There’ll be a new neighborhood bar and restaurant on Main Street in Benton Harbor. In fact, the Benton Tavern is open now in a ‘slimmed down, preview’ incarnation designed to make people aware of its location and plans for the future.
Heidi Knierim, a veteran of the area’s restaurant scene for over 20 years, will be the manager/operator of the Benton Tavern. She opened the doors for the lunch crowd Monday with a basic sandwich menu that’ll be expanded—along with the hours—in January, when the establishment’s Michigan liquor license will take effect.
Until then, you can check out the progress at 165 East Main Street in downtown Benton Harbor for lunch from 11 to 4 Monday thru Friday. It’s located in what’s said to be the oldest building in the Benton Harbor Arts District, a building that was home to the Le Chic Lounge for many years. The structure has been largely rebuilt by Bryan Seckelman, a Chicago based investor who has resurrected several buildings in the Arts District. There’s a separately operated wedding and event venue called ‘Hawk’s Nest’ on the second floor of the new Benton Tavern location.
Heidi Knierim says, “We’re a work in progress. We hope you’ll join us in being a part of our development as we complete the finishing touches and develop our menu, based on food and beverages the community will enjoy.”
She emphasizes that she wants to build a menu that’s affordable for the dozens of daily workers at small businesses and offices in the downtown area. Her ‘starter menu’ includes a Tuna Deluxe, Italian Grinder and Italian Beef, ranging from $7 to $10 and an All Beef Hotdog, Chili Dog and Polish Kielbasa, ranging from $5 to $7. The lunch menu will be expanded and a dinner menu added in January.
Knierim says much of her inspiration for the new business came from the Summer seasonal success of ‘Sweeny’s Wienies’, a hot dog cart operated for several years by Kevin Sweeney on Main Street outside the Benton Tavern location. She’ll have outddor seating when the weather permits, and more than 90 seats inside, along the walls on both sides of a large new stainless steel topped bar.
Longtime area restaurant goers may recall Knierim from a popular, short-lived bar and restaurant called ‘Beluga’, located in the historic ‘Chick-Haven’ building on Niles Road in St. Joseph Township. Beluga launched strong in 2003, before being hit with a disastrous fire that wiped out the business and destroyed the old Chick-Haven structure. In recent years, Knierim has been working in the Michigan cannabis industry. She’s excited to be back in restaurants and hospitality at the new Benton Tavern.
