Union Township approves new bar
Students living near the corner of Bluegrass Road and Collegiate Way eventually will have a new watering hole to patron.
Union Township officials on Aug. 9 approved a liquor license transfer for a new bar, Coco Joe’s Beach House, which is to be part of the Bluegrass Crossing strip mall currently under construction.
David and John Hunter of Mount Pleasant, who co-own and operate area entertainment spots Wayside Central, 2000 S. Mission St., O’Kelly’s Sports Bar and Grill, 2000
S. Mission St. and The Cabin, 930 W. Broomfield St., are planning on opening Coco Joe’s sometime in the spring.
“I’m sure a lot of students that live out there will work for us,” John Hunter said.
Plans for the bar are in the early stages right now, but Hunter said hopefully things will start to look more concrete in a few months.
An architect still needs to draw up floor plans, he said, but things should really get going by March.
One thing that is certain about the new hotspot, he added, is that Coco Joe’s will be more of a restaurant and bar.
David Hunter said one of the more appealing features could include “dueling pianos.”
“We might want to do something like have a piano bar on Wednesday nights, then have the dueling pianos Thursday nights,” he said. “But we’re still very early on with the planning.”
Woody Woodruff, Union Township zoning administrator, said Coco Joe’s will be located at the west end of Bluegrass Crossing. The east end of the building will house Los Cuatro Amigos, a Bay City-based Mexican Restaurant.
“The plaza will offer another entertainment spot, another restaurant and more choices obviously geared toward college students,” Woodruff said.
Molly Krasun, Allen Park junior and University Meadows resident, said the bar is a good way to eliminate drunken driving because it’ll be close to apartment complexes with big student populations.
“I would rather go to the new bar because you can walk home and not worry with finding a ride,” Krasun said.
James Hopkins, Sterling Heights senior and Village at Bluegrass resident, said the owners made a wise decision when picking the bar’s location.
“Give it a few years and this corner will be rocking,” he said. “Everything is coming up over here.”
