Lofts on Louis nearly ready, downtown Jackson restaurant on hold

JACKSON, MI - John Burtka is bringing his Grand River Brewery to other cities across Michigan, but he hasn't forgotten about Jackson.

Burtka is opening a Grand River Brewery in Marshall at the historic Cronin Building downtown. The brewery, based off the one he started in Jackson, could open as soon as March.

Jackson's Grand River Brewery won't have the wood-fired steak and seafood like Marshall, but Burtka plans to open a separate but similar restaurant in downtown Jackson that will.

The original hope was to open that restaurant, called Johnny's, at 151 W. Michigan Ave. in spring 2018. With Burtka's time focused on new Grand River Breweries in Marshall and Lansing, and the Lofts on Louis apartment and commercial space project downtown, Johnny's has been delayed.

"(It's) on hold until we finish the apartments and Marshall," Burtka said. "My dream would be to have it open for December of next year, but I'm pretty busy."

Johnny's would also have apartments on the higher floors. The space formerly housed restaurants including One Five One and Daryl's Downtown.

For the Lofts on Louis development downtown, the apartment complex is scheduled to open this March or April.

The 18 two-bedroom units are about 1,100 to 1,200 square feet, while the 12 one-bedroom units are about 750 to 800 square feet. Prices range from $854 to $1,364 a month. The $5.4 million project will result in a four-story, 47,000-square-foot space.

Regarding the commercial space on the first floor, Burtka expects it to be split between two businesses. A business could move in by this summer, he said.

"My first choice is a grocery or an enhanced convenience store in there," Burtka said. "I believe that's what we need downtown."

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