The ownership team will consist of Rick Muschiana, of Grand Rapids, and Bill and Lynne Parlberg of Frankenmuth, MI. Together, the team brings more than 50 years of hospitality experience to the project. Bill Parlberg has been a part of Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth, the nation’s largest independent restaurant, for forty years; working his way up from washing dishes to President and COO. Muschiana brings a diverse background to the table; having worked at establishments in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Grand Rapids. Most recently, his experience working with Brewery Vivant and Virtue Cider drew him into the craft beverage industry. “Brewery Vivant had a huge impact on the way I saw food and drink. Once you have that kind of passion and knowledge instilled in you, it’s hard to do anything else.”, Muschiana says of his time at the local brewery.
The Sovengard has a fairly quick timeline in mind, shooting to open prior to Artprize later this year. Currently, they are focusing on raising a portion of capital through an IndiGoGo crowd funding campaign. This provides a platform for residents to actively participate in bringing the project to life. “We’re hoping to make this a beautiful space for everyone in the neighborhood to enjoy. Being a resident of the West Side with a young family, we know there’s a lot of people that are searching for something other than just a bar. We’re hoping to create that.”
For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.sovengard.com. Crowd funding campaign info can be found at IndieGoGo
