Grand Rapids Brewing Co. sign sells for more than $2K
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The contents of the now-closed Grand Rapids Brewing Company were auctioned off Thursday.
Everything from posters and TVs to kegs and tables were auctioned off online. Interested buyers were invited to stop by from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to inspect the items. The auction ran from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
By Thursday afternoon, the price for the brewery’s sign had reached past $2,000, with more than 100 bids. It ended up going for $2,105, biddergy.com shows.
The name on the sign dates back to pre-prohibition. Six breweries joined together to form the Grand Rapids Brewing Company in January of 1893, according to the brewery’s website. It came “to a crashing halt” during the prohibition in 1920, later merging with other breweries and then leaving Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids Brewing Company was brought back to life in 2012 when the modern-day business opened at the corner of Fulton Street and Ionia Avenue, showcasing some of the same beer recipes from the 1800s.
On Feb. 23 of this year, the brewery caught fire. The flames started in a fryer in the basement before traveling to the roof through the exterior HVAC system.
There were no injuries and the damage was relatively minimal, the Grand Rapids Fire Department chief told News 8 at the time. Still, a month later it announced it would not be reopening its doors.
“Downtown Grand Rapids has been our cherished home, where each pint represented craftsmanship, community and resilience,” Ned Lidvall, CEO of Project BarFly, parent company of Grand Rapids Brewing Company, said in a news release. “Let’s raise a final toast to the memories and friendships made. To our team and the city of Grand Rapids, thank you for being part of our journey.”
Winners of items in the auction can pick up their items on Monday or Tuesday.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
