GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill is too noisy for some neighbors, prompting enforcement of a city ordinance. Grand Rapids police have ticketed the bar for noise disturbance at least 10 times in the last two years, court records show.

The bar claims the complaints stem from one neighbor, though leaders of a church that meets across the street also have expressed concern. Pastors and elders of The Butterworth Street Fellowship recently sent city commissioners a letter stating that “we continue to be greatly concerned about the continual noise level that proceeds from this establishment.

“We continue to be annoyed by these loud and raucous ‘patrons’ that come and go,” states the message on letterhead from The Inner-city Church Planting Mission. “We humbly ask that you as the GOD-appointed authorities of our city” hold the bar accountable and enforce the city’s noise ordinance.

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Tip Top Deluxe in 2011 was purchased by Ted Smith and Frank Lehnen and underwent renovations. The bar regularly hosts live music and other events, promoting them on its Facebook page.

Some neighbors have reported that music from the bar rattles the windows of their homes, said Mary Bueche, a South West Area Neighbors community organizer.

“The Tip Top has done a tremendous job in the renovation, but unfortunately when they took down the walls and the ceiling to expose that beautiful tin ceiling and added a large picture window it also removed a lot of the soundproofing that was built in,” she said. “It’s a bar that’s nestled right within a residential area.

“We had some complaints from some residents when they first started the live music venue about music being overly loud. The neighborhood association tried to have a meeting with neighbors and the owners, but they didn’t come to any resolution.”

Butterworth Street Fellowship pastor Daniel Schutte said noise from the bar has not affected any church activities, but the church wrote to the city on behalf of a churchgoer that lives in the neighborhood. The church’s landlord is annoyed with the bar, too.

“Sometimes we have to sequester ourselves in the back of the building,” said Greg Vandenberg, who lives across the street from the Tip Top.

A worker at the bar said the tickets stem from one neighbor’s complaints, and the bar is going through the legal process. At least one ticket has been dismissed.

Matt Vande Bunte covers government for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at mvandebu@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter and Facebook.