HopCat
{{Short description|American restaurant and bar chain}}
{{Promotional|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = HopCat
| logo = HopCat logo.png
| logo_size = 100
| type = Private
| founder = Mark Sellers
| industry = Restaurant
| genre = Beer Bar & Restaurant
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| owner =
| num_employees =
| parent = Project BarFly, LLC
| homepage = {{URL|hopcat.com}}
| footnotes =
| foundation = 2008
| num_locations = 11 (2025)
| hq_location_city = Grand Rapids, MichiganRobenault, Steve {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160405185842/http://michiganjournal.org/2015/03/31/hop-cat/ Hop Cat]}} Michigan Journal. March 25, 2016
}}
HopCat is a restaurant and bar chain based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, with seventeen locations in eight states. HopCat is best known for having a wide array of beers on tap, with several of their locations offering over 100 different options.{{cite news |last=Allen |first=Robert |date=December 30, 2015 |title=Uber: Detroit's Top 10 Nightlife Rides in 2015 |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |url=http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/12/29/uber-detroit-night-life-rides/78018278/ |access-date=January 4, 2016}}{{cite news |last=White |first=Laurel |date=July 10, 2015 |title='Craft Beer Chain' HopCat to Open Saturday off State Street |newspaper=The Capital Times |location=Madison, WI |url=http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/writers/laurel-white/craft-beer-chain-hopcat-to-open-saturday-off-state-street/article_f9326244-278d-56e0-9a0e-fc91fd6269a7.html |access-date=January 4, 2016}}
Founded in 2008 in Grand Rapids by Mark Sellers, the original HopCat in Grand Rapids is a brewpub with its own small brewery, which typically supplies 4-6 house-made beers alongside craft beers from around the country. HopCat opened its second location in East Lansing, Michigan in 2013.{{cite news |last= Ellison |first= Garret |url= http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2013/01/five_years_and_135_million_in.html |title= Five Years and $13.5 Million in Sales Later, HopCat Has Become a 'Well Respected' Grand Rapids Brand |work= MLive |date= January 8, 2013 |access-date= January 4, 2016}}
In 2015, BarFly Ventures secured $25 million in capital financing to expand HopCat to several additional locations.{{cite news |last= Walsh |first= Dustin |url= http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20150902/NEWS/150909964/hopcat-brewpub-owners-secure-25-million-to-fund-expansion |title= HopCat Owners Secure $25 Million to Fund Expansion |work= Crain's Detroit Business |date= September 2, 2015 |access-date= January 4, 2016}}{{cite news |last= Sidorowicz |first= Josh |url= http://fox17online.com/2015/09/02/30-new-hopcat-bars-to-open-up-across-midwest/ |title= 'It's a Big Deal,' 30 New HopCat Bars to Open up Across Midwest |location= Grand Rapids, MI |publisher= WXMI-TV |date= September 2015 |access-date= January 4, 2016}}
On June 6, 2020, BarFly Ventures filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Grand Rapids, MI.{{cite news |title='HopCat restaurant parent company files for bankruptcy protection' |url=https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/dining/2020/06/03/michigan-restaurant-bankrupty-coronavirus/3133904001/' }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
BarFly Ventures’ HopCat bought out of bankruptcy by Congruent Investment Partners and Main Street Capital.{{Cite web |title=BarFly Ventures’ HopCat bought out of bankruptcy by Congruent Investment Partners and Main Street Capital |url=https://www.nrn.com/mergers-acquisitions/barfly-ventures-hopcat-bought-out-of-bankruptcy-by-congruent-investment-partners-and-main-street-capital |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=www.nrn.com |language=en}} After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June as a result of COVID-19 pandemic-related challenges, Grand Rapids, Mich.-based BarFly Ventures LLC sold its assets — including craft beer bar/restaurant HopCat, Stella’s Lounge, and Grand Rapids Brewing Co. — to Congruent Investment Partners and Main Street Capital for $17.5 million, the company announced on Tuesday. Longtime investors Congruent Investment and Main Street Capital formed a new operating company, Project BarFly LLC upon acquisition of the brands.
Accolades
The Grand Rapids location was recognized as one of the best brewpubs in the United States by RateBeer.com from 2013 to 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ratebeer.com/ratebeerbest/BestPlaces-Country2014.asp|title=top retailers by country - ratebeer best 2013|website=www.ratebeer.com|access-date=2016-04-04}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ratebeer.com/ratebeerbest/default_2013.asp|title=The Best Beers in the World 2013|website=www.ratebeer.com|access-date=2016-04-04}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ratebeer.com/ratebeerbest/BestPlaces-Country2016.asp|title=top retailers by country - ratebeer best for the year 2015|website=www.ratebeer.com|access-date=2016-04-04}} In 2010, HopCat was rated No. 3 on BeerAdvocate's list of "Best Beer Bars on Planet Earth."{{Cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/grpress/business/index.ssf/2008/12/magazine_toasts_founders_brewe.html|title=Magazine toasts Founders Brewer, HopCat as best in the nation|website=MLive.com|date=20 December 2008 |access-date=2016-04-04}}
Cultural Impact
On December 8, 2024, HopCat Detroit hosted the Motor City Dan Campbell Look-Alike Contest, coinciding with the Detroit Lions’ football season. The contest took place at HopCat in Metro Detroit after it was advertised with fliers and went viral on social media. It drew 22 contestants. Four randomly selected judges scored the contestants from 1 to 10 in four categories: resemblance, style, energy and creativity. The five contestants who reached the final were then asked questions by the judges and the winner was decided by applause. It was won by 55-year-old machinist Jeff Randall, who received free Cosmik Fries at the restaurant for a year as well as a golden game ball, a reference to Campbell's tradition of giving balls to the best performers of the week. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xUqBQLaBWI In a press conference], Campbell responded to the fliers, stating that "I don't know why you'd waste your time with that," and that "there's got to be better things to do unless the prize is something worth having. Is there a legitimate prize to it? Maybe I'll get in it." He did not appear at the contest.
The event gained national attention and was featured in the New York Times The Athletic in a story titled "Goateed Lions fans gather for Dan Campbell look-alike contest
Controversy
On December 15, 2018, Barfly Ventures CEO Mark Gray announced that Hopcat would be renaming its famous “Crack Fries” in order to avoid making light of the drug the name refers to as well as addiction to said drug.{{cite web| url = https://hopcat.com/blog/post/word-about-our-fries| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181217062839/https://hopcat.com/blog/post/word-about-our-fries| archive-date = 2018-12-17| title = A word about our fries {{!}} HopCat}}
The fries were renamed "Cosmik Fries" in reference to Frank Zappa's song "Cosmik Debris".{{cite web| url = https://hopcat.com/cosmik-fries| title = Cosmik Fries {{!}} HopCat| access-date = 2019-04-21| archive-date = 2019-04-21| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190421163532/https://hopcat.com/cosmik-fries| url-status = dead}}
Locations
=Current locations=
- Ann Arbor, Michigan{{cite news |last= Offman |first= Alysa |url= http://www.metrotimes.com/Blogs/archives/2015/02/10/hopcat-ann-arbor-to-open-on-valentines-day |title= HopCat Ann Arbor to Open on Valentine's Day |work= Detroit Metro Times |date= February 10, 2015 |access-date= January 5, 2016}} - Downtown
- Detroit, Michigan{{cite news |url= http://www.freep.com/story/money/business/michigan/2014/08/20/hopcat-detroit-opening-to-include-world-record-tap-takeover/14359397/ |title= HopCat Detroit Opening to Include World-Record Tap Takeover |newspaper= Detroit Free Press |date =August 20, 2014 |access-date= January 4, 2016}} - Midtown
- East Lansing, Michigan{{cite news |last= Howell |first= Brandon |url= http://www.mlive.com/business/jackson-lansing/index.ssf/2013/08/hopcat_east_lansing_to_open_wi.html |title= HopCat East Lansing to Open with Attempted World-Record Tap Takeover of 100 Short's Beers |work= MLive |date= August 8, 2013 |access-date= January 5, 2016}}
- Grand Rapids, Michigan (original location, opened in 2008) - Heartside
- Grand Rapids, Michigan - Knapp's Corner
- Holland, Michigan{{cite news|last=Bondie|first=Cassandra|url=https://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/20190427/hopcat-to-open-its-doors-in-downtown-holland|title=HopCat to open its doors in downtown Holland|newspaper=Holland Sentinel|date=April 27, 2019|access-date=April 27, 2019}}
- Kalamazoo, Michigan{{Cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/beer/2016/03/hopcat_is_coming_to_downtown_k.html|title=HopCat is coming to downtown Kalamazoo|website=MLive.com|date=31 March 2016 |access-date=2016-04-04}} - Downtown
- Lincoln, Nebraska{{cite news|url=http://journalstar.com/business/local/chain-restaurant-craft-beer-bar-coming-to-haymarket/article_e938ea49-f023-56bb-b7bd-5ed5cd41e1aa.html|title=Chain Restaurant, Craft Beer Bar Coming to Haymarket|last=Olberding|first=Matt|date=October 29, 2015|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star|access-date=January 4, 2016}} - West Haymarket{{Cite web|url = http://hopcat.com/lincoln|title = Lincoln {{!}} HopCat|website = hopcat.com|access-date = 2016-03-16}}
- Livonia, Michigan{{ cite news |last= Powers |first= Sara |url= https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/hopcat-to-open-new-livonia-location-this-month/ |title= HopCat to open new Livonia location this month |newspaper= CBS Detroit |location= Detroit, MI |date= July 14, 2023 |access-date= August 9, 2024}}
- Royal Oak, Michigan{{ cite news |last= Baetens |first= Melody |url= https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/dining/2022/10/25/hopcat-returns-to-downtown-royal-oak-this-winter-now-hiring/69590527007/ |title= HopCat returns to downtown Royal Oak this winter, now hiring |newspaper= Detroit News |location= Detroit, MI |date= October 25, 2022 |access-date= March 3, 2024}} - Main St
- Clinton Township, Michigan{{ cite news |last= Hotts |first=Mitch |url= https://www.macombdaily.com/2024/05/10/hopcat-hosts-grand-opening-celebration-at-partridge-creek-mall/ |title= HopCat hosts grand opening celebration at Partridge Creek Mall |newspaper= Macomb Daily |location= Clinton Township |date= May 10, 2024 |access-date= August 9, 2024}} - Partridge Creek
= Coming Soon locations =
- Southgate, Michigan{{Cite web |last=Baetens |first=Melody |title=Downriver is getting a HopCat beer bar this summer |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/dining/2025/02/20/downriver-is-getting-a-hopcat-beer-bar-this-summer/79310263007/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}
=Former locations=
- Chicago, Illinois - Lincoln Park{{Cite web|url=https://chicago.eater.com/2019/2/4/18210937/hopcat-lincoln-park-closed-chicago-craft-beer-bar|title=HopCat, Lincoln Park's Massive Craft Beer Bar, Closes {{!}} Eater Chicago|website=chicago.eater.com|date=4 February 2019 |access-date=2024-06-02}}
- Kansas City, Missouri - Westport{{Cite web|url=https://hopcat.com/kansas-city|title=Kansas City {{!}} HopCat|website=hopcat.com|access-date=2017-01-04|archive-date=2017-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105084252/https://hopcat.com/kansas-city|url-status=dead}}
- Lexington, Kentuckyi{{cite news |last= Patton |first= Janet |url= http://www.kentucky.com/living/food-drink/article42663633.html |title= LexGo Eat: HopCat Opens Saturday; BrewGrass Trail Tavern Opens Monday |newspaper= Lexington Herald-Leader |date=October 22, 2015 |access-date= January 5, 2016}}
- Louisville, Kentucky - Bardstown Road{{Cite web|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/story/life/food/spirits/beer/2016/01/12/hopcat-craft-beer-bar-open-highlands/78674460/|title=HopCat craft beer bar to open in Highlands|website=The Courier-Journal|access-date=2016-04-04}}
- Madison, Wisconsin{{cite news |last= Derby |first= Samara Kalk |url= http://host.madison.com/wsj/entertainment/dining/blog/restaurant-news-hopcat-giving-away-fries-to-those-who-take/article_b480495e-7eb5-537e-860e-989f9ed49e9d.html |title= Restaurant News: HopCat Giving Away Fries to Those who Take First Crack |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |location= Madison, WI |date= July 2, 2015 |access-date= January 5, 2016}} - Capitol
- Minneapolis, Minnesota - Downtown{{cite web| url = http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2017/03/02/craft-beer-galore-nic-on-fifth-lands-100-tap.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170307040731/http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2017/03/02/craft-beer-galore-nic-on-fifth-lands-100-tap.html| archive-date = 2017-03-07| title = Craft beer galore: HopCat coming to downtown Minneapolis - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal}}
- Port St. Lucie, Florida{{cite web| url = http://www.metrotimes.com/table-and-bar/archives/2017/01/05/the-sunshine-state-is-getting-their-own-hopcat-in-late-2017| title = The Sunshine State is getting their own HopCat in late 2017 {{!}} Bites| access-date = 2017-01-06| archive-date = 2017-01-06| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170106144054/http://www.metrotimes.com/table-and-bar/archives/2017/01/05/the-sunshine-state-is-getting-their-own-hopcat-in-late-2017| url-status = dead}} - Tradition
- Royal Oak, Michigan{{cite news |last= Baetens |first= Melody |url= http://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/dining/2016/09/23/hop-cat-royal-oak-open-early/90937732/ |title= HopCat in Royal Oak to open in early 2017 |newspaper= Detroit News |location= Detroit, MI |date= September 23, 2016 |access-date= January 6, 2017}}{{cite web| url = https://detroit.eater.com/2020/5/27/21271784/hopcat-royal-oak-permanent-closing-restaurant-beer-bar| title = Hopcat Permanently Closes Royal Oak Restaurant - Eater Detroit| date = 27 May 2020}} - W. 5th St
- St. Louis, Missouri - Delmar Loop{{cite web| url = http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2017/04/hopcat_to_open_st_louis_locati.html| title = HopCat to open a St. Louis location - mlive.com| date = 26 April 2017}}
- Indianapolis, Indiana{{cite news |last= Hohulin |first= Bradley |url= https://www.indystar.com/story/entertainment/dining/2024/01/18/hopcat-broad-ripple-closing-january/72269820007/ |title= HopCat Broad Ripple announces it will close this month |newspaper= Indianapolis Star |date =January 18, 2024 |access-date= August 8, 2024}} - Broad Ripple
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.hopcat.com/}}
- [https://www.wearebarfly.com Project BarFly]
Category:Gastropubs in the United States
Category:Restaurant chains in the United States
Category:Companies based in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Category:Restaurants established in 2008
Category:2008 establishments in Michigan
Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020