Louie's History
A Kalamazoo Landmark - From The Start
Started by the Nowak family, polish immigrants, in 1918 as a soup kitchen/restaurant to serve the working polish neighborhood, where they also lived. Rumored to have been a speakeasy during prohibition. It was run by various members of the family, mainly Louise “Granny” Nowak, who ran it up until she passed at 90 years old.
Her son Louie and Ted continued to run it until 2007 when it was purchased by long time patron and lover of Louie’s, Mike VandeMaele.
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Louie's Trophy House ( 1918 - Current )​
Today, Louie’s is the oldest bar in Kalamazoo. The bar acts as an escape from the the busy city. When patrons walk in, the first thing they notice is the taxidermy lined walls. It features a cabin on the lake feel. Louie’s has drink food and specials every night of the week as well as weekly events. Louie’s is a a home away from home for our regulars, and for every new customer that walks in, they walk out feeling like they just spent an evening with old friends.
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Louie's Corner Bar ( 2020 - Current )​
Louie’s opened a second location, Louie's Corner Bar, December 2020 in Texas Corners township. We slowly opened with to-go only in the covid pandemic and as we slowly opened became a favorite in the township. The same amazing staff, food, drinks and specials followed to the other side of Kalamazoo. With taxidermy and a cozy feel with a modern take on the original Louie’s.
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Louie's Lake Bar & Grill ( 2025 - Current )​
Louie’s opened a third location, Louie's Lake Bar & Grill, June 2025 in Portage, MI. The lake crowd and surrounding Portage community were a perfect fit for Louie's clientele. A full renovation of the previous interior of the building was done with brand new equipment and Louie's themed wood paneling and decor. The same friendly staff, amazing menu, and drinks continued into Portage for our lake side neighbors to enjoy, with more improvements on the way in the coming years.
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We’ve been serving Kalamazoo for over 105 years, and we plan to continue for 100 more!
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