BUSINESS BEAT: Jim’s Place to open for business on May 7 in downtown Coldwater

COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Jim Brauker of Coldwater has announced on Facebook that Jim’s Place at 4 South Monroe Street in downtown Coldwateris opening for business on May 7.

He said it has been a long haul getting ready as they had to restructure a 150 year old historic downtown building using timbers cut from logs on his deer hunting property.

The original brick walls and hardwood floors and ceilings were exposed as Brauker says the most unique bar in the state was built.

Jim’s Place will offer three nine foot pool tables, two Diamonds and a Predator along with eight seven foot tables, including six Diamonds and two valleys.

Jim’s Place will be hosting a private event on April 30 for the Coldwater Noon Club, so even though they will look busy, they are not yet be open to the public.

Brauker and his sister Robin Brauker Walling have been working for over two years to establish the building and business.

Brauker says, “this bar and pool hall has been a personal dream of mine for a long time. Now it is becoming a reality. Thank you, Coldwater and surrounding communities, for your patience. We took a long time but it is because we wanted to deliver the highest quality experience possible.”

Brauker bought the Wilbur’s Furniture building at the corner of West Chicago and Monroe in November of 2021.

A portion of the building was formerly occupied by the Corona Smoke Shop which opened in early March 2020 but tobacco stores and smoke shops in Michigan were forced to shut down a few weeks later under one of Governor Whitmer’s Executive Orders that were issued due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The smoke shop closed for good in April 2021 after being open just on Saturdays.

Wilbur’s Furniture closed in 2018 after being in business for 101 years when the owners retired.