Brewery Vivant
Multimedia and story by Allyson Garstecki
The building at 925 Cherry Street SE in Grand Rapids, Michigan was once a day care, a funeral home and is currently housing what locals are calling the best Belgian brewery in the area: Brewery Vivant.
Inspired by the food and drink of Europe, owners Jason and Kris Spaulding set out to create a new kind of brewery experience when they first opened Vivant in late 2010. He and Kris wanted a place where people could come to appreciate and enjoy good food and good drink. In fact, the French phrase “bon vivant” translates to “the good life”.
The building at 925 Cherry Street SE in Grand Rapids, Michigan was once a day care, a funeral home and is currently housing what locals are calling the best Belgian brewery in the area: Brewery Vivant.
Inspired by the food and drink of Europe, owners Jason and Kris Spaulding set out to create a new kind of brewery experience when they first opened Vivant in late 2010. He and Kris wanted a place where people could come to appreciate and enjoy good food and good drink. In fact, the French phrase “bon vivant” translates to “the good life”.
The brewery was built on more than just inspiration, as Jason has had much experience with the business. In 1997, he opened New Holland Brewing Company and led it for eight years. After he left NHBC, he spent two years learning about how to successfully run a small business and realized that he really only had a great passion for owning another brewery. Jason enrolled into Doemens Brewing Academy in Munich, Germany and him and Kris traveled to various small towns in Southern Belgium and northern France visiting small farmhouse breweries and tasting amazing, well-made beers.
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After returning home, Jason worked as a bar manager in Ann Arbor where he gained great experience and knowledge about quality food and service. Once he came back to western Michigan and found the old funeral home and chapel, he found a way to make his inspirations and dreams a reality.
“We had the business plan, but no location,” Jason said. “When we found this building we knew it was meant to be. It already had a European feel and looked like a monastery.”
The building, however, was not available at the time they first found it. Someone else was taking the steps to purchase it, but Jason kept it in his mind. When the purchase ended up falling through, Jason was there to acquire the building to make his inspirations and dreams a reality.
“The biggest challenge now is making enough beer for our demand,” Jason said. “which is a better problem to have.”
Approaching their fourth year in business, Brewery Vivant is functioning at full capacity. Maximizing their use of space at a single location helps them profit as well as operate in a sustainable way, Jason said. They now have over 50 employees that take part in making the brewery a success. The brewery has also taken part in many community projects, such as programs to support the local Congress Elementary School.
“The most rewarding thing is being part of the community, and building those relationships in Grand Rapids,” Jason said.
“We had the business plan, but no location,” Jason said. “When we found this building we knew it was meant to be. It already had a European feel and looked like a monastery.”
The building, however, was not available at the time they first found it. Someone else was taking the steps to purchase it, but Jason kept it in his mind. When the purchase ended up falling through, Jason was there to acquire the building to make his inspirations and dreams a reality.
“The biggest challenge now is making enough beer for our demand,” Jason said. “which is a better problem to have.”
Approaching their fourth year in business, Brewery Vivant is functioning at full capacity. Maximizing their use of space at a single location helps them profit as well as operate in a sustainable way, Jason said. They now have over 50 employees that take part in making the brewery a success. The brewery has also taken part in many community projects, such as programs to support the local Congress Elementary School.
“The most rewarding thing is being part of the community, and building those relationships in Grand Rapids,” Jason said.
See it for Yourself!
925 Cherry St
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Contact:
Phone: 616-719-1604
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Contact:
Phone: 616-719-1604