Second Location for Broad Leaf Brewery & Spirits Set to Occupy Former Sovengard Restaurant Space

From Brewery Vivant:

Jason & Kris Spaulding, the owners of local favorites Brewery Vivant and Broad Leaf Brewery + Spirits are taking their newest concept to the Westside of Grand Rapids for a second location.  Broad Leaf Westside will follow a similar vibe and theme as their current location in Kentwood which is remaining open, but will offer a different menu for both food and cocktails unique to each locale.

Broad Leaf Brewery + Spirits opened late summer of 2019 in Kentwood on the corner of Lake Eastbrook Blvd and 29th Street, kitty-corner from Trader Joe’s. The brewery focuses on emerging beer styles and spirits, taking a modern approach to everything they do. The team prides themselves on sourcing the latest hops and finding creative ways to use new ingredientes to push experimentation. Leading the charge for recipe concept & development is head brewer Terry Lancaster. The from-scratch food menu focuses on Asian and Mexican inspired street food leaning into the creativeness of Chef Gabe Araujo. 

Broad Leaf Westside will reside in the space being vacated by Sovengard. “Rick and Kelly of Sovengard have been great friends and we are really excited to see what they will create in their new location further down Bridge Street,” says Kris Spaulding, President and owner. “We love the garden level indoor and outdoor bier garden spaces they have created and know they will be a great fit for our Broad Leaf brand when we open in the fall,” she adds. 

Broad Leaf has recently started distributing their beer throughout the State of Michigan through M-4 Distribution. They also recently won a silver medal for their 9 Botanical Gin and cocktail program from the American Distilling Institute’s (ADI) annual International Craft Spirits Awards.

“Even though our gin is quietly building word-of-mouth excitement and our beer has fans following us from across the state, the disruption of starting up during the pandemic has meant that most people of Grand Rapids have not heard of Broad Leaf before,” says Jason Spaulding co-owner & CEO. “This new location in the heart of a thriving business district will allow us to share what we do with a wider audience. The current Kentwood and Westside locations will have a similar red thread, but will offer enough differences that both can stand on their own as must see unique locations,” he adds. 

Broad Leaf Westside will be managed by Shayla Stuchell and Taylor Holwerda who are currently on the leadership team at the Kentwood Broad Leaf location. Chef Ryan McClure, who is currently at Brewery Vivant, will lead the kitchen. “The menu I’m working on will be a contemporary take on street food with a blend of southern cooking and an Asian influence,” states Chef McClure.  

Broad Leaf Westside plans to open in the early fall. Guests can expect a variety of interesting cocktails and the newest small batch craft beers on tap and available in cans to-go.

Who we are

Brewery Vivant is the world’s first LEED® certified commercial microbrewery and a Certified B Corporation. We brew beer in the European tradition with the addition of American ingenuity. At our pub we strive to elevate the enjoyment of beer & food and the sense of community in everything we do. Brewery Vivant prides itself on being a destination brewery in the “Beer City” of Grand Rapids. Vivant brands are distributed throughout the State of Michigan.

Broad Leaf Brewery + Spirits is a certified B Corp that focuses on flavor exploration. We stay on the cutting edge with ongoing experimentation to explore new flavors, styles & techniques.  There is a constant curiosity to try new things, find new ingredients to push boundaries in beer, spirits, food & beyond.