Mermaid Bar and Grill and Baldy’s in Saugatuck listed for sale

Madalyn Buursma
·2 min read

SAUGATUCK, Mich. (WOOD) — Two Saugatuck restaurants won’t be reopening this season.

When The Mermaid Bar and Grill and Baldy’s Smoked Meats, both in the same building at 340 Water St. near Main Street in downtown Saugatuck, closed for the season, they said they’d be back this spring.

But now the two restaurants are available for sale or lease, and the Advantage Commercial Real Estate listing agent confirmed to News 8 they won’t be reopening.

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Baldy's Smoked Meats in Saugatuck. (March 12, 2024)
Baldy’s Smoked Meats in Saugatuck. (March 12, 2024)
The Mermaid Bar and Grill in Saugatuck. (March 12, 2024)
The Mermaid Bar and Grill in Saugatuck. (March 12, 2024)

The two restaurants, which total close to 6,000 square feet between them, share a kitchen and storage space, according to the listing. The restaurants could be separated if needed.

There are several parties who are interested in the property, the listing agent told News 8, though there’s no timeline yet on when new tenants may open their doors.

Restaurateur Eric Chaitin purchased Mermaid Bar & Grill in 2016 and opened Baldy’s Smoked Meats in 2019, according to News 8 partner Crain’s Grand Rapids Business.

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He also purchased Ottawa Beach Inn near Holland State Park in 2014, later turning it into Playa Tacos & Tequilas in 2022. The 2155 Ottawa Beach Rd. restaurant closed for the season in December, but it was later listed for sale, News 8 partner Holland Sentinel reported.

That property has been leased out to a new tenant, the listing agent told News 8. While he couldn’t say what the new restaurant will be, he said their goal is to have it open by Memorial Day.

A June 21, 2022 photo shows Playa Tacos + Tequila at 2155 Ottawa Beach Rd. in Holland.
A June 21, 2022 photo shows Playa Tacos + Tequila at 2155 Ottawa Beach Rd. in Holland.

Chaitin ran the three restaurants through River & Odi Hospitality Group. A fourth restaurant listed under the group, Matchbox Diner & Drinks in Grand Rapids, is still open. The Matchbox co-owner told News 8 he is in the process of taking full ownership of the restaurant, and he hired some employees from the other three River & Odi Hospitality Group restaurants.

Chaitin did not return a phone call or message from News 8 by the close of business Thursday.

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