So finally a story tying Arcadia to Kalamazoo. This has been a long rumored expansion, but finally a little more confirmation. http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo...s_rivers_edge_kalam.html#incart_river_default
I like the idea of Bell's and Arcadia having brewpubs within a couple blocks of each other. Great news for the city, great for the beer scene and hopefully leads to more great things for Arcadia.
Kalamazoo should be competitive with Grand Rapids in the beer scene...but it is not. This, along with more beer events at places like Central City Tap House, Beer Exchange, and Shakes, should help!
I hope Arcadia does enough business in Battle Creek to keep two locations open, but I honestly don't see that happening. Every time I have been downtown Battle Creek, the town just seems dead. If someone was going to visit Acradia I don't know why they would choose Battle Creek over Kalamazoo.
Based on my observations I think they may be fine. Arcadia does great lunch time business with the downtown employees. You are going to still retain the regulars and BC residents as well. I won't be naive enough to believe that their business won't take a hit but I do believe they are smart enough to consider this and they will do enough business to keep the BC property worth their while if they choose.
As kzoobrew says Arcadia will do fine in BC, talked to one of the senior people last night at Arcadia, they are keeping the BC pub open, I personally go there 2-3 times a weeks, they are always busy with the local crowd, who will probably not travel to the Kzoo location.
