GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A staple of downtown Grand Rapids is set to reopen in the fall of 2022, months after closing during a sale attempt.
The Big Old Building, better known as the BOB, will open its doors again in September, according to a release by the Gilmore Collection.
"We’re excited. Really excited. We’ve been out of the game so to speak a little while here downtown," said Matt Dowdy, director of marketing and creative with the Gilmore Collection who own the BOB. "We’re really excited to be re-opening one of our flagship brands with the BOB. bringing back some entertainment, dining, and customer service."
Gilmore put The BOB and its sister property 20 Monroe Live up for sale in 2021. The company announced, shortly after news of the sale broke, that both venues would close their doors. The BOB's closure caught employees and customers off-guard, leaving many private parties and weddings looking for a new venue on short notice.
READ: The BOB to close its doors at the end of 2021
While 20 Monroe Live was sold in February 2022 to Great Lakes Capital, and naming rights to the building went to Gun Lake Casino, the BOB's sale appears to have fallen through.
"The potential buyer could not secure financing. I think that's just kind of the climate for the restaurant industry. At least from our preview, there's been a lot more positive [things] throughout the spring," said Dowdy said during a Zoom interview on Wednesday.
FOX 17 learned the Gilmore Collection tried to close in December because — like much of the entertainment, food and beverage industries — it got hit hard by the pandemic.
"Hotels downtown, generally when things are going good, they're probably running 70-something percent occupancy," said Doug Small, president and CEO of Experience GR. "We had a couple of months where they were below 10% occupancy."
The BOB felt the hit.
Gilmore said all the COVID-19 restrictions led to losses in business, revenue, and staffing. However, with the industry rebounding this year they felt comfortable reopening the BOB.
Experience GR said they're grateful that they are.
"It's a vital location for those going to concerts: 20 Monroe Live, The Intersection," added Small. "As I mentioned for conventions, people are willing to walk from convention centers down there. It just gave a great option for us."
RELATED: Who was going to buy the BOB?
Several changes are in store before the BOB. Two complete floors, Level and Eve, are turning into special event spaces for only private events. BOB's Brewery will move into the building's first floor, and take over the Beer Garden, too. Entertainment venues — Dr. Grins Comedy Club, Bobarino's and HOME — will all return.
Dowdy told FOX 17, the BOB will also expand the Beer Garden and use the third and fourth floors for its catering service, and will go cashless at the reopening. Food services may be limited.
The target reopening date is September 8. The BOB is now accepting job applications and Gilmore says it's already seeing an influx of interest.
"We're grateful to be in a position to reopen and to bring back the dining and entertainment that we're used to supplying for downtown Grand Rapids," added Dowdy.
