Commission approves conversion of Cherry Street brewery space into event venue with conditions

The Grand Rapids City Planning Commission on June 11 approved a special land use and site plan allowing conversion of former brewery production space at 925 Cherry Street Southeast into a 2,200-square-foot private event venue with alcohol service and indoor live entertainment.

Staff described the site as within the Fairmount Square Historic District and noted the proposal includes accessory outdoor beer-garden seating, live amplified indoor entertainment, a requested 48-space parking waiver and a parking-management plan. "The event goers will be informed of parking and the area is served by transit and on-street parking," staff said when outlining the applicant’s parking-management materials.

Jason Spalding, the owner presenting the application, said the change would activate underused production space and allow continued restaurant operations while providing a community gathering space for private rentals and small events. "We've always considered ourselves kind of a community gathering place," Spalding said.

Commission discussion centered on noise, hours, and parking. Commissioners asked whether live music would be indoors and how sound would be mitigated when the garage-style overhead doors are opened; staff and the applicant said music would be contained indoors and proposed door-hour restrictions to limit sound impacts. Planning staff noted glazing choices (insulated double-pane) and the covered beer-garden canopy would assist sound mitigation.

The commission approved the request with conditions that included: events to cease by midnight (facility vacated by 1 a.m.); outdoor activity associated with events to cease by midnight; overhead doors to be closed no later than 9 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday–Saturday; no outdoor live entertainment; operator or designee on site during events; occupancy capped at 200 subject to the building official; and an indoor events license to be obtained from the city clerk’s office.

The approval included a requirement that music and dancing incidental to a private event are permitted, but no ticketed events open to the general public at which admission is charged at the door. The commission recorded the motion, second and a voice vote; the motion carried.