A community vote has named Brewery Vivant’s planned 200-guest event space The Abbey. It received 45% of the vote, ahead of runner-up The Roost and third-place finisher Maison Vivant.
Brewery Vivant opened the naming campaign in September, asking customers, neighbors and fans to submit ideas and vote, according to MLive.com. The public vote settled the venue’s name before the space opens.
The same report said owner and founder Jason Spaulding supported giving the public a role in naming the venue and connected The Abbey to the building’s character.
A New Chapter for a 2010 East Hills Landmark
The Abbey will occupy about 3,500 square feet of former brewing and production space at 925 Cherry St. SE, on Brewery Vivant’s East Hills campus. The brewery opened in the neighborhood in 2010; the event venue is being developed alongside the existing business.
East Hills’ historic and commercial context
Grand Rapids has a substantial historic-preservation record, though the citywide figures do not establish a designation for Brewery Vivant’s property: the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation reports six local historic districts, 70 local landmarks and 55 structures nominated to the National Register of Historic Places, encompassing approximately 2,000 properties. In a 2014 snapshot of the Cherry-Diamond business district, MLive reported that district administrators put occupancy among its roughly 70 businesses at close to 95%. That figure describes the district at the time, not current occupancy, and does not document the building’s original use or architectural history.
Brian Swem, founder of Scafold, designed the project to retain the building’s historic character. Plans include a dedicated bar, new flooring and restrooms, custom wood finishes and restored storefront openings along Lake Drive, MLive reports.
Room for 200 Guests, From Weddings to Charity Nights
The venue is planned for up to 200 guests and will host private bookings such as weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate and nonprofit events, and community celebrations. It is expected to operate separately from Brewery Vivant’s restaurant while remaining part of the larger Vivant campus.
Construction began in the summer, with an opening anticipated for this fall and bookings expected to extend into 2027, according to MLive. Brewery Vivant is also selling project-related experiences, artwork, merchandise and other offerings through its online store.
Fundraising Dinners and a Custom Bourbon Blend
Offerings include a tour and customized dinner among the brewery’s fermenters and equipment, with guests working with the team to build a menu. A separate bourbon experience pairs hands-on tasting with making a custom blend from barrels aged five to 10 years; participants take home 12 bottles.
The experiences are intended to support fundraising as well as gatherings, MLive reported. Brewery Vivant also holds six charity nights a year, when a percentage of sales goes to a nonprofit selected by the customer.
Brewing Changes Behind the Scenes
The venue project is unfolding alongside a change in beer production. Brewery Vivant partnered with Saugatuck Brewing Company, which now makes Vivant’s core wholesale brands at its Douglas, Michigan, facility. Brewery Vivant continues to brew specialty and experimental beers on-site in Grand Rapids.
