GRain

Found this article that explains the move: https://mibiz.com/sections/real-estate-development/new-bar-live-music-spot-turnstiles-opening-on-gr-s-west-side?fbclid=IwAR1CMrPlr2ks39HVgdvRdcMAntmmXtCRg9qOueq_KdtRbSqSYPi58NjREy4 I seem to recognize some of the people involved. IIRC, they were, shall we say, very customer-friendly bartenders. But I cant really remember where. Might have been a couple places? Anyway, if that is actually them, then owning a place will require an absolute and complete change of mindset, lol. I hope they make it! It helps if Rockford is on their side.

Apparently will be opening in March 2021.

Media is reporting the same this morning.

The Allegiant map is showing adds of EWR and VPS on the panhandle. https://www.allegiantair.com/interactive-routemap

So it isnt a rooftop like the Hotel Indigo in Traverse City. i guess I should have looked closer at the concept pictures. It's primarily an indoor facility with no outdoor space facing west. There's a few outdoor tables facing east. So for the most part you can see nice things out the windows, sort of like a nice view out of hotel room windows. On the bright side it's good to have another all-weather restaurant with views from higher up.

If they say attendance is important to them, then they're not being truthful. It seems theyre after consolidation of their staff around their entire portfolio of talent and GR is too far away for their needs. Whoever they want in their front office can go back and forth from G-league games to the Pistons from day-to-day and hour-to-hour. It seems to be about that convenience for them as much or more than anything.

Wheelhouse was mentioned above as re-conceptualizing. Here we have New Hotel Mertens who has had its rooftop and corner open since June; and is now shuffling the deck a bit before opening its regular restaurant back-up in a couple of months: 1) deletes the words "New Hotel" from its names, which I always liked. But I get it (begrudgingly). 2) moves toward a French steakhouse approach, while still keeping its bistro-center. I liked it as it was, but again I get it. French is a difficult sell here, so make it a little more approachable for the meat & potato crowd. 3) For its corner spot: in the AM a focus on beignets & cafe au lait and presumably PM/late-night on frites & poutine. While I can sort of tolerate the other changes, these two changes Im actually very excited about. They'll probably nail both of these (beignets & poutine), which, when done right, can be awesome. I understand why GRBJ is focusing on the name change, but this last one is what really grabbed my attention. https://grbj.com/news/food-service-agriculture/mertens-hospitality-renames-three-concepts/

What sort of restaurant is it going to be in the fall?

Yes, agree. Random thoughts looking South of Fulton: Studio Park & the Tavern there are likely burning through all sorts of funds (but they probably have access to significant cash to hold them over), Luna was probably doing better with their take out than the costs of operating now at 50%, New Hotel Mertens should be ok for a few months with the rooftop after that they'll be in the same boat as the others but they'll also have 9th Street which has established itself quickly & should do well in the winter, Pyramid seems to be in a tough position, Lantern reopens next week and hopefully can operate in a low-cost manner to make the lower volume work, Stellas/Hopcat should do fine but a shadow of what they used to be when they could fill it up, Divani's owner made some public comments about how she doesnt really run it as a business and that she doesnt need the money-- so they'll be ok apparently.

rough post from downtown

Excluding those mentioned above, here are two prominent restaurants that havent said anything since the crisis. They might be fine, they might not be. Any others? Wheelhouse (facebook and Instagram deleted) Forty Acres

Social has closed permanently too

Looks like Social at Downtown Market is closing permanently.

I dont have a picture, but the interior of the hotel's rooms are being finished off. Window treatments are now in place and visible from the street.

Marcona on Lyon closes permanently https://grbj.com/news/food-service-agriculture/marcona-on-lyon-closes-permanently/