Today we’d like to introduce you to Don MacCuish.
Hi Don, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Cove — Where Pirates Gather
The Cove was created by Don MacCuish and his son Donny, who lead both the vision and daily operations as the owners/operators of this family-run restaurant and bar. Their goal has always been to bring a welcoming new gathering place to Platte City — one centered on great food, community connection, and genuine fellowship.
Don’s roots in hospitality go back to his youth working in pizza restaurants in Florida. After a 24-year career in the U.S. Army, he retired in the Kansas City area and turned his focus to building something homegrown for his community. Donny also grew up in the restaurant world, serving tables throughout high school and college. After graduating from Platte County High School, he studied Advertising at Florida Atlantic University and later worked as an account manager for a marketing company in South Florida. This past year, Donny returned to Platte City to embark on this new adventure with his father.
The MacCuish family’s commitment to Platte City runs deep:
Amy MacCuish, Don’s wife, is deeply involved locally and serves on the Platte County R-3 School Board, bringing invaluable community connections to the project.
Emma, their daughter, leads social media and communications for The Cove.
Evan, their son, plays a key role in menu development, helping shape offerings and even naming pizzas.
Kooper, their grandson, is affectionately known as The Cove’s “mascot” and inspired the kids’ menu.
The motivation behind The Cove isn’t about corporate brands or outside investors — it’s about a local family investing in the town that raised them. Their vision is simple yet meaningful: create a place where friends and families can gather, enjoy good food and drinks, watch sports, and truly feel at home.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When we first started, we took on a building that was completely gutted. On the one hand that gave us a blank slate to create exactly what we wanted — but on the other hand it was a huge challenge to build everything from the ground up and coordinate construction with no existing infrastructure in place.
Another early hurdle was that we didn’t come from decades of experience in the restaurant industry. Because of that, we couldn’t secure traditional funding or find affordable insurance — many lenders and insurers simply wouldn’t work with us. That meant we had to finance the entire project ourselves, which was a real leap of faith and a financial risk.
We were committed to opening as soon as possible, and with that urgency, we signed the lease on August 1 and opened our doors by December 5 — just four months later. That tight timeline was exciting, but it also made staffing really difficult. We didn’t have the ideal team in place at the start, and the labor market was tough. What got us through those first few weeks were college kids home for the holidays who stepped in and covered most of the kitchen duties until we could bring on more permanent staff — something we hadn’t fully anticipated but are extremely grateful for.
On top of all that, even though we had confidence in our product, what we didn’t expect was just how supportive the community would be. In our first month open, we were absolutely slammed — we even ran out of food at times and had to make real-time adjustments to keep up. It was chaotic, exhausting, and incredibly validating all at once.
Every week we’ve seen steady growth, more repeat customers, and we’re learning to refine our operations. Those early struggles taught us resilience, adaptability, and the value of community support — and they have shown us that our instincts were right.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Cove. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Cove specializes in a welcoming, made-from-scratch dining experience that blends classic New York-style pizza with Midwest comfort favorites. We pride ourselves on using fresh, high-quality ingredients and crafting a menu that appeals to a wide range of tastes. Our offerings include:
Classic hand-tossed pizzas with that authentic New York character
Locally sourced Angus smashburgers cooked to order
Handcrafted sandwiches and fresh salads
Flavorful wings and other crave-worthy favorites
More than just great food, The Cove is a sports-friendly gathering place where friends, families, and neighbors can come together to enjoy a delicious meal in a relaxed, inclusive atmosphere — whether it’s a casual dinner, catching the game, or a night out with good company.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Don and Donny have both grown up dreaming about opening their own venue. Whenever they were driving through small towns or exploring new places on vacation, they’d always point at buildings and say, “I bet that spot would make an amazing location for something special.” That shared dream eventually became the inspiration behind The Cove.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thecovepc.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecovepizza
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574032582407&sk=about
