Muskegon’s downtown Racquets bar to close, rebrand under new ownership - MLive.com

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MUSKEGON, MI – Racquets Downtown Grill, the downtown Muskegon watering hole that has anchored Western Avenue throughout its dining and cocktail resurgence of recent years, will close at the end of the month.

Ron Madison, who took over the bar in 2006, confirmed to MLive on Saturday morning that he was selling both the building, 446 W. Western Ave., and the bar, after about a year of negotiations.

This will also spell a change for Kuntry Cookin', which has operated the bar’s kitchen since last May.

The last day for both businesses is expected to be Saturday, Aug. 29. The new owner, Jason Bronold, who runs Booyah’s Bar and Grill in Norton Shores, is expected to begin remodeling in September, Madison said, pending the official transfer of deed and liquor license.

RELATED: Community buoys Kuntry Cookin’ in downtown Muskegon

Madison – who has also been a child welfare advocate and youth football coach, and helped start motorcycle festival Rebel Road – said he was ready for a change, after almost 15 years in business.

“We all reach a point in life where we all step back and take a hard look at what the meaning of life really is,” he told MLive/The Muskegon Chronicle. “It becomes even more important, in the second half of what we view to be our time here, that we do things that affect as many people in a positive way as possible.

“Maybe business, and trying to generate as much revenue as you can, is not as important anymore,” he added.

Destinee Keener-Sargent, co-owner and chef of Kuntry Cookin', said on social media that her restaurant would be continuing to offer pop-up events and catering.

“It has been nothing but a joy to be in operation in the facility and that has EVERYTHING to do with each and every customer that walked through the doors,” Keener-Sargent wrote.

She also described the bar and restaurant as a “Cheers”-like atmosphere, where “the true cultural makeup of our community” can gather in one spot.

In a recent interview for MLive’s Local Eats series, Keener-Sargent said the diversity of the business’ clientele – Black and white, young and old, queer and straight – was part of what made it so special

“I prided myself in the fact that (Racquets) was a place for everybody,” Madison said. “We’ve always been a very diverse atmosphere.”

Despite its central role in the community, Madison said he wasn’t sure he’d be able to bid farewell to his customers with a closing celebration, given the coronavirus pandemic.

“After having owned the place for 15 years, I’d love to have something like that,” he said. “I’m just a little nervous about what I dare advertise, with everything going on… How do you have a celebration and adhere to the current guidelines?”

The pandemic has been hard on the business, but it wasn’t the first challenge Madison weathered since taking over the business, he said. He bought the bar at a time when professional hockey was played at the then-Walker Arena down the street. When those leagues left the city, his business took a hit.

For years afterward, Muskegon’s downtown was quiet, with little activity or investment, while Racquets still stood on Western Ave.

Then, as the area began receiving millions of dollars in city and private investment, the watering hole watched more changes take shape: The rebranding of an old hotel, the arrival of high-rise apartment buildings, a name change at the arena, the rise of a future convention center, and the opening of dozens of new businesses up and down the street.

Now, it’s time for Racquets to change with its surroundings, Madison said.

“It’s such tough industry,” he said. “If you don’t rebrand every so often, it’s difficult to survive. Now is the time for somebody to come in and put some time, energy and money into what is the central location downtown.”

“After all these years, I just don’t have the passion for it, or the energy to kind of reinvent the place and start over,” he added. “I’m glad somebody else has that.”

Read more on MLive:

Local Eats: Rebranded restaurant at downtown Muskegon hotel sets ‘Foundation’ for fine dining

City proposal would bring marijuana businesses to downtown Muskegon, Lakeside neighborhood

As coronavirus cases climb in Muskegon prison, families express fear and confusion

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