ROCKFORD, Mich. - Corner Bar is having their grand opening on Saturday a little more than a year after a fire destroyed the iconic Rockford restaurant.
On Aug. 25 at 11 a.m. Corner Bar owners and community members will celebrate the opening with a ribbon cutting at 31 N. Main Street.
The restaurant was destroyed by a fire that started in a dumpster on Aug. 14, 2017. The fire triggered a gas line explosion, compounding the damage. On the day of the fire, owner Jeff Wolfe said he was planning to rebuild. “The Corner Bar is more than just this building,” he said at the time.
That plan to rebuild is now complete, following a year of construction and outpouring from the local community.
Orion Construction recently finished the work on the building, and they were also able to restore and salvage some elements of the original structure. These will be on display and revealed at the grand opening.
The original Corner Bar building was built in 1873, and it is the oldest brick building in Rockford. In 1965, Donald R. Berg purchased Corner Bar, and just a few years later in 1968, he established the Hot Dog Wall of Fame.
Corner Bar will be open for business on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. but space is expected to be limited. Seating will be first come, first serve.
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