A party 90 years in the making: The Bird Bar and Grill celebrates anniversary

The Bird Bar and Grill is a special place. On any given night, folks from every background and every part of the Mt. Pleasant community can be found at the bar. It is not uncommon for students from Central Michigan University to be gathered around one table, with professors and staff at another. Attorneys, local business owners, and others are all regulars at the 223 South Main St. Mt. Pleasant establishment.  

In this world, there are not too many places where truly everyone is welcome. At “The Bird,” Lois Breidenstein, the bar’s owner, says, “Everyone is welcome here, but if they don’t behave, they have to go!”

On Saturday, July 29, 2023, The Bird celebrated its 90^th anniversary. The date was chosen to honor Lois’ husband, the late Dan Breidenstein, as the 29^th of July was his birthday. 

Mt. Pleasant woman Erica Peters enjoys the action on Main Street; the reflection in her glasses depicts the Bird Bar and Grill in Mt. Pleasant, MI on Saturday, July 29, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)Bartender Allison Curtiss pours a drink for a patron at The Bird Bar and Grill in Mt. Pleasant, MI on Saturday, July 29, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter) Amelia (age 7) of Mt. Pleasant, MI joyfully reacts to winning a prize in the “Duck Catcher” arcade game at The Bird Bar and Grill in Mt. Pleasant, MI. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)Allison Richards of Mt. Pleasant joined a group of friends to celebrate the 90th anniversary of The Bird Bar and Grill in Mt. Pleasant, MI. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)Rachel Blizzard of Mt. Pleasant dances with the crowd on Main Street in front of The Bird Bar and Grill in Mt. Pleasant, MI on Saturday, July 29, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter) In 1933, John Breidenstein purchased the Bennett Hotel Restaurant and changed the name to the Rathskeller.

Lois tells the story of John visiting Lansing to lobby the legislature to allow the sale of beer by the glass. When Prohibition was repealed, he was awarded the first Class-C liquor license in Isabella County, she says. 

In 1941, John moved his bar to its present location on South Main St. 

After a trip to Florida, he changed the name to the Flamingo Cocktail Lounge, but college students just called it “The Bird Bar,” and the name caught on.

John Breidenstein, the original proprietor of The Bird, tends bar at the establishment’s original location in Mt. Pleasant’s Bennett Hotel. (Undated photo courtesy of the Breidenstein Family)The original façade of 223 South Main St., now The Bird Bar and Grill. For many years this image was featured on postcards of the bar. The reverse of the card read: “Home of the Original Thursday Happy Hour.” Two of the stained glass windows were damaged when the building was renovated, but the Breidenstein Family retains the remaining two. (Undated photo courtesy of the Breidenstein Family)Lois recalls The Bird being her bar of choice when she was working at Central Michigan University. After a breakup, she visited the bar and noted the kindness of the staff.  

“There was a guy at the bar who wasn’t leaving me alone. Sally and Helen saw this and asked, ‘Is he bothering you?’ They were running a business, but they also cared about you as a person. That’s what made this place special,” Lois says, recalling the experience.

Lois eventually married Dan, Sally’s son. Louis has owned the bar since Dan passed away in 2002—she hopes her children will take it over soon. 

The July 29^th celebration featured food from Mt. Pleasant restaurants Dog Central and Wood Shop Social, live music from Douglas James, and, of course, plenty of drink specials. 

A local man wearing a grizzly bear outfit orders from the Dog Central food truck at the 90th anniversary of The Bird Bar and Grill in Mt. Pleasant, MI. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)Performing artist Douglas James sings during the 90th anniversary of The Bird Bar and Grill in Mt. Pleasant, MI on Saturday, July 29, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter) Crowds keep bartenders and servers at The Bird Bar and Grill busy throughout the night celebrating their 90th anniversary in Mt. Pleasant, MI on Saturday, July 29, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)Crowds keep bartenders and servers at The Bird Bar and Grill busy throughout the night celebrating their 90th anniversary in Mt. Pleasant, MI on Saturday, July 29, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
Ben Breidenstein, one of the bar’s managers, said with all the fanfare he wasn’t looking to make a large profit.

“I’m happy if we break even,” he said. “This event is about showing this community how much we appreciate their support for the last 90 years.”

Bird Bar and Grill manager Stacy Rabish pours a drink for a customer during the anniversary party for The Bird Bar and Grill in Mt. Pleasant, MI on Saturday, July 29, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)Bar patrons keep the billiards table and dart boards active throughout the 90th anniversary celebration for The Bird Bar and Grill in Mt. Pleasant, MI on Saturday, July 29, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)Bird Bar and Grill manager DJ Blizzard tends bar at The Bird Bar and Grill in Mt. Pleasant, MI on Saturday, July 29, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter) Bar patrons keep the billiards table and dart boards active throughout the 90th anniversary celebration for The Bird Bar and Grill in Mt. Pleasant, MI on Saturday, July 29, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)