Harmony Brewing has experienced some delays reaching its opening day, but with construction and finish work drawing to a close, the microbrewery's owners are gearing up to hire some 25 employees for a number of positions.
The brewpub, located in the former Jack's Liquor at 1551 Lake Drive SE, is the latest enterprise by sibling trio Barry and Jackson Van Dyke and Heather Van Dyke-Titus, owners of property development firm
Bear Manor Properties. The pub combines a former house and a storefront, and features a brewing system in the house's basement. Patrons will be able to view the brewing process from the dining areas.
Jackson and Barry Van Dyke have done most of the construction themselves. The pub will feature a one-of-a-kind bar designed by Barry and built by the brothers using wood that once was flooring in Western Michigan University's women's gymnasium. Other reclaimed items include the doors from the Boys and Girls restrooms from the former Iroquois Middle School.
"We're hoping for a mid- to late-December opening," says Van Dyke-Titus. "Barry and Jackson will be brewing soon and we'll open with six beers on tap. We've been intentional with our design choices so the place has a café feel rather than a bar feel."
Contributing to that café feel will be a menu that includes site-brewed root beer and homemade ice cream for the kids, wood-fired pizzas, and an adult menu of beer cocktails, wines and liquors.
"We're hiring about 25 servers, bartenders, line cooks, host/hostess, bar backs, and dishwashers," Van Dyke-Titus says. She adds that the jobs will start at 20 to 30 hours per week and some could become full-time positions.
Pub hours will be 12 a.m. to 12 p.m. Mon. through Sun. Resumes can be emailed to
[email protected].
Source: Heather Van Dyke-Titus, Bear Manor Properties and Harmony Brewing
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
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