst, fries and salads. Drinks such as Stubborn Soda, Bubly water, tea and Spring Branch Kombucha also will be served. Additionally, Bennett said some of the menu options are being supplied by Springfield-based Jake’s Burgers.

“When thinking about the word vegan, that can be scary for some people. Keeping that in mind, I wanted to keep all the items very familiar and in a familiar form,” she said, adding prices for an entree and side will range $8-$15.

Due to the small dining space – seating capacity is 14 – Bennett said the focus is primarily on take-out orders.

The pending restaurant launch is making good on a desire of Bennett’s since she first worked in the food service industry while attending Republic High School. Her first job in that field was at Garden Cafe in Republic, which has since closed.

“It was something I always liked and thought maybe someday I would want to have my own,” she said.

However, she didn’t focus on food service in college, receiving a bachelor’s in 2006 from Missouri State University in fashion merchandising. A few years later, Bennett completed her MBA through Webster University at which time she also was working in human resources at Ozarks Technical Community College. In total, she accrued 10 years in human resources, including nearly four years at City Utilities of Springfield, before exiting late last year to focus on Bosky’s.

“The [COVID-19] pandemic kind of changed a lot, at least for me, what was next in goals and dreams. I started the vegan lifestyle a few years ago,” Bennett said, adding she’s had difficulty finding places with many plant-based options. “Put it all together and that’s what got me down this road.”