ROCHELLE — It’s official. Salt 251 is under new management.

Effective immediately, Jason Akey is the managing partner of the restaurant, bar and banquet center alongside John and Chawn Scanlan.

This comes on the heels of news the facility had been placed on the market earlier this month. At the time, the Scanlans stressed the facility was not closing.

Akey, a Rochelle native, has been helping to launch restaurants as well as managing them for 27 years, including the Flight Deck and several in the suburbs. He admits eyeing the south side facility even before the Scanlans purchased it and began extensive renovations last year.

Akey talked about the priorities in his new position.

“The facility, he has done an amazing job. We will put together a new menu...an expanded menu and more dinner options,” Akey said. “My intent is to make sure that our service is on par with the quality of food we will put out.”

Akey explained there will also be new daily specials rolling out shortly. Depending on how the new specials sell will determine if they find a place on the menu. He also assured the menu will evolve over time.

The Scanlans are ready for Akey to step in and take over the operations end of the business, mainly due to the workload the couple has with the three other businesses they own. That was the key reason they were intent on either selling or looking for a manager.

“If we can have a manager come in, Chawn and I don’t have to be here. I’m done…it’s over. Perfect for me,” John said Thursday.

John added that they are both excited and are looking forward to a break. The couple has set a goal to retire in a couple of years.