Suburban bar re-opening after fire

Suburban bar re-opening after fire

Courtesy Orion Construction

A bar destroyed in a blaze last year is re-opening this weekend after being rebuilt.

The Corner Bar will reopen at 31 N. Main St. in Rockford with a celebration and ribbon-cutting at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

The bar was “all but destroyed” by a fire in August 2017.

Grand Rapids-based Orion Construction rebuilt the 10,000-square-foot restaurant and bar — using as many salvaged materials as possible — on the footprint of its original site, beginning in April.

“It’s not really about the bricks and walls,” said Jeff Wolfe, who co-owns the bar with his wife, Sarah Wolfe. “The heart and soul of The Corner was preserved with our staff and our patrons.

“Things like the reclaimed bar top and the original sign are reminders of the history here and how fortunate we are to have persevered through the last year with a sense of perspective and gratitude.”

Sarah Wolfe described the past year as a “rollercoaster” for her family and staff.

“We never expected our community to stand behind us like they did, and it’s impossible to convey how much that means to us,” she said. “We are so excited to open our doors and show everyone how much we appreciate them.”

The Corner Bar will retain its original menu, including its signature chili dogs.

As part of the reconstruction, the bar now has a second-floor event space and an outdoor patio.

The business will operate with a staff of 90 employees, 45 of which are returning from before the fire.

Its hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.