“Historically it’s always been sort of a melting pot of students, faculty, alumni, and locals,” current owner Michael Krueger said. “It’s just a good spot that everyone feels comfortable hanging out at.”

Grattarola's vision of what Crunchy’s could become pushed the boundaries of a typical college bar, by creating iconic menu items it quickly gained popularity. To this day the ½ pound burger known as the Crunchy’s burger is recognized as “the best burger in town”, and his bucket of beer that holds 270 ounces still remains a must try item by his customers.

Over the years as ownership changed new ideas were brought to the table, some of which still remain popular today. Former owners Dave and Vivian Milligan introduced karaoke night in 1995, only one year after purchasing the bar from Grattarola. To this day karaoke is still an extremely popular night event for Crunchy’s, being held every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night to guests over 21 years old. 

“My favorite memory at Crunchy’s would definitely be late night karaoke and splitting a bucket of food with all of my friends,” MSU alumnus Evan Metz said. 

With the popularity of their karaoke nights, they also introduced comedy night Mondays, trivia Tuesdays, and a local’s night Wednesdays. 

“Crunchy’s is a staple because they have a ton of fun and differently themed nights which provides a variety of experiences,” political science senior Matthew Kay said. “It also has a historic vibe with all the signatures all over the wall and the overall design and decoration in the restaurant.”

The Milligan’s had also expanded the size of the restaurant and brought the total number of beers on tap to 27 with the support of local Michigan breweries as well as others. During their time as owners they established Crunchy’s as the heart of the East Lansing community, which is something that the current owners are committed to upholding.

“I think it’s a great representation of the Spartan spirit, with a great game day atmosphere and a fun vibe all the time,”  Metz said. “It truly embodies the spirit of Michigan State University by being super welcoming to everyone and anyone and embracing a family feel.”

After taking over ownership in 2015, Michael Krueger has been slightly changing things up. 

“Putting new, different stuff on the menu over the years has been quite popular,” Kruger said. “We always try to add one or two things each year, and give people a new option here and there.”

The continual balance of tradition and innovation has kept Crunchy’s marked as an East Lansing go-to. This combined with its history and significance to the community, it is no wonder it earned a place on The Athletic’s list.