The Blue Dog Tavern adds local hospitality and jobs to Grand Rapid's west side

What is out with the old and in with the new? At the same time, what's new that's old?

Admittedly it's not much of riddle, but it is an interesting perspective on the Blue Dog Tavern, the new west side watering hole that is replacing the iconic Kopper Top Bar at the same location.

What's "new" will be the rehabbed interior and exterior of the building. What's "old" will be the subtle nods to the very interesting history of the building and the ethos of the west side.

"It's an awesome building," says Fred Mackraz, one of the three partners behind the The Blue Dog Tavern. "As we uncover the fascia, the history of the building is awesome."

Mackraz says that prior to its existence as The Kopper Top, the building was a bank at one time and a local bar called Frank's Tavern. He says the remodel is like peeling an onion, finding bits and pieces of the buidling's past: "We just found a receipt for a beer delivery in 1938 to Frank's Tavern."

The plan is for the Blue Dog Tavern to be open sometime in August. Mackraz says he anticipates 6-10 jobs will be added when fully operational, and he is very bullish on the neighborhood location. "There is definitely an opportunity on the west side," he says, "a lot of history and character."

Although he is not interested in creating a west side museum or theme park in his tavern,  Mackraz hopes to keep a little history alive with subtle nods to The Kopper Top and Frank's Tavern and an ambience that he says will be "vibrant and gritty" and capture the spirit of the building.

To follow The Blue Dog Tavern, you can visit their Facebook page here.

Writer: John Rumery: Innovation and Jobs News Editor