Oldest Bar In Grand Rapids Closes For 2nd Time This Year

Grand Rapids is full of iconic bars and restaurants that help blend the new and the old around Grand Rapids. Places like the Grand Rapids Brewing Company (rest in peace) offset newer spots like the Social House so there is something for everyone.

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One spot that has been around for nearly 100 years has had a rather tumultuous year. After closing once and reopening this year, it seems that its doors have quietly closed once again after for-sale signs appeared in the windows of the Cottage Bar. 

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The Cottage Bar

The USA Today recognized Cottage Bar has been a Downtown Grand Rapids staple since it opened in 1927. The bar has gone through many different iterations throughout its nearly 100 years, changing names and owners (most recently swapping hands in 2021). The building itself and the interior especially have remained the same.

Why the Cottage Bar has closed is a bit of a mystery, but the writing has been on the wall for a while now.

A Bad Year

The Cottage Bar has been in the news for all the wrong reasons this year. Since it was bought in 2021 by Jassi and Sandeep Dhami, who also owns the Palace of India, the Cottage Bar has had its ups and downs. But the real trouble began earlier this year when a dispute between employees and ownership caused the bar to temporarily close in May.

Employees reportedly were not being paid after paychecks bounced. Though Dhami denies the claims, instead saying the closure was from staff not being cooperative. Nearly the entire staff was replaced and ever since the operational hours have slowly shrunk.

Nearly the entire staff was replaced and ever since the operational hours have slowly shrunk. No word has been said on the bar's social media. What happens to the historic bar next is unknown, but hopefully, someone can help bring that bar back to its former glory.