Travelers Club seeks home in Old Town

Will White wants to spice up Old Town by reestablishing his longtime international restaurant and museum on Turner Street.
 
Since January, White has had his eye on the old Mustang Bar, 1215 Turner St., for the new home of the Travelers Club International Restaurant and Tuba Museum. White's restaurant closed in November 2012 and had operated for 30 years in downtown Okemos.
 
"We actually looked at the building 15 or 20 years ago when we were thinking of expanding," says White of the vacant property. "Old Town is the center for arts and culture in Lansing and would be a great area for us."
 
Over the years, the Travelers Club inspired adventurous diners and the musically curious as the home of the only tuba museum in the world. More than 50 tubas, euphoniums and other tuba-related instruments graced the walls of the restaurant that served up food and music from multiple continents.
 
"When we featured Japanese cuisine, we would bring in a player of Japanese music," says White. "Or we would bring in a Romanian band when we featured Romanian foods."
 
White is campaigning to reopen the restaurant by raising the first $200,000 needed for the relocation. Investors can make donations from $5 on up through the restaurant's website, and can also purchase T-shirts and berets with proceeds going to the cause. He says he is about a quarter of the way toward his goal, and hopes to wrap up the campaign in August.
 
White estimates the future restaurant could seat up to 200 guests and employ 50 people. He is also exploring the possibility of operating the Travelers Club as a non-profit teaching restaurant and brewpub.
 
"It's the right time for something new in Old Town," says Terry Terry, president of MessageMakers and owner of the Mustang property. "I've spoke with several parties interested in this great space on Turner Street. I'm confident someone will come through with vision and financing."
 
White is working hard to be that someone.
 
"Music and food are the two universal languages," says White. "Regardless of what language you speak, you can enjoy a country's music and food. Over the years, we had music most every weekend at the Travelers Club. We're hoping to do that again in Lansing."
 
Source: Will White, Owner, Travelers Club International Restaurant and Tuba Museum
Writer: Ann Kammerer, Development News Editor