HopCat

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HopCat
Company typePrivate
IndustryRestaurant
GenreBeer Bar & Restaurant
Founded2008
FounderMark Sellers
Headquarters
Grand Rapids, Michigan[1]
Number of locations
12 (2025)
ParentProject BarFly, LLC
Websitehopcat.com

HopCat is a restaurant and bar chain based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, with twelve locations in three states. HopCat is best known for having a variety of beers on tap, with several of their locations offering over 100 different options.[2][3]

Founded in 2008 in Grand Rapids by Mark Sellers, the original HopCat in Grand Rapids is a brewpub with its own small brewery. As of 2025, 12 locations have been built.[4]

History

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Hopcat was founded in 2008 by Mark Sellers. Five years later in 2013, it opened its second location in East Lansing, Michigan.[5]

In 2015, BarFly Ventures secured $25 million in capital financing to expand HopCat to several additional locations.[6][7]

On June 6, 2020, BarFly Ventures filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Grand Rapids.[8]

BarFly Ventures’ HopCat bought out of bankruptcy by Congruent Investment Partners and Main Street Capital[9].

Reception

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The Grand Rapids location was recognized as one of the best brewpubs in the United States by RateBeer.com from 2013 to 2015.[10][11][12] In 2010, HopCat was rated No. 3 on BeerAdvocate's list of "Best Beer Bars on Planet Earth."[13]

Cultural Impact

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On December 8, 2024, HopCat Detroit hosted the a look-alike contest for American football coach Dan Campbell coinciding with the Detroit Lions’ football season.[14]

In a press conference, Campbell responded to the fliers, stating that "I don't know why you'd waste your time with that," and that he would consider competing if there was a "legitimate prize". He did not appear at the contest.[15]

Four randomly selected judges scored the contestants from 1 to 10 in four categories: resemblance, style, energy and creativity. The five contestants who reached the final were then asked questions by the judges. It was won by 55-year-old machinist Jeff Randall, who received free Cosmik Fries at the restaurant for a year as well as a golden game ball.

Controversy

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On December 15, 2018, Barfly Ventures CEO Mark Gray announced that Hopcat would be renaming their “Crack Fries” in order to avoid making light of crack cocaine addiction.[16] The fries were renamed "Cosmik Fries" in reference to Frank Zappa's song "Cosmik Debris".[17]

Locations

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Current locations

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Former locations

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References

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  1. ^ Robenault, Steve Hop Cat[usurped] Michigan Journal. March 25, 2016
  2. ^ Allen, Robert (December 30, 2015). "Uber: Detroit's Top 10 Nightlife Rides in 2015". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  3. ^ White, Laurel (July 10, 2015). "'Craft Beer Chain' HopCat to Open Saturday off State Street". The Capital Times. Madison, WI. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  4. ^ Selasky, Susan. "HopCat location at the Mall at Partridge Creek sets opening day". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
  5. ^ Ellison, Garret (January 8, 2013). "Five Years and $13.5 Million in Sales Later, HopCat Has Become a 'Well Respected' Grand Rapids Brand". MLive. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  6. ^ Walsh, Dustin (September 2, 2015). "HopCat Owners Secure $25 Million to Fund Expansion". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  7. ^ Sidorowicz, Josh (September 2015). "'It's a Big Deal,' 30 New HopCat Bars to Open up Across Midwest". Grand Rapids, MI: WXMI-TV. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  8. ^ "'HopCat restaurant parent company files for bankruptcy protection'".[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "BarFly Ventures' HopCat bought out of bankruptcy by Congruent Investment Partners and Main Street Capital". www.nrn.com. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  10. ^ "top retailers by country - ratebeer best 2013". www.ratebeer.com. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  11. ^ "The Best Beers in the World 2013". www.ratebeer.com. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  12. ^ "top retailers by country - ratebeer best for the year 2015". www.ratebeer.com. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  13. ^ "Magazine toasts Founders Brewer, HopCat as best in the nation". MLive.com. 20 December 2008. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  14. ^ Pouncy, Colton (2024-12-11). "Goateed Lions fans gather for Dan Campbell look-alike contest: 'I wish I could tell him thank you'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
  15. ^ Rappleye, Liam. "Dan Campbell lookalike contest draws 22 competitors, won by a machinist from Manchester". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
  16. ^ "HopCat beer bar drops name of 'crack fries' after 11 years, prompting criticism about political correctness". Chicago Tribune. 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
  17. ^ "Cosmik Fries | HopCat". Archived from the original on 2019-04-21. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  18. ^ Offman, Alysa (February 10, 2015). "HopCat Ann Arbor to Open on Valentine's Day". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  19. ^ "HopCat Detroit Opening to Include World-Record Tap Takeover". Detroit Free Press. August 20, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  20. ^ Howell, Brandon (August 8, 2013). "HopCat East Lansing to Open with Attempted World-Record Tap Takeover of 100 Short's Beers". MLive. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  21. ^ Bondie, Cassandra (April 27, 2019). "HopCat to open its doors in downtown Holland". Holland Sentinel. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  22. ^ "HopCat is coming to downtown Kalamazoo". MLive.com. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  23. ^ Olberding, Matt (October 29, 2015). "Chain Restaurant, Craft Beer Bar Coming to Haymarket". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  24. ^ "Lincoln | HopCat". hopcat.com. Retrieved 2016-03-16.
  25. ^ Powers, Sara (July 14, 2023). "HopCat to open new Livonia location this month". CBS Detroit. Detroit, MI. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  26. ^ Baetens, Melody (October 25, 2022). "HopCat returns to downtown Royal Oak this winter, now hiring". Detroit News. Detroit, MI. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  27. ^ Hotts, Mitch (May 10, 2024). "HopCat hosts grand opening celebration at Partridge Creek Mall". Macomb Daily. Clinton Township. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  28. ^ Baetens, Melody. "Downriver is getting a HopCat beer bar this summer". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  29. ^ "HopCat, Lincoln Park's Massive Craft Beer Bar, Closes | Eater Chicago". chicago.eater.com. 4 February 2019. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  30. ^ "Kansas City | HopCat". hopcat.com. Archived from the original on 2017-01-05. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  31. ^ iPatton, Janet (October 22, 2015). "LexGo Eat: HopCat Opens Saturday; BrewGrass Trail Tavern Opens Monday". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  32. ^ "HopCat craft beer bar to open in Highlands". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  33. ^ Derby, Samara Kalk (July 2, 2015). "Restaurant News: HopCat Giving Away Fries to Those who Take First Crack". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, WI. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  34. ^ "Craft beer galore: HopCat coming to downtown Minneapolis - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal". Archived from the original on 2017-03-07.
  35. ^ "The Sunshine State is getting their own HopCat in late 2017 | Bites". Archived from the original on 2017-01-06. Retrieved 2017-01-06.
  36. ^ Baetens, Melody (September 23, 2016). "HopCat in Royal Oak to open in early 2017". Detroit News. Detroit, MI. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  37. ^ "Hopcat Permanently Closes Royal Oak Restaurant - Eater Detroit". 27 May 2020.
  38. ^ "HopCat to open a St. Louis location - mlive.com". 26 April 2017.
  39. ^ Hohulin, Bradley (January 18, 2024). "HopCat Broad Ripple announces it will close this month". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
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