Social Districts in Old Town, REO Town, and Downtown Lift Up Local Businesses while Encouraging Public to Sip, Shop, and Stroll their Community.
Following a tumultuous year for many Lansing area businesses, residents of Lansing are now able to eat, drink, and enjoy their communities in approved social district zones found throughout Old Town, REO Town, and downtown. That means people in these three areas can now buy alcohol from participating businesses and consume their drinks out in the open in properly marked social district cups. Social districts went live with a soft launch in conjunction with the downtown Lansing Block:AID event, held last Thursday, June 10, following a number of businesses receiving their approvals for social district permits.
“Social Districts are another tool to help create exciting, walkable corridors in Lansing. I encourage residents and visitors to head to our new social districts to support our local businesses and enjoy all that Lansing has to offer.” states Mayor Andy Schor. In order to enjoy adult beverages in the social districts, residents must ask participating restaurants for a social district beverage that will be served in a marked cup, to enjoy in the boundary areas. Licensed eligible businesses will continue to be approved on a rolling basis by the MLCC as their applications come in. However so far, approved businesses include:
- Esquire Bar
- Duke’s Saloon
- The Grid Arcade & Bar
- Grand Cafe
- MP Social
- Lansing Brewing Company
- MEAT
- MichiGrain Distillery
- Midtown Brewing Company
- Omar’s
- Radisson
- Sleepwalker Spirits & Ale
- The Tin Can
- UrbanBeat
“All of our downtown businesses need support as they continue to meet the needs of their customers during this pandemic. Having social districts open at the start of the summer is exciting as it gives all those 21+ another way to lift up local businesses while enjoying the capital city.” states Cathleen Edgerly, Executive Director of Downtown Lansing Inc.
Each Lansing social district is open Sunday thru Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 9 a.m. to midnight.