Two James Spirits LLC plans to open a tasting room in Grand Rapids in mid-December.

The Detroit-based distillery will bring its spirits made on Michigan Avenue in Corktown to 7 Monks Taproom at 740 Michigan St. in the West Michigan city, where a 1,000-square-foot event space is being built out with an 18-foot bar, 50 seats and separate entrance, Two James founder David Landrum told Crain's.

"It's an area of Grand Rapids going through a bit of a renaissance similar to what happened in Corktown," he said. "The whole concept is to come in for artfully crafted cocktails with some spirits that are made with Michigan agriculture."

The tasting room will offer the company's entire line of spirits sourced from the Detroit distillery, including two vodkas, two gins, four whiskeys, a rum, an absinthe and bourbon. Bottles will also be available for purchase.

Landrum said around $100,000 will be invested in the location, which is being leased for five years with an option to extend.

Landrum said he had been scouting Grand Rapids for the past three years in search of a second location. He'd known the owners of 7 Monks and began talking seriously about partnering four months ago.

"The event space wasn't being utilized as much as they liked, so they saw an opportunity to have one of the premier taphouses in Grand Rapids partner with someone who knew what they were doing with spirits," Landrum said.

The arrangement is similar to the craft cocktail bar beneath 7 Monks' Traverse City location, according to MiBiz, which first reported Two James' plans for Grand Rapids. The partnership also mirrors that between Traverse City Whiskey and Como's in Ferndale.

Grand Rapids has been fertile ground for restaurants and bars expanding from Detroit, and vice versa. Corktown staple Slows Bar BQ opened in the Grand Rapids Downtown Market in 2015. Atwater Brewery made the leap to the west side of the state in 2016.

Grand Rapids-based Founders Brewing Co., the state's largest brewer, opened its Detroit taproom in 2017. HopCat opened its Detroit location in 2014 before expanding from Grand Rapids to Royal Oak in 2017 and elsewhere around the state.

Two James opened its distillery in 2013 near Michigan Central Station. The company's spirits are sold in 14 states, including its largest market of Michigan, where bottles are stocked at Meijer, Kroger and smaller retailers, Landrum said. Distribution has become the company's largest revenue stream, he said.

The company employs around 40 people. Another 15 will likely be added in Grand Rapids, Landrum said.