Bars, restaurants create new look

Source: Battle Creek Enquirer
BATTLE CREEK - Changes are the order of the day at several Battle Creek area watering holes with makeovers, new names and reopenings in the works.

In attempts to lure bigger crowds, some establishments are putting a new emphasis on their restaurant sides by adding to their kitchens and upgrading their menus with food items such as choice steaks for hearty appetites and take-out fare to attract lunch customers.

In that vein, Par 4 Lounge, which closed after owner Bob Tidwell died in 1999, has reopened on Michigan Avenue downtown. Now the bar is being managed by L. Sonny Bowens, who reopened it last month.

New paneling, mirrors, carpeting and televisions have been added to the decor, and new lighting has made Par 4 brighter, Bowens said.

The lounge's menu of sandwiches, hot dogs and Polish sausages will expand later this year to include chicken and fish. Customers can take out or eat in; Bowens said food is prepared quickly for people who don't have a lot of time for lunch.

The bar also offers pool tables, dancing and a jukebox with what Bowens calls "old school" music from the 1960s and '70s. Beginning in April, a DJ will spin tunes a few times a month.

Despite some recent business closings, Bowens is optimistic that downtown is on the rise. "I think the downtown may go through some ups and downs, but it's only temporary," he said. "Everyone is pulling together to make it work."

Neon Moon Saloon, formerly Gangplank, also is under new management.

Rick Gloar bought the bar in September, changed the name and four weeks ago opened the new kitchen for lunch and dinner.

Neon Moon offers appetizers, soups, salads, specialty sandwiches and full dinners, with meals ranging from $3.95 to $9.95.
Source: Battle Creek Enquirer