GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The CityFlats Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids is expanding into and adjacent building where Louis Benton Steakhouse closed in January.

The boutique hotel will remodel the former restaurant and lounge into a blow dry bar salon and special "Events @ CityFlatsHotel" space for weddings, business meetings and other gatherings, said Jack Peaphon, spokesperson for CityFlats.

The ground floor event space will supplement the existing CityFlats Ballroom that opened in the historic second floor bank lobby in 2012.

"After we put in the ballroom in 2012, our owners were looking at space around us. They were always really interested in expanding more," Peaphon said. "When Louis Benton closed, they jumped on it."

The steakhouse on the ground floor of the historic Michigan National Bank building at 77 Monroe Center NW closed on Jan. 5 after 12 years in business.

A name hasn't been finalized for the planned blow dry bar, which Peaphon said will take up about 2,300-square-feet of the former 13,000-square-foot restaurant.

Blow dry bars, a kind of salon where clients get a hair style without a cut or curl, often serve alcohol. Peaphon said the CityFlats blow dry bar may be able to take advantage of the hotel's liquor license, but those details are being finalized.

The salon will be open to the public, he said. Hours are being finalized.

Charter House Innovations, parent company of CityFlats Hotel, will completely remodel the former steakhouse space to give it the "CityFlats look" between now and planned opening this summer.

The steakhouse kitchen will remain to service the planned event space.

CityFlats opened downtown in 2011. The company also operates a hotel in Holland.

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