For instance, most chain eateries earn about 70 percent of income from food sales, but HopCat splits their income about 50-50 between drinks and food. Even though there have been some bumps in the road, Sellers says his risk-taking has paid off while defying many traditional restaurant norms. HopCat has been the "anti-chain chain" from the start.
By the end of this year, he says the company will make $59 million while next year’s projection is between $66 million and $70 million. In the first year, HopCat made $1.8 million in sales-Seller says that figure jumped to $35 million last year. Currently, the company employs 1,200 people. Sellers and his team raised $25 million in investments. Since Sellers had no experience in running or expanding a restaurant, he found someone who did-the director of operations for national beer bar chain Yard House. In January 2014, the company embarked on an ambitious expansion strategy with a goal of opening four to six locations per year. When Sanders launched the second HopCat in East Lansing, more than 1,000 people were waiting to get in on the first day, and it was then, Sellers says, he realized he was onto something. All three are under the umbrella of Sellers' parent company BarFly Ventures, based in Grand Rapids. For Sellers, this meant good craft beer, comfort food, no smoking at a time when other bars still allowed it, and a laid-back atmosphere for employees.Īfter being recognized locally and nationally for the Grand Rapids HopCat, Sellers started a second establishment, Stella's Lounge, and then a third: Grand Rapids Brewing Co. He opened HopCat as a place more for himself than for anyone else. By late 2007, Sellers had done well enough to walk away from the financial world and move back to Grand Rapids.Īfter living in Chicago, "Grand Rapids was pretty boring," Sellers says, and the idea for HopCat was born. In fact, when Sellers first opened the Grand Rapids HopCat, he thought he was entering into "early semi-retirement." Sellers studied business at Michigan State University, and after working as a stock analyst for mutual fund research firm Morningstar in Chicago, he left to start his own investment fund. "This really just started out as a hobby," Sellers tells a crowd who gathered recently at the Detroit location to hear about his company's growth and management. Five years later, the place known for their famous "crack fries" and their craft beers opened a second location in East Lansing, and the Detroit HopCat followed suit a few years after that, in December 2014.īy the end of this year, there will be a dozen HopCats scattered throughout the Midwest-and even more is on the way. HopCat's first location was established in Sellers' hometown of Grand Rapids in 2008.
But beer has hops, so it became 'HopCat,'" says Sellers, HopCat's founder and CEO. "In jazz, if you’re a cool cat, you’re a hepcat. Menu at HopCat They do not have a children's menu, but can make smaller portions of select items like the Macaroni and Cheese.Mark Sellers' love of music, specifically jazz, is where the name of the craft beer bar and restaurant "HopCat" originates. HopCat is a restaurant and bar chain based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, with seventeen locations in eight states. If you have a smaller party, you are welcome to send a member of your party in ahead of time to check in with the host stand then grab a beer while you wait (if there is a wait).Ĭonsequently, how many Hopcats are there? Likewise, does HopCat do call ahead seating? A: Yes, we take reservations at least 24 ahead of time for groups of 8 or more. Please note that you cannot smoke anywhere on our property, including the outdoor area. We ask that people under 21 leave before 10 p.m.
If you're under 21 you can come in before 9 p.m. Kids and Smoking HopCat is a beer bar, but we do welcome families and offer a kids menu and offer changing tables in our restrooms.
#Hopcat grand rapids kids full
Both are equipped with TVs, A/V hookups and full bars with 30+ beers on tap. Between 30-100 guests can enjoy the beer, food and hospitality that made HopCat famous in our Gallery and Showroom spaces.
0 kommentar(er)
