Another Grand Rapids Bar and Restaurant Closes its Doors

Rocky's Bar and Grill, for decades one of the key West Side spots in Grand Rapids to feature up-and-coming musical acts, is no more. They locked the doors Tuesday to never reopen again.

What happened?

Rocky’s Bar and Grill, 633 Ottawa, NW, in the Monroe North neighborhood, has fallen to redevelopment as Corewell Health purchased the property to continue the health system’s office park development according the website Crain's Grand Rapids.

There has been so much redevelopment in the old neighborhood as Corewell Health has been buying up properties to consolidated office headquarters that they currently have under construction.

So Rocky’s Bar and Grill closed earlier this week. Owner, Frank Lehnen, who also owns Monarch’s Club Corner Bar and co-owns Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, on Butterworth, SW., did not return requests to comment on the sale.

Lehnen may have made out very well, however, since Corewell Health has paid a premium for some properties in the neighborhood. Property records show Lehnen purchased the building for $130,000 in 2001, which is around the same time he opened Rocky’s Bar and Grill.

Rocky's is a classic building since it was built in 1930, according to property records.

Local and touring bands and DJs frequented the neighborhood bar, which offered two levels and a deck for its patrons.

So far they haven't made any public announcements about the bar closing, but a local band posted on Facebook that its show scheduled on Dec. 30 at the venue was canceled because of the bar’s permanent closure.