The Soods will play the revitalized historic building at 61 Sheldon Blvd. SE which has reopened as a community space for concerts and more. The story and Local Spins Michigan Music Showcase podcast.
The Lit: The Soods play this historic venue on Saturday. (Courtesy Photos/Ladies Literary Club)
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When The Soods host a candle-lit acoustic concert at The Lit on Saturday night (Oct. 11), it will help signal a new era for what once was Grand Rapids’ Ladies Literary Club.
Under new management by The Penny Loafer, the building at 61 Sheldon Blvd. SE in downtown Grand Rapids, officially reopened on Aug. 5 and aims to become “a vibrant community hub” with concerts and comedy nights, yoga classes, film screenings, study space and lounge area.
Jason Roy and Elroy Meltzer of Grand Rapids will perform as a duo during the 7 p.m. Saturday show as part of The Lit’s re-launch. Tickets are $10 in advance online here or $13 day of show. (Advance tickets come with a free digital copy of The Soods’ self-titled EP.)
“Very excited to be playing The Lit – a candlelight performance with myself and Jason,” Meltzer told Local Spins. “(We’ll be) playing an array of The Soods songs along with old Elroy Meltzer tunes and covers of artists we love.”
The Soods: Kicking off a Midwest tour this weekend. (Courtesy Photo)
(Scroll down for the Local Spins Michigan Music Showcase radio show podcast featuring a new track from Elroy Meltzer.)
The Soods follow that with a full-fledged Midwest tour, performing at The Avenue Café in Lansing on Saturday and subsequent shows in Illinois, Iowa and Indiana.
As for The Lit, it’s another chapter in a vibrant legacy.
Built in 1887, Grand Rapids’ Ladies Literary Club started as a clubhouse to promote literary and scientific subjects as well as women’s fellowship.
As the years went on, it became a 400-capacity concert venue and underwent $1 million worth of improvements after Calvin College – now Calvin University – acquired the building in 2006 but later sold it to Rye Venue Management, which was forced to close its doors after the COVID pandemic.
The Penny Loafer LLC, led by Penny Hock, took over operation of the building this summer to revitalize it as a community space and cafe, making some decor updates. The Penny Loafer also serves as an “event planning and service” business.
Penny Hock (Courtesy Photo)
“We are shifting away from weddings only and returning it to a space for the community. We are hosting concerts, mic night, comedy night, storytelling, poetry readings, swing dancers, yoga, paint and sip, Mayor’s Mondays, non-profit fundraisers, high school prom and more,” Hock told Local Spins.
“Literally anything that the community needs at an affordable rate. This brings it back to the intent of the Ladies Literary Club, who invited all people through their doors to experience the culture that our own community has to offer. We give historic tours, we have a cafe in the front of the building, and a study lounge, bridal space and more.”
DJ and saxophonist Zalokar also recently started hosting Wednesday performances in The Parlor at The Lit.
“We need people to discover us,” Hock said. “We need people in the door, enjoying the restaurant, coming to concerts, hosting events and to not be afraid to come on downtown, pay to park, and have a great time in a gorgeous building.”
In addition to a track by Elroy Meltzer, this week’s Local Spins Michigan Music Showcase featured new music by Molly (who plays The Big Room in Grand Rapids on Saturday), Cameron Blake, The J Hawkins Band, deadbeatdad and Ghost Dream, Moonrisers, Chris DuPont, Erin Monroe, Cal in Red, Gianna D’Agostino, Larry McCray and James Filkins with Ken Verheecke, as well as a “Greatest from the Great Lakes State” classic track by Stevie Wonder. Listen to the podcast below.
The Michigan Music Showcase airs at 11 a.m. Fridays and 5 p.m. Sundays on WYCE (88.1 FM) and online at wyce.org, and on Interlochen Public Radio at 7 p.m. Saturdays.
PODCAST: Local Spins Michigan Music Showcase (10/10/25)
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