Popular pub to return in Holland’s first mixed-use building under new development code

A new building that will bring back Holland restaurant Goog’s Pub is among the first construction under the city of Holland’s new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that promotes mixed-use development in commercial zones.

The 14,000-square-foot Goog’s building on the city’s south side will feature nine apartments.

Construction of the $2.5 million, two-story building at 667 Hastings Ave. is under construction by Midwest Construction Group of Zeeland for client Hastings 677 LLC.  The project is expected to be completed in February.

The mixed-use building is going up on the site of the former Goog’s Pub and Grub restaurant off U.S. 31 that was demolished earlier this year to make way for the larger building. In addition to the residential apartments, the new building will include a new, smaller version of Goog’s Pub, along with a boutique grocery and beverage market.

Residential and commercial

Five Star Realty of Holland is handling the residential and commercial leasing for the apartments and a ground-floor commercial area with a drive-thru. 

“The UDO is innovative zoning that allows the incorporation of residential units with commercial properties. The benefit is the expansion of housing opportunities — which the city needs — with the creation of robust commercial,” says Scott Geerlings, president of Geerlings Development Co., a partner in Hastings 677, developers of the new building.

The project falls in a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone, which helps to achieve lower rental costs while ultimately increasing Holland City’s tax base, he says. 

An example to others

Ryan Kilpatrick, executive director of Housing Next, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring adequate housing for all income levels, describes the new commercial and residential building on Hastings Avenue as an example of how the application of the ordinance can help ease the housing crisis in Ottawa County.

“This is an innovative project for Holland and Ottawa County that will encourage other developers and investors to consider adding housing to mixed-use projects in commercial areas,” says Kilpatrick, noting Holland currently has a need for 2,200 more income-appropriate apartments while Ottawa County has a shortage of 15,000. 

Scaled-down Goog’s

Brad White, founder and longtime owner of the popular Goog’s Pub, says the restaurant will come back in a new form. 

“The new Goog’s will still be offering many of our favorite burgers, but we’re going to scale down the restaurant size to about 40 seats. Next to the restaurant, we’re putting in an MGB Market — the MGB standing for Meats, Groceries, and Beverages,” White says.

White opened the former 115-seat restaurant in 2005 and Goog’s found a zealous following for its specialty hamburgers. The restaurant won the title “#1 Burgers in West Michigan” for 13 years in a row. 

Boutique market

The new 2,000-square-foot boutique market will offer fresh and frozen meats and seafood, fresh vegetables, groceries, and a large selection of upscale wines and beers. A 1,200-square-foot corner section of the building on the ground floor is being offered for lease and includes the availability of a drive-thru and curbside service window. 

The 7,000-square-foot second floor of the building will have eight one- and two-bedroom apartments for rent, ranging in size from 900 to 1,300 square feet. An additional apartment will be on the ground level.  

Construction management on the new Goog’s building is being done by Midwest Construction, which plans to employ 45 construction workers and trade personnel through the course of the project.  The three commercial businesses on the main level have the potential to create up to 50 new jobs.