KALAMAZOO, MI – You could be the new owner of a tavern at a historic location in Kalamazoo.
The Old Dog Tavern, 402 E. Kalamazoo Ave., is for sale. The tavern posted a photo of the business with the words “#FORSALE” on social media on Thursday, August 8.
The bar is located on the east end of downtown, not far from Bell’s Eccentric Cafe, Hopcat and Water Street Coffee Joint.
The building is more than 100 years old and has housed a variety of businesses, including the Baker-Hoekstra Company, which began manufacturing and selling wholesale and retail candy and confectionery in 1907. The Hanselman Candy Company took it over in 1912, said Western Michigan University historian Lynn Houghton.
The Star Paper Company was active in this field from about 1934 to 1971, Houghton said.
The building still bears the historic “Star Paper Co” sign in bold letters on the front of the tavern.
A file photo of Sean Smith (right), who opened the Old Dog Tavern at 402 E. Kalamazoo Ave. in January 2010. The tavern is located in the historic Star Paper Company building in Kalamazoo. Before being renamed Old Dog, it was the Kraftbrau Brewery for about 10 years. (Mark Bugnaski/Mlive) Kalamazoo GazetteKalamazoo-Gazette
The building eventually became the Kraftbrau brewery, which operated for about a decade before closing in 2007.
Amy and Sean Smith reopened the bar in 2010 as Old Dog Tavern.
Representatives of the Old Dog Tavern could not be reached for comment on Friday, August 9.
An undated photo shows part of the history of the Old Dog Tavern building over 100 years ago, when a candy and sweet factory operated there.(Kalamazoo Gazette Archives, courtesy of WMU Zhang Legacy Collections Center)
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