The Dive Bar approved to join Monroe's downtown Social District

Ryan Loren, The Monroe News
·2 min read
The Dive Bar, 142 N. Monroe St., opened in May 2023. The Monroe City Council unanimously approved Monday, August 21, 2023 an application for The Dive Bar to join the downtown Social District.
The Dive Bar, 142 N. Monroe St., opened in May 2023. The Monroe City Council unanimously approved Monday, August 21, 2023 an application for The Dive Bar to join the downtown Social District.

MONROE — The City of Monroe's recently established Social District continues to grow.

The Dive Bar, 142 N. Monroe St., had its initial application unanimously approved by the Monroe city council during Monday night's regular meeting.

The business, owned by Jason Connor, now will need to submit an application to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission for final approval.

"We're really excited to be included," said Connor. "I think it's great for Monroe. ... We always planned on being a part of it. The concerts in (St. Mary's Park), we're right kitty-corner to that. With the traffic there, I think that will be great for the bar."

Connor said he is from Wyandotte, which has enjoyed its own Social District for the past couple of years. Connor said that Wyandotte's district has been hugely successful and has gone over well with the community. He hopes the positive effect the district has had on small businesses there will be mirrored in Monroe.

The Dive Bar opened this past May.

"It's been busy," said Connor. "The community has been really supportive and we've met a lot of really good people. We have some regulars now in the neighborhood that come in, have a burger, and are awesome to talk to. It's been really great."

Signs are posted for Monroe's social district boundaries on Harrison Street looking south before Second Street.
Signs are posted for Monroe's social district boundaries on Harrison Street looking south before Second Street.

Monroe's Social District was first approved by the council in November 2022 and opened this summer on June 30.

The Dive Bar is the fourth approved application and the seventh individual business that would make up the district. It joins Amaya's Fresh Mexican Grill, Public House, Michigan Wine & Beer Portal, Beek's Bar & Grille, Mancinos Pizza and Grinder, and Senior Cactus.

The district covers the vast majority of the city’s Central Business District from First Street to the south and Willow Street to the north and along Front and First streets to the east and west in the heart of downtown.

Customers can purchase 16-ounce alcoholic beverages in specially marked cups. Those cups feature stickers showing both the Social District logo and the name of the business that sold the drink. Customers can then enjoy the beverages outside within the designated boundaries of the district.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: The Dive Bar approved to join Monroe's downtown Social District