It takes a Rare Bird to stand out in this business. Rare Bird
Stop on in for some tasty eats. Rare Bird
Who's up for a mug of suds? Rare Bird
The Rare Bird Brewpub aims to throw its doors open in May. The pints of in-house brews and beers from all over the world are just about ready to be poured. The menu of unique bar food with an upscale twist ready to be served. At last!
Good Lord, what a long haul it's been for Tina Schuett and Nate Crane.
Early last year, the public got wind of the new brewpub the co-owners hoped to open in just a few months, in plenty of time for the 2013 Traverse City tourist season.
It did not happen--and nearly all they've heard since are cries of "When will you open?" or "Is this really going to happen?"
But time is time and money is money and when there are potholes--especially financial ones--on the way, the two knew crucial business decisions could not be rushed to completion, or even begun, in some areas, until all was settled.
Some of the government-secured small business loans the two had established from local lenders became a nightmare of delays to re-apply for after the government shut down last year. Other unexpected issues cropped up during the complete renovation of the building that is now the Rare Bird Brewpub, and in the end, the myriad setbacks postponed its opening for a year.
But every establishment gets only one opening, and the two refused to slash corners in a rush.
"I travel all over the country," says Schuett. "And I visit brewpubs in every city I visit. I see what they do right and I see what they do wrong. The biggest problem, I think, is simply shooting for a date and opening for business on that day no matter what happens. The beers might not be quite right yet, the renovation a little ways from completion, but they open anyway."
No way, said Schuett and Crane, the Rare Bird's brew master and front-house manager, respectively.
When all hurdles were jumped and everything was in place, they would finish, the two business partners kept reiterating. From day one in the process, they planned one heck of a splash to present the most fabulous first impression possible. That move is vital, they say, to be able to launch a vibrant business in a tourist town where residents and visitors appreciate fine brews.
Eventually, loans were secured again, personal investments were made, and a crowd-funding campaign through Indiegogo brought in more than $18,000 in backing.
The $500,000 venture that will bring 10 to 12 jobs to Traverse City has only the last handful of finishing touches to add.
The Rare Bird's soft opening is planned, if all goes well, for the end of May, with a grand opening shortly after. Live music and trivia nights, along with other crowd-pleasing fun, are on the pub's future event menu.
The owners are ready.
"We took the building all the way down to just the bare walls, and Nate and I have been very hands-on with the construction. It's been a long, hard, process with a lot of hard work along the way," Schuett says. "We're excited to share the results of our sweat equity to Traverse City."
Kelle Barr is a Michigan-based freelance writer. You can follow her via Twitter at @BarrKelle or email her at Kellebarr@gmail.com
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