Bell's Eccentric Cafe to grow its size and menu

Kathy Jennings | Thursday, October 16, 2014

Bell's Eccentric Cafe Courtesy of Bell's Brewery

Last week Bell's Brewery announced it was looking for a lot of good people to join its operations. This week it announced one of the places it will be needing those people is at Bell's Eccentric Cafe, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave.

The Eccentric Cafe, which currently is at 2,048 square feet (excluding the atrium, patio, garden and entertainment space) will triple in size. It will occupy more than 6,600 square feet as space now used for storage and warehouse space is converted, opening room for an additional 130 seats.

The space was part of Bell's original brewery and once a full service gas station.

The company's high quality beer is the inspiration for the expanded gastro pub. "Our goal is to match and even enhance the high quality beer that is already being served with high quality food and service," says Jason Reicherts, Bell's director of retail.

Both the dining and kitchens areas of the Eccentric Cafe will be revamped.

The new dining space will feature a gas fireplace and a mosaic tiled floor. The bar inside the original cafe will be expanded into space where the current 150-square-foot kitchen now stands, adding room for more seating.

The number of employees for the cafe is expected to rise to about 120 and an employee area for them is part of the plans.

Reicherts says there will be ongoing training for staff as they learn the latest news in the craft beer industry and about food and beer pairings.

The new menu, which Bell’s President and Founder Larry Bell and kitchen management are creating together, is still being developed. Early indications are it will feature fish and chips, fresh ground burgers (made of more than beef), unique salads, smoked meats, steamed mussels and eggs prepared in a variety of ways. Food will be locally sourced whenever possible. Organic and non-GMO foods also will be sought out.

Construction has begun on the new kitchen and dining room. Local architect Nelson Nave, structural engineer Nehil-Sivak and construction company Maxwell & Associates are all working on the project.

As work proceeds there may be some inconveniences for customers "but the end result will be more than worth it," says Reicherts. "We hope our customers will be patient with us as we work to bring them an even better experience here at the Eccentric Cafe."

Source: Josh Smith, Bell's Brewery Inc.