Alexander Alusheff

Lansing State Journal

LANSING TWP. – Whiskey Barrel Saloon, a popular country bar, is up for sale.

Owner Dave Allen is marketing the property through CBRE Martin for $795,000, which includes the building, liquor license, furniture and even the mechanical bull.

“The owner has been there for (over 20) years and is looking to retire,” said Todd Kosta, senior associate at CBRE Martin, who is representing Allen in the building’s sale. Allen did not return phone messages left seeking comment.

The building, located at 410 S. Clippert St., was home to Wayside and Sparty's Night Club before Allen rebranded it as Whiskey Barrel Saloon in 2005. The country-themed night club will continue to operate until the business is sold. It’s open 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Over the years, it’s been a venue for country music shows and line dancing.

"I'm disappointed," said Victoria Guzman, of Holt, who has been going to Whiskey Barrel for seven years, starting when she was a student at Michigan State University. "Up until last year, it was the only country bar in town. For years it was the only place you could put boots on and Wranglers and not get looked at funny."

It's also one of the few 18-and-up bars in the area and a hot spot for college students, Guzman said. She believes added competition from Duke's Saloon downtown and Tequila Cowboy at the Lansing Mall, both of which opened in 2015, drew away some customers, herself included.

The Whiskey Barrel Saloon occupies 11,976 square feet of space near the intersection of Clippert and Kalamazoo streets. It also includes 1,040 square feet of patio space and 120 parking spots.

Kosta said the location is prime, considering it’s across the street from the planned $380 million Red Cedar Renaissance project, a mixed-use development on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Clippert Street that will include two hotels, a medical office building, five restaurants 129 town homes and student housing to accommodate 1,200 people.

Related:Hyatt Centric, Moxy hotels slated for $380M Red Cedar Renaissance

“With the Red Cedar development coming in, you’ve got $400 million in new development planned across the street,” Kosta said. “The Whiskey Barrel is an incredible opportunity for a national restaurant chain to come in there.”

CBRE is also marketing the shuttered House of ING restaurant. The Chinese restaurant, located at 4113 S. Cedar St., opened in 1967. Owner Napoleon Ching decided to close in March to focus on the expansion of the business’ four INGcredible restaurants.

The 5,000 square-foot building is listed for $460,000. Furniture, equipment and the liquor license can be purchased for an additional $75,000, Kosta said.

House of ING to close March 31 after almost 50 years

Contact Alexander Alusheff at (517) 388-5973 oraalusheff@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter@alexalusheff.