Grimsby Hollow Meadery plans Middleville tasting room

Grimsby Hollow Meadery plans Middleville tasting room

 

MIDDLEVILLE — After producing mead commercially for the past year, Alto-based Grims Bee LLC plans to expand and open its first consumer-facing store and tasting room in nearby Middleville.

The company, which does business as Grimsby Hollow Meadery, plans to offer draft mead (a honey-based wine), snacks and small plates, and retail bottle sales at its new Middleville site, located in a strip mall at 4525 N. M-37.

According to filings with the state, the meadery applied for an off-premise tasting room permit in April and awaits approval from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.

In a statement, owners David and Mandy Grimsby said they anticipate opening the location this summer.  

“Our meads have been on the market for a year now and it has been challenging to keep up with demand, let alone expand,” Mandy Grimsby said in a statement.

While the company increased its production in the last six months, customers kept asking when the company planned to open a tasting room, she said.

“This was always the goal, but we weren’t sure how soon it would become a possibility. Middleville offered some beautiful spaces which were affordable and the township board welcomed our concept with open arms,” Mandy Grimsby said.

Grimsby Hollow’s products, which are made in small batches using locally sourced honey and fruits, are available in a range of bottle shops around the greater Grand Rapids area.

The company sold 260.55 liters of mead in 2018, and direct shipped 32.25 liters, per MLCC records.