GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The roof of a proposed B.O.B. expansion would host an open-air beer garden with fire pits and benches nestled around live trees and shrubs, according to conceptual plans set to be submitted to the city by the end of the year.

The top of the proposed development, to be called The Venue, also would feature a bar at one end and a movie screen at the other.

"Basically, it's a park in the sky," said Greg Gilmore, The B.O.B. owner who's planning an expansion of his downtown entertainment complex in conjunction with a 20-story residential tower north of Fulton Street between Monroe and Ottawa avenues.



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Grand Rapids City Commission last month extended the timeline for Gilmore’s long-planned development of the parking area around The B.O.B. Gilmore told MLive “it’s a question mark” whether the live roof makes the plan as conceived, or if it would get scaled back due to costs.

Here are four other aspects of the current plan:

• a 2-story event space with room for up to 2,400 people

Gilmore said he's working with a company to manage about 100 ticketed events per year in the space, which would have a temporary stage and movable seating on the main floor and retractable bleachers on a second-floor mezzanine open to the floor below. An L.E.D. screen is planned for live streaming of events elsewhere, or replays of past concerts.

The 2-story Venue also could host events including ArtPrize and LaughFest. ArtPrize space outside The B.O.B. would be scaled back during construction in 2015 and 2016.

“Anytime you get an opportunity to diversify your product offering and grow your infrastructure it’s an advantage,” said Doug Small, CEO of Experience Grand Rapids, which is the Kent County convention and visitors bureau. “If they were going to build something similar to what we already have, I’m not so sure about that. But it sort of fills a void downtown between this 12,000-seat arena and these 200- to 1,000- seat type theaters.

“It’s one more flexible space with decent size that we can offer groups.”

• a concession alley

Plans include a covered alley from Monroe to Ottawa avenues between the existing B.O.B. and the proposed Venue. Garage doors at either end could open or close.

The alley could host food trucks and kiosks for food vendors, Gilmore said.

“Maybe somebody’s got the best pretzel in the world and we’ll give them a little space,” he said. “The idea is to work with outside vendors.”

• café walk

Grand Rapids has vacated the pedestrian street between The B.O.B. property and the Fifty Monroe building to the north. Gilmore said he envisions a string of lights covering a public walkway along a row of outdoor cafes.

CWD Real Estate, the owner of Fifty Monroe, plans to peel off the skin of the building and expose the original brick façade in conjunction with a hotel development north of the office building. Spokeswoman Lisa Young said that's "on hold right now until we select a brand for the hotel." Developers have not had discussions with The B.O.B. about outdoor cafes, she said.

• a street-level beer garden

An existing parking lot outside The B.O.B. would be repurposed into an outdoor beer garden with fire pits, picnic tables, a small stage and a snowmelt system for year-round use.

Gilmore said the property currently has 67 on-site parking spaces. None are planned after the redevelopment.

“There are 4,000 spaces within a stone’s throw,” he said. “We’re surrounded by parking.”

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