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/

It's very expensive for these places to start back up. For those that rely on traditional, mostly indoor business models-- if they can even survive with spacing and capacity cuts--- they will want to see people out and willing to fill the seats before opening. And that's a best-case scenario for many. ..unless we get a round 2 of PPP in mid-summer. The odds of a round 2 or even round 3 of PPP that takes them through to at least the end of 2020 on an industry-specific-basis seems high if the government wants these businesses to survive.

Grove goes out, a chicken place comes in. Grove had been rumored to be on the chopping block for a while now. Conceptually this seems to have the most overlap with Hancock, Juju, and a bit of Forty Acres. I can't say I like their choice of name and logo. https://www.woodtv.com/news/grand-rapids/grs-grove-closing-to-reopen-as-jimmy-bergers-chicken-shack/

Yup. To be allowed to be open is one thing, but if your business relies on a dense crowd on a Friday and Saturday like movie theaters or traditional indoor sit-down restaurants, then that's a whole other thing. They're completely dependent on significant medical developments. August seems optimistic.

Revue did a sit down with the owners and the article explains it. 9th St was in development as its own brand under the Mertens Hospitality umbrella. The article is worth a read. Pretty interesting. New Hotel Mertens itself is open for takeout/delivery. I had it over the weekend. Good as always. https://revuewm.com/food-drink/dining/item/4781-9th-street-steaks-has-the-delicious-comforting-cheesesteaks-we-need

Yes, Rockford wants to activate it for public use. Hopefully a restaurant. All the old nightclub bones are still in-tact. Meijier was using a lot of it. That area could use just a few more spots. If you had a quality operator there to sandwich in-between Max's and New Hotel Mertens and Luna (plus the few others that are there) then that could really be a juicy part of town. ...of course in many respects it already is.

Based on what one can see by looking in at night, it appears the apartment appliances are in place. Have residents started moving in? Or will it be soon?

Went to New Hotel Mertens and then the movies after dinner. Uber'd both ways. As we all could have predicted, the energy on that side of town has changed substantially in a couple years time. The restaurant was buzzing & crowded along with a full bar, there were crowded streets for a concert at Van Andel, Studio Park may not have been mobbed-- but there was plenty of walkers to/fro creating great energy. Then it hit me that we have the tiki place coming right into the heart of this too in a few weeks plus all of the other Studio Park tenants. The movie theater is nicely done! We will be frequent customers! Great bar and super-nice people working there. For an opening, they seemed to be in full control. The criticisms are easily fixed: get some dimmers for the flurescent lights! It was oppressive-to-the-eyes, super-market lighting in the main lobby. And they needed more people with brooms picking up popcorn and things-- an easy fix. From the outside looking in, the restaurant looked ok. Sort of like Wheelhouse, but on a lower budget. I'm sure they'll do fine, but in terms of ambiance both Mertens & Max's are much more impressive. Overall, this is a huge win for GR.

Are there are still unannounced/uncommitted Studio Park tenants/prospects?

Looking at the sidewalk framing it looks like it all might be heated-- does any one know?

Good news! Though it's had its ups and downs, South of Fulton continues its upward trajectory.