Planning Commission approves Commerce Club private‑club plan with conditions on outdoor hours and cigar lounge
February 13, 2026 | Grand Rapids City, Kent County, Michigan
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The Grand Rapids Planning Commission voted Feb. 12 to approve a special land‑use and site‑plan request for Commerce Club LLC to establish a private social club at 59–61 Commerce Ave SW, including a bar, cigar lounge, private event spaces and rooftop terraces.
City staff (Laura) told commissioners the proposal groups several uses that would otherwise be reviewed administratively and noted the property sits in the Hartside Historic District. She emphasized that cigar lounges for new establishments require a transfer of a Clean Air Act exemption and that local zoning approval does not supplant state licensing requirements.
Applicant Jeff Lambert, who described himself as a long‑time downtown property owner and project lead, said the club aims to be a contemporary, community‑minded private social house offering co‑working, event space and lodging for members. "This building has wonderful bones," Lambert said, adding the club will work with acoustics consultants and ventilation systems to isolate cigar smoke.
Riley Kellogg, part of the applicant team, said the rooftop audio plan calls for only small, low‑volume speakers and that outdoor spaces would be closed at 10 p.m. Commissioners asked how valet operations and a potential curb‑cut closure would function; the applicant said they would work with city parking and engineering staff and seek required licensing.
The commission approved the application with a set of conditions: outdoor uses cease at 10 p.m.; indoor club activities may run until 1 a.m.; ambient or amplified sound on rooftop terraces must not be audible above the surrounding ambient sound; occupancy for private events is capped at 500 (subject to building‑official confirmation); and the club must obtain all applicable state liquor and cigar‑exemption approvals before operation.
Next steps: the applicant must secure MLCC and any cigar‑lounge exemption transfers and obtain building and licensing approvals required by the city.
City staff (Laura) told commissioners the proposal groups several uses that would otherwise be reviewed administratively and noted the property sits in the Hartside Historic District. She emphasized that cigar lounges for new establishments require a transfer of a Clean Air Act exemption and that local zoning approval does not supplant state licensing requirements.
Applicant Jeff Lambert, who described himself as a long‑time downtown property owner and project lead, said the club aims to be a contemporary, community‑minded private social house offering co‑working, event space and lodging for members. "This building has wonderful bones," Lambert said, adding the club will work with acoustics consultants and ventilation systems to isolate cigar smoke.
Riley Kellogg, part of the applicant team, said the rooftop audio plan calls for only small, low‑volume speakers and that outdoor spaces would be closed at 10 p.m. Commissioners asked how valet operations and a potential curb‑cut closure would function; the applicant said they would work with city parking and engineering staff and seek required licensing.
The commission approved the application with a set of conditions: outdoor uses cease at 10 p.m.; indoor club activities may run until 1 a.m.; ambient or amplified sound on rooftop terraces must not be audible above the surrounding ambient sound; occupancy for private events is capped at 500 (subject to building‑official confirmation); and the club must obtain all applicable state liquor and cigar‑exemption approvals before operation.
Next steps: the applicant must secure MLCC and any cigar‑lounge exemption transfers and obtain building and licensing approvals required by the city.
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