mgreven

I think he's just bluffing...

I would think management might not have helped either - we went when they opened on a Sunday because I wanted to try it and kid's ate free on Sundays when it opened. My wife and I each got a salad because we didn't want anything too heavy and our kids got pizzas. All three pizzas came out full size...we took home almost two pizzas. We questioned the bill because it was so cheap ($20 or so for us all...) Of course, we went back a few Sundays later. The pizza size shrunk to kid-sized but still free. That seemed more appropriate but still quite a deal. Went back a couple months later and the kids eat free was done. They said parents would have all their kids order and then just eat off of those meals while drinking beer. Of course, those customers were not cool for doing that however it doesn't take too much restaurant sense to put safe guards in place to avoid losing too much on promotions. (like one free kids meal with purchase of adult meal...which most places do). The food and drink wasn't worth another trip. BTW, when the bill was that cheap, we tipped a ton.... =)

Bridge Street Market opens on August 29, 2018. They joked at the groundbreaking that it will be fast because the bosses (Rockford) will be right across the street keeping tabs on it everyday... =)

I do like the possibility of dinner and a movie being next each other with Hopcat as the dinner place. I thought we’d have to wait for Studio Park for that.

Yes...lots of taps. I’m headed the Wednesday to check it out.

Thought I’d update since I threw out a rumor about the NP project on the Red Lion site. I just saw someone post online that it was dead and got worried, but UP reassured me. As usual, UP was right. The Jolly Pumpkin folks stopped into my wife’s office and told her all about JP and the project across the street so it’s for sure a go. One extra tidbit, the JP/old Black Heron building has a huge basement where they are going to do a tiki inspired place at some point.

Hope seems to churn out the brewers...Founders, New Holland and Vivant - all Hope grads.

I’d say the biggest conflict is on the basketball court. #calvinhope

Yeah, I know we're ahead of the curve. =)

Yeah, I wasn’t sure of the credibility of that rumor - I looked up the sale, too. That’s a lot of money and work to scrap a project. Maybe since the concept isn’t a NP tap room specifically, there was confusion. Hope it goes up soon...that site needs something. Just wanted to see if there was any truth in that.

Opening on March 22 for Jolly Pumpkin. Is the project across the street still a go or did they decide to scrap it? I saw someone post that they changed their minds and backed out. That's a bummer if true.

Even though Betsy "Prince" DeVos married into the Amway family, I think the Prince money is from automotive, right? Prince Corp was sold to Johnson Controls? That's a huge plot of land..could be a great addition to an already sweet small town downtown. It sure would be fun to have money to play real life SimCity, wouldn't it? =)

I’ve heard similar things but yet it always seems relatively busy there, but not insane like Founders... I do think they should break up the spaces. I noticed last time they are doing some comedy in the lounge, I know they do jazz nights on the second floor with West Michigan Jazz Society and I think I even saw they were having a dance party one night. I feel like that could be a great use of all that space...different venues with different options. Then again, maybe they’re doing fine the way it is. Side note...I did see Jolly Pumpkin is close to opening.

I was going to post this...seems like they are moving fast on this. I think a hotel in that "dead" section of DeVos would be great.

I was looking at their FB page and it looked that as of last week, they were expanding hours. Maybe (hopefully) just an equipment or building issue...my wife says it's always busy when she goes or walks by.

My wife sent me these from her meeting today.

Bridge Street Market opens August 29. They're really movin'!

So you have to be flying to go to the new place? Can't hang out there waiting for someone to fly in or leave? Is Bell's still there too? I don't get to the airport that much but I'm curious.

I heard from what I think to be a decent source that Hopcat is looking in Allendale, too.

HA! I forgot about his post. With all the $$ that lives on the lake, I'm surprised no one has wanted to invest in the village. I know if had money, I'd love to play SimCity with it. =)

Finally, my little drive through town of Spring Lake may be getting some love. Would love to get a better idea of the site plan of this, but someone with a bunch of money to transform our "downtown" is very welcome! Eager to get more details and hopefully get this going soon. http://www.grandhaventribune.com/frontpage/2018/01/09/Major-development-in-store-for-downtown-Spring-Lake.html?ci=stream&lp=1&p=1

I'm guessing the hotel is facing Ionia and is behind the theater? This building? It did change quite a bit, then. Eager to see how the rest of the site plays out.

Off site parking for Homewood Suites at the Waters Building. Employees and long term stays.

One more thing...soccer stadium at Padnos site across the river with a pedestrian bridge to here?

That would be a great idea - I know some are against skywalks but I know that I go to a conference at DeVos Place every January and the people I go to lunch with want to go anywhere “as long as we don’t have to go outside” since it’s usually frigid and we’ve checked our coats.