The new West Side bar, restaurant and music venue celebrates its grand opening with Union Guns performing on Friday, seven months after Turnstiles closed its doors.
Rising on the West Side: The new Firebird Bar (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
Figuratively speaking, this new West Side bird rises from the ashes of a former popular music venue.
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Firebird Bar GR celebrates its grand opening on Friday (Feb. 27) with a performance by West Michigan country band Union Guns in a renovated space formerly occupied by Turnstiles at 526 Stocking Ave. NW.
The new gathering spot, restaurant and music venue claims to have been “built around a simple idea: create a place where people in Grand Rapids can relax, connect, and enjoy good food and live music without the attitude or noise of a downtown nightclub. Just a clean, comfortable bar with a little edge,” according to its Facebook page.
New Look: What once was Turnstiles is now Firebird.(Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
“Although Firebird Bar is in the same building that Turnstiles was in I wouldn’t say we’re replacing them. Turnstiles was a special place to a lot of people and that’s hard to replace,” said Steve Gerrard, sound engineer and talent booking manager. “What we are is a brand new bar, with a new look, new sound, new menu and new attitude. The theme is country/rock with good homemade comfort food.”
Owned by Robert Wahl, who also owns The Win Tavern in Jenison and the Bridge Street Bar, the Firebird Bar will host country and rock bands, with country outfit Neon Crows performing on Saturday (Feb. 28), Whiskey Bound on March 6 and Moxie on March 7. Other upcoming performers include Stolen Horses, Pice Project and Project 90.
With a capacity of about 120, Firebird Bar plans to have entertainment “on stage most every day,” Gerrard said.
The bar is open 11 a.m.-2 a.m. every day, with a menu featuring pizzas, salads, Southern-style fried chicken, hamburgers, steaks and macaroni and cheese.
The official opening comes seven months after Turnstiles closed its doors following a four-plus years run at that location during which countless local and regional bands performed at the venue.
Founded by Rob Schellenberg, Turnstiles noted in an announcement that the closure came due to “rising costs, a changing market” and a deal to secure the property that fell through.
Comfortable ‘With a Little Edge’: The interior of Firebird Bar. (Courtesy Photos)
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