Waterfront Bar & Grill doubles indoor seating

The City Market’s Waterfront Bar & Grill is still five months away from its second anniversary, but its already making big changes. The bar and restaurant, which features Michigan-made beer, wine and foods – with a particular focus on Lansing Market vendors – has doubled their indoor seating area.
 
“We can now seat 78 inside and 108 outside,” says Waterfront Bar & Grill owner Arby Schleman.  “We did the expansion between Christmas and New Year, and we’ve actually seen an increase in business already.”
 
The moving around of some City Market vendors made an approximately 600 square food area available right next to the Waterfront Bar & Grill. The business added 40 new seats in the area.
 
That’s not the only thing changing. According to Schleman, Waterfront will soon be selling their Michigan beer bottles and wines to go.
 
“They can have a beer here, or they can create a six pack to go,” he says. Additionally, the business will soon carry beer-making supplies for home brewers, such as hops and yeast.  The increase in seating and inventory will allow Schleman to hire four summer employees this year, as opposed to the two he hired last year.
 
Schleman says Waterfront’s commitment to Michigan-made products has been key to the business’ growth.
 
“We’re very thankful to the community for helping to support us,” he says. Being a Michigan-based company you see a lot more people who are don’t mind spending an extra dollar on a sandwich because they knew it’s all going to Michigan.”