Is There A New Downtown Rooftop Spot Opening At The Old Rumrunners?

Who remembers partying at this place back in the day?

Get our free mobile app

Rumrunners Dueling Piano Bar.

You might not remember your nights there but you do remember the commercials right?

Just in case you forgot where it used to be, think the corner of Michigan and Larch.  If it were still there now, it would be right across the street from Jackson Field and Capital City Market.

And American Fifth Spirits would be right behind it.

Here's why I think something might be going on.

If you've been to a Lugnuts game, Capital City Market, or just driven by the place, do your eyes get drawn to the top of the building?

Because it's what's on the roof that makes me think there might be night life going on or on the way to the building.

Take a look for yourself.

That's a pretty extensive setup if you ask me. There's string lights, fancy patio furniture, what appear to be fancy guitar sculptures or heat lamps, metal sculptures or lattice.

It just looks too fancy to be someone's elaborate patio setup. So I was wondering if a new watering hole was going it. Downtown is getting revitalized. It's a great location. And a rooftop bar across the street from baseball and the new market would be prime real estate.

So that's where I went to look.

The address is listed as 601 E. Michigan Ave. And it's a residential property. Because the sign said so.

According to realtor.com when I entered 601 E. Michigan Avenue, it gave me a listing for 101 North Larch Street.

And then underneath,

601 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48912 is a commercial home built in 1907. This property was last sold for $500,000 in 2010. The median sales price for the The Stadium District area is $92,000. (realtor.com)

Lansing State Journal did a story on the property back in 2018. And I think I found my answer.

The space is about 2,200 square feet. Rathbun bought the building in May of 2017, and it took about seven months to finish the renovation. They moved in in December.

Eventually, Rathbun says, they're going to put a screened-in porch, probably a deck and, maybe on one-third of it, a lawn. (Lansing State Journal)

If this building sold for $500K in 2010 and the new owners purchased it in 2017, I can't begin to imagine how much they spent for it. And if you're playing with THAT kind of money, your rooftop patio can look like a new downtown bar because you can afford it.

I just hope I can get invited over for a barbecue or something. A hot dog and a pop. Call me.

The next time you're downtown take a look at the building. Imagine living there and how cool that would be.