Speakeasies might be legal these days, but they still hold a mysterious allure. Often operating with anonymous or hidden entrances—some require a code or password for entry—they offer an offbeat spot for meeting-goers to unwind.
Jessica Gibson, director of meeting sales for Discover the Blue, Michigan’s Thumbcoast, notes two speakeasies in Port Huron: The Laundry Room, with its entrance behind a stacked washer and dryer at The Wrigley Center, and MoonCurser’s at Bootleggers Axe Co. In Grand Rapids, Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton’s General Manager Ross Bartlett says its second-floor IDC speakeasy requires a code that gets emailed to those who sign up for its newsletter.
Standby in downtown Detroit has been operating for 10 years. No password is required for entry, but General Manager Liz Dabecco says it has an inconspicuous alleyway entrance. When the glass lamp by the door is on, it means Standby is open. “[Speakeasies are] extremely popular now and very popular in Detroit,” Dabecco says. “Spaces that lend to a speakeasy vibe also harness the energy of people interacting in a [more intimate] environment.”
