BarFly Ventures, owners of several top- rated bars in downtown Grand Rapids, today announced it has signed letters of intent to open a new brewpub in downtown Lansing and a new HopCat restaurant and craft beer establishment in East Lansing.

Lansing Brewing Co. and HopCat (East Lansing) will build on BarFly's reputation

for creating uniquely designed  restaurants and bars with an emphasis on high-quality

craft beer and food.

• HopCat(East Lansing)will be located on the ground floor of The Residences,

211 Ann St., in the heart of downtown East Lansing (on the corner of Grove and

Albert streets). HopCat (East Lansing) will offer an extensive food menu and 100

craft beers on tap, the largest draft selection in the state.

• Lansing Brewing Co.will be on the ground floor of the new Stadium District

Apartments, 500 E. Michigan Ave, across from Cooley Law School Stadium, the

home of the Lansing Lugnuts. The opening of Lansing Brewing Co. revives the

name of a brewery that operated in Lansing between 1898 and 1914.

"Lansing and East Lansing have thousands of residents who are passionate

about good food and good beer, but the market seems under-served," said Mark

Sellers, owner of BarFly Ventures. "I'm excited torevive the historic Lansing Brewing

Co. name downtown and bring HopCat's unmatched selection of craft beers and high-

quality food to downtown East Lansing."

Although BarFly is located in Grand Rapids, it has strong ties to East Lansing.

Sellers is a life-long Spartan fan and graduate of MSU's Broad School of Business.

"My time at Michigan State was the best 11 years of my life," Sellers said. "I look

forward to meeting new friends, playing a positive role in the Lansing and East Lansing

business communities, and sharing my love of great food and quality beer."

BarFly project coordinator Sam Short is an East Lansing resident whose wife

works at MSU College of Law. Sam has helped lead the effort to relaunch the historic

Grand Rapids Brewing Co. in downtown Grand Rapids this year. In 2013, he'll manage

the startup of the two Lansing-area projects.

The businesses are expected to create about 50 new jobs at each location. Both

will follow BarFly's commitment to sustainability. Through an extensive recycling and

composting program implemented company-wide, BarFly's establishments have

prevented more than 90 percent of the waste they generate from going to landfills.

Lansing Brewing Co. and HopCat (East Lansing) are expected to open in late

summer of 2013, subject to final lease negotiations.

*September 1, 2013 is an estimated date*