Muskegon Sun

Small Business Saturday: When the Pigeon Hill Brewing owners moved craft beer production to their new production facility from 441 W. Western, the plans for the vacant building were simple. The owners wanted to offer something to do in downtown Muskegon other than drink alcohol. The result was the mid-December opening of the Socibowl by Pigeon Hill. The three brewery owners – Joel Kamp, Michael Brower and Chad Doan – have created an entertainment center with a tap room and a New American restaurant menu of upscale pub food. 

The former Brunswick Bowling center has gone back to its roots as Socibowl features six lanes of duckpin bowling, a ball and pin sport somewhere between bowling and skeetball. With smaller balls, shorter lanes, string-set smaller pins, it is a game enjoyed by all as the configuration is an equalizer giving everyone a chance. The modern Brunswick duckpin lanes by the Muskegon-based manufacturer, provides electronic scoring for six different games. Duckpin bowling lanes rent for $30 an hour for four to six players without the need for “fancy shoes,” the owners said. In addition, Socibowl has an indoor beer garden game room with free amusements from darts, to giant Janga, Twister, Yahtzee along with traditional pinball and skeetball. Located in downtown Muskegon’s Social District, Socibowl is designed to be a year-round and inclusive center of community gathering by a craft beer industry that has struggled attracting a diverse customer base. 

Owner Michael Brower said that early indications are that Socibowl is drawing across all local demographics. Socibowl’s initial team is led by General Manager Jen Jordan and Assistant General Manager Leah Carlson, both coming from the Pigeon Hills ranks. Starting next week, Socibowl is open Wednesday and Thursday 3-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday noon-11 p.m., and Sunday noon to 8 p.m. Since opening in downtown Muskegon in 2016, Pigeon Hill Brewing has become a foundation to the historic transformation of downtown. It has grown into a top 20 craft beer brewery in Michigan, producing 3,800 barrels of beer a year, served in its own tap rooms, in other Michigan establishments and in retail cans across the state. The City of Muskegon’s Development Services Division highlights city small businesses on Saturday mornings. 

Email suggested small businesses to feature to dave.alexander@shorelinecity.com.  

Original source can be found here.