By: Deborah Johnson Wood
A lot of bars have furnishings that were once part of other establishments. But how many have a stuffed Hammerhead shark that was rescued from a dumpster at the University of Michigan? Perhaps only one in greater Grand Rapids: the not-quite-finished Meanwhile Bar at the corner of Wealthy and Diamond.
Tami VandenBerg, 32, and her brother, Jeff VandenBerg, 36, are renovating the former Two Stans bar and have taken their penchant for recycled treasures to a charming new extreme. And that has helped them keep the renovation within their $175,000 budget.
“It happened a little bit inadvertently,” Tami says. “Over the years we’ve picked up various items and suddenly realized we have a lot of stuff that’s kind of cool.”
That “stuff” includes a dragon from the former Shanghai Restaurant—the dragon is now embedded in the bar’s ceiling. Chairs from the former Wing On restaurant. Table bases and a beer cooler from the old Adobe (yes, the one that was in the Stardust Lounge building). Booths from the now-defunct Kurly’s Korner. And more.
“It’s very, very eclectic and everything has a story,” Tami adds. “I love it when items have stories behind them.”
For instance, the bricks for the outdoor beer garden’s patio are century-old remnants from the historic Anheuser-Busch building on Grandville Avenue. Bet they have some stories behind them.
While the grand opening is still a couple of months off, an open house is set for August 4, from 4 to 8 PM.
Bear Manor Properties is managing the construction.
Source: Tami VandenBerg, Meanwhile Bar
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Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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