KALAMAZOO —

For once, people will be happy to hear about a stock market crash.

, located at 211 E. Water St., formerly home of Charlie Fosters, opened last week for lunch only from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Once the Michigan Liquor Control Commission releases the license from escrow, owner James Flora will offer a unique concept for beer lovers.

Flora has 28 taps ready to host some of the best Michigan craft beer, as well as some imported and domestic brews.

His bar/restaurant features several TVs that will show the price of all 28 beers.

Depending on what customers purchase, the prices will rise or fall.

“It’s an ever-evolving happy hour,” Flora said.

The prices will never go higher than around 10 percent the base cost, but will drop to as much as 50 percent below base cost.

For example, a Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale may be $3 normally.

But, depending on the “market” activity (i.e. patrons buying tendencies) it could be as much as $3.25 or as little as $1.50 (prices fluctuate in increments of 25 cents).

The prices will change every 15 minutes and there will be, at random, a “stock market crash” — signified by air horns — when all 28 beers are sold at a low rate for five minutes.

If you go

Kalamazoo Beer Exchange

Where:

211 E. Water St.

When:

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday

Contact:

269-532-1188

Other:

Buy one lunch, get one free; alcohol not offered yet

Connect

Flora spent more than $150,000 upgrading the two-level space, including adding new lights, sound equipment and a cooler to house the variety of kegs.

The upper level will be more of the restaurant, while the lower level will be more of a bar setting. The lower level has two pools tables, a dart board and video games.

There is also an 18-foot-long wooden table, made by Kalamazoo’s Andy Davis to resemble the rest of the old wood in the building. It will be a great surface for a group of friends to compare beers.

“We call it our ‘soon-to-be famous community table,’” Flora said.

Flora, 35, previously worked as the food and beverage manager at the Detroit Marriott Southfield Hotel.

He started work on the Beer Exchange in 2007 and settled on Kalamazoo after also looking at Ann Arbor and Lansing.

This is his first time striking out on his own. He now lives in Kalamazoo, as does his chef, Bill Kennedy, of Marine City.

Kennedy worked with Flora at the Marriott.

While beer is a major portion of the business, Kennedy’s adventurous touch will be noticeable, Flora said.

Kennedy has developed a Piedmontese Beef Burger, a sandwich using beef with less fat and cholesterol than traditional beef. He’s also has a chicken pot pie made with a sweet potato crust.

There’s even a deep-fried Twinkie as a dessert option.

Flora said he is hoping to open in full force this winter.