We have a new option for enjoying drinks with friends and live music on the west side of Grand Rapids!

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Turnstiles, at 526 Stocking Ave. NW, between I-196 and Bridge Street, officially opened to the public Monday, April 26. The building, vacant for years, was previously home to Joe V's Sports Bar and Palace of India, Wood TV 8 reports.

Turnstiles offers a stage for live music plus traditional and CD jukeboxes. They also have a "Mix Tape Club" where regulars will have priority on all music in their traditional jukebox. Local bands will play live every Friday and Saturday night, starting at 9p.m. Open mic night is every Thursday at 9p.m.

The new bar has been years in the making. Owner Robert Schellenberg, a Grand Rapids native with15 years in the restaurant industry, first contacted a property owner about a building on Leonard St. in 2017, MiBiz reports. That fell through due to city parking ordinances, but eventually a new plan was made to open up at the spot on Stocking.

The lease was finalized in August 2020 and construction was completed last month, when, according to Wood TV 8, crews added a new entryway, windows, and rollup garage door to the dining area.

Schellenberg tells MiBiz,

“I’m very excited for the live music. I have a lot of friends in the music scene in Grand Rapids, and I’m happy to give them another place to play...I really want this to be a home for everyone, but people in the industry as well. A lot of our specials will be geared toward that, whether they are employees in the front or back of the house.”

Turnstiles serves food too! Their menu includes fried pickle chips, nachos, tacos, mac and cheese, and a selection of sandwiches and salads.

For drinks, Turnstiles says their specialty cocktails are as varied as their music selection. In addition to beer, wine, and classic cocktails, Turnstiles offers creative concoctions like the West Side Girl: Ginger-infused Tito’s vodka, fresh lemon juice, muddled cucumbers, simple syrup and topped with soda water.

Turnstiles is currently open Monday through Friday 11a.m. to 11p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 12p.m. to 11p.m.

According to Wood TV 8, Turnstiles capacity will be 185, once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. They also plan to offer outdoor seating.

Keep up with Turnstiles on Facebook and Instagram!

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