GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Michigan Street mainstay Duke’s Bar in Grand Rapids has been taken over by the company that owns Social House.
Arena Social Partners LLC has acquired both the bar at 700 Michigan St. NE near Grand Avenue and the parking lot across the street at 701 Michigan St., company spokesperson and principal Robert Larson confirmed in a statement to News 8, noting how difficult it has become to find buildings in downtown Grand Rapids with an adjacent parking lot.
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The popular dive bar is temporarily closed, but is set to reopen next month as Duke’s Social House. The name is too much of an icon, with too much history to change, Larson told News 8.
He said the interior of the building — which dates back to 1931, according to property records — is remaining “largely the same,” though crews are doing some new interior decorating.
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Eventually the team plans on redeveloping the site and the parking lot across the street.
Larson noted that with Social House Grand Rapids, Social House Saranac and now Duke’s Social House, the company employs around 65 to 70 people…