www.comstockparkdda.org • Fall - October, 2024
Nick Fink’s reopens in Comstock Park after long hiatus
Nick Fink’s, 3965 West River Drive, is now open after being closed for several years. To the delight of the community, Nick Fink’s reopened on Sept. 23. The iconic bar shut down during the pandemic in the spring of 2020, reopened for a few months and then closed again in late fall of 2020. Nick Fink’s includes a full menu featuring appetizers, salads, burgers, black bean burgers, chicken sandwiches, build-your-own tacos and Mexican entrees including burritos and enchiladas. The full-service bar, with indoor and outdoor seating, offers domestic and craft beers, classic cocktails, wine, seltzers and more. (www.thegilmorecollection.com/ nickfinks/menu/)
The gold and black velvet wallpaper and the red and black faux leather booths are still a part of Nick Fink’s.
“Nick Fink’s has always been the low-key spot where the Comstock Park community comes to unwind,” said John Gilmore, from the Gilmore Collection, owners of Nick Fink’s “We are thrilled to reopen Nick Fink’s and welcome back the community to this historic gem.” Diza Connolly, manager of Nick Fink’s, said a lot of cleaning, clearing out upstairs storage, organizing, window washing, exterior painting and steam cleaning took place before the reopening. The kitchen was redone a few years ago, according to Connolly, who previously worked at Blue Water Grill, one of the restaurants in
the Gilmore Collection. “We want to make the community happy. We definitely want to keep it a local, regular bar with some good food,” Connolly said. “I love the generational stories. We would love to continue those.” As of Sept. 16, Nick Fink’s was fully staffed with about 20 employees. Nick Fink’s is open from 4-10 p.m. on Monday, 4-11 p.m. on TuesdayThursday and 4 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday and 4-10 p.m. on Sunday. Nick Fink’s plans to be open for more hours hopefully in time for the 2025 football season. Nick Fink’s History It’s got history. It’s got character. It’s got charm. It’s got ghosts? Nick Fink’s was established in 1888, making it the oldest bar in the Grand Rapids area. The bar was passed down through four generations of the Fink family until its purchase by The Gilmore Collection in 2008. John Gilmore became acquainted with the bar as a young man. He and a group of his old high school friends went on fishing trips to northern Michigan. “Fink’s was the starting location for our fishing trip for years,” said Gilmore. “I’m always looking for something to do, and some years ago I heard Fink’s might be for sale.” “I thought this was kind of an oldworld vintage place,” said Gilmore, who is known for his talent for turning historic buildings into go-to social
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