A snapshot of local business news affecting the 517

SPEAK-EASY FEATURES FOOD, VARIED ENTERTAINMENT

BY RICH ADAMS

Pssst. Hey buddy. Know where I can find a speak-easy?

No need to whisper. The GOAT on Grand River speak-easy is a new East Lansing restaurant serving up varied entertainment, small plates and larger plates. It is located where Cosmos and Punk Taco used to be, 1351 E. Grand River Ave., just west of Hagadorn Road.

One thing you will need, however, is a password. The GOAT on Grand River speak-easy allows entrance to those who have the password, which will be on the restaurant’s website and is occasionally changed.

“We know there isn’t another restaurant like ours in East Lansing, or even Lansing. The GOAT stands for the ‘greatest of all time,’ and we plan on living up to that,” said Chief Operating Officer Mel Spencley. “Our speak-easy will be top-shelf products with leather furniture and feel like you stepped back in time. It will always be an experience you’ll want to share with family and friends.”

Spencley said the speak-easy will bring a variety of talent to perform, including Michigan State University jazz band graduates performing several nights a week and monthly murder-mystery dinners. Also planned are drag queen bingo and brunch, karaoke, trivia night, comedians, magicians, and more.

In addition to tapas and platters, the food can be served as one item or as a flight of different eats.

“Our flights of food is sure to be a huge hit. We give you an opportunity to try a few small samplings of different dishes, prepared by our very own chef Dustie (Morrell),” Spencley explained. “No longer do you need to pick that one item and order the same old thing. We give you the opportunity to sample new and unique dishes.”

Spencley said the eatery is shooting for a spring opening. Planned hours include 11 a.m. to midnight Wednesday and Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. weekends. It will be closed Monday and Tuesday for private parties.

BOBCAT BONNIE’S HEADS TO LANSING

BY TEECE ARONIN

A growing name is getting its claws into the Greater Lansing restaurant scene and giving mid-Michigan diners something new to sink their teeth into.

Rustic, cozy Bobcat Bonnie’s is coming to Lansing, most likely at the end of this summer. Bobcat Bonnie’s will share the former Clara’s Lansing Station restaurant space in the historic Union Depot, 637 E. Michigan Ave., with Starbucks. The Lansing location of Bobcat Bonnie’s will extend the chain’s total storefronts to seven.

“We offer a seasonally changing menu that has a lot of fun items, some that are more adventurous, some more common and some that are vegan,” said owner Matt Buskard.

Attractions at Bobcat Bonnie’s include happy hour, trivia nights and brunch.

“Our goal was to bring in a business that would complement Starbucks’ early-morning-to-evening energy with a midday-to-lateevening experience, and Bobcat Bonnie’s will do just that,” said Pat Gillespie, president and CEO of Gillespie Group, a residential and commercial developer working on the project. “We are excited for the energy and creativity Matt Buskard and his team at Bobcat Bonnie’s will bring to the Stadium District with their food, drink and experience.”

By the same token, Buskard, is thrilled to have Gillespie Group in his corner.

“We are so thankful to have found partners who support us and support our similar values, which are to build up a strong community and to give back,” he said. “Whether that’s you coming in to celebrate a life event or us coming out to support a neighborhood cause … our focus is on people.”

Greek Restaurant Opens In Williamston

BY RICH ADAMS

Niko’s Taverna, a new Greek-inspired restaurant, is now open in Williamston.

The restaurant is what the owner describes as a GreekAmerican, family-friendly, full-service restaurant and sports bar.

“We will offer Greek street food, regional entrees, old classics from my family and an American gastropub as well,” said Nick Gavrilides, operating member of the Gavrilides Management Co., which also runs the Soup Spoon Cafe and Urban Cup in Lansing.

The restaurant is on the site of The Bistro, 151 S. Putnam St., which the company operated before it closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“COVID and the regulations and closures kind of killed The Bistro, and it came to a decision whether to sell our liquor license and sell the property and get out of Williamston or try to get something different going,” Gavrilides said. “We decided to reinvest and go this direction.”

The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, but the sports bar could be more flexible.

“If there’s a game on and people are watching it and want to stick around until it’s over, we will probably keep the bar open until it ends,” he said.

There is an arcade with pinball, a crane machine and more for the kids. And children don’t have to be in their Sunday best to dine at Niko’s.“If your kids are dirty from soccer practice, bring them over,” Gavrilides said. “It’s not a problem.”