GRAND RAPIDS, MI — At long last, Elk Brewing is pouring beer.

The city’s newest microbrewery will hold its grand opening on Friday, May 2, more than three years after co-owner Eric Karns unveiled plans to transform the former barbeque restaurant at 700 Wealthy St. into a microbrewery.

"It was tough for a while because I didn't know if it was actually going to happen," said Karns, who hung a "coming soon" sign on the Uptown building in 2011.

“To actually be open is a huge step in the right direction.”

The one-step-forward, two-steps-back journey has finally reached the starting line, though. Elk, which occupies the southeast corner of Wealthy and Henry Street SE, received formal state approval of its liquor license this week.

East Hills neighbors have watched with cautious optimism as a new façade and beer garden patio took shape on the once-vacant corner lot, kitty-corner from the new Donkey taqueria bar and across from the new quarters planned for Jonny B’z hot dogs.

The past year has been a busy one for Karns and brother-in-law Taylor Carroll, who came on as a partner in the brewery venture in spring 2013.

Carroll helped put the project back on track last year after Karns ran into trouble finding capital and separated from his former partners. He brought on private investors and helped finalize the building purchase on a land contract.

Although the brewery will not feature a kitchen, the partners said bank loans were hard to come by because lenders wanted to classify the project as a restaurant, which falls in a high-risk category due to steep failure rates.

It became a matter of “get an investment, do some work” and repeat, said Carroll. As the brewery took shape, frustrations with the continued delays began to subside.

City commissioners signed-off on the liquor license in March, making Elk the eighth brewery to open in Grand Rapids' city limits and the newest since Mitten Brewing Co. opened on Leonard Street NW in October 2012.

“We think it ended-up looking better than what we were hoping for,” said Carroll, standing behind the 10-seat bar in the brewery’s “rustic industrial” interior; a mix of steel, concrete and reclaimed barnwood.

Inside, there’s seating for about 80 people. Outside, the beer garden is expected to open in a couple weeks and will seat 120 people.

Elk is pouring five beers for the opening: An ESB, an IPA, a porter, a scotch ale and a Black IPA that clocks-in at 10.4 percent alcohol by volume. The beers are brewed on a three-barrel system in the back featuring 16 fermenters and five brite tanks.

Elk’s microbrewery license allows for distribution and Carroll said they are working with local restaurants on some special brew kegs.

The partners are hoping the 3,000 gallons of beer they’ve got ready to pour will be enough to satisfy the initial opening demand. Almost every brewery that’s opened in West Michigan in the past several years has sold out of beer shortly upon opening.

Although Elk won't feature an on-site kitchen, if you’re hungry, Jonny B’z Dogs & More has a special delivery line set up for Elk customers and will run orders up the street. Bring-your-own-food is also welcome.

Expected hours of operation are Tuesday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday noon to midnight. The brewery will be closed on Mondays. Check the Elk Brewing Facebook page for updates.

Garret Ellison covers business, government and breaking news for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at gellison@mlive.com or follow on Twitter & Instagram