Thursday, March 28, 2024

HopCat’s August arrival to spice up E.L. bar scene

July 24, 2013
	<p>Grand Rapids resident Jared Veale smooths out concrete on July 24, 2013, at HopCat bar and restaurant, 211 Ann St. Construction is expected to finish in late August. Weston Brooks/The State News</p>

Grand Rapids resident Jared Veale smooths out concrete on July 24, 2013, at HopCat bar and restaurant, 211 Ann St. Construction is expected to finish in late August. Weston Brooks/The State News

Photo by Weston Brooks | The State News

The East Lansing bar scene: Dublin Square, Harper’s Restaurant & Brewpub, Rick’s American Café, The Riv. In August, a felinelike juncture will be added to the city’s bar lineup.

HopCat is set to open its East Lansing location at 211 Ann St. in August, tucked beneath the altitudinous Residences apartments of Cron Management.

“We don’t just serve craft beer,” Barfly Ventures President Sam Short said. “We work tirelessly to ensure that our staff is educated and trained in a way that you don’t necessarily see with larger companies and is tough for some small companies.”

One hundred draft lines will be available at East Lansing’s newest beer vendor, including India pale ales, pilsners and lagers, Belgian style, amber and browns, porter and stouts and wheat; the largest amount in the state, Short said.

Beer Advocate magazine voted HopCat the third-best beer bar on the planet. The original HopCat location opened in Grand Rapids in 2008.

Short said his business’ true aim is to provide for the underserved market of non-21-year-olds, such as families. However, HopCat isn’t only famous for beer, he said. Burgers, salads, fish and chips and an abundance of appetizers also are on the menu, or as the establishment’s website puts it, “the food your mom would feed you if your mom loved beer.”

Short also spoke highly of his new business’ location, which is in conglomeration with the Residences. He said he loves the location because it is surrounded by local businesses and close to students.

“The Residences are spectacular buildings; they’re doing really, really interesting things,” Short said. “In general, it’s a very neat architectural building, as well”

The Residences offer two-bedroom leases for students to rent during the 2013-14 school year, starting at $1,700 per month. The high-rise apartments will include contemporary furnishings, walk-in closets, washer, dryer, microwave, dishwater, air conditioning and parking. Cron Management’s newest building also will open in August.

East Lansing Planning & Community Development Director Tim Dempsey anticipates that HopCat’s adjoining with the Residences will create a more interesting and engaging downtown area. The combination will create more street life throughout the year, he said.

Mixed-use of retail, residential and commercial is a key factor in building a more successful downtown area, Dempsey said.

Finance senior David Groechel calls himself a big fan of East Lansing’s diverse bar scene. Groechel said HopCat will flourish because of its large selection of world-class beers and good food.

“All my friends from Grand Rapids love it,” Groechel said. “(HopCat) separates itself from the others because it has more than the normal brews.”

Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.

Discussion

Share and discuss “HopCat’s August arrival to spice up E.L. bar scene ” on social media.