Profile Final

It’s a quiet Tuesday evening and the sunset can clearly be seen shining in through the tinted windows of the Union in downtown Kalamazoo. From the bar, it is very visible how the light shines onto the stage and it becomes clear in one’s mind, the significance of the Union in Kalamazoo. The Union is a place where big-town elegance and cosmopolitan charm is presented to Kalamazoo in the form of a bistro and performance space. Part of the Union’s name contains the words “Cabaret and Grille” and this phrasing clearly places the Union apart from many of the other restaurants around Kalamazoo. The Union becomes a place where citizens from all over the area mingle freely and share their experiences.
Sharon, a bartender at the Union for the past four years, describes the place as one that “unites different parts of the ‘Zoo together to have an enjoyable evening and be out with friends or family”. Indeed, the crowds that gather at the Union draw from a very mixed, crowd, running the gamut from older, middle-class couples to young, affluent-looking singles. What is it that would draw such a cross-section of the Kalamazoo/Portage community together across gender and racial barriers? A customer, Lesley King, who described herself as ‘a regular visitor’ summed it up thusly: “People come to the Union because it is a place that they feel welcome and [where] they see what Kalamazoo has to offer”. What King is describing here is how the Union presents many of Western Michigan University’s artists who perhaps would not be seen off of the university campus by many of Kalamazoo’s denizens. During an event such as the monthly art hops, the Union, with its central location on Kalamazoo’s outdoor walking mall, becomes a nexus for passing traffic and a vital hub of Kalamazoo’s artistic community. The Union presents a performance space for artists, whether they are musicians or chefs to show their wares in front of an appreciative audience. Ms. King’s point from earlier becomes further elaborated as she continued “People come here and they can exchange experiences if they choose to. You really see the different kinds of people that Kalamazoo has to offer”. King also has a gregarious personality, which becomes quite obvious as she warmly begins conversation with many of her fellow restaurant patrons who are near her. People like King make the Union unique.
“I’ve been coming to the Union for the past few years because they make me feel less like just another customer and sometimes, they treat me almost like a friend”. King who describes her love for the Union’s burgers as “Something perverse” finds herself drawn to the restaurant precisely because of the mix of class and candor that the Union provides. The waitstaff bustles around, maneuvering past tables with an agility that is eye-opening for those of us who have never worked in dining before and yet these waiters and waitresses are still able to notice and pay attention to the customer who requests another glass of wine or some ranch with their appetizer. This is a skill that the relatively upscale dining establishment must nurture and it is one that the Union holds in spades. They also must learn to deal with customers who because of their age, gender or purpose in attending the Union may have phenomenally different needs. According to Sharon, “The Union has customers who come in at least once a week, often times, two, because they so value their experience here”.
This customer loyalty can only be granted after great service and over a long time. Indeed, over my few visits, I believe that I noticed a few familiar faces, particularly in the singles crowd that is primarily concentrated around the bar. One of these singles, a man named Steve described the dating scene around the Union as “A bit upscale, [it] sort of brings a big city atmosphere to what kind seem like a small town dating scene for the after college crowd”. The Union does strike one as the type of place, that while enjoyable for people not yet legally able to drink, those who would have the best time are the 21 and up crowd. There is not the type of party atmosphere seen in a normal restaurant and bar such as Harvey’s or the sports bar type atmosphere of Wayside but rather a jazzier and more refined ethos surrounding the Union. The décor of the Union contains a lot of wood paneling and brick, both of which project a cultured air for the space. The proprietors of the Union seek to present an urbane public space in which to present Western Michigan University’s Gold Company singers along with other cabaret type acts. This allows them to draw an extraordinarily diverse crowd of people to both their events and daily to dine. On any random visit, one may find a nosily rambunctious crowd of senior citizens drinking margaritas to a group of college students excitedly celebrating the end of their exams over an appetizer of flatbread pizza. This multiplicity in ages and class is a definite positive in any downtown area such as Kalamazoo and helps to present a microcosm of the multitudes included with Kalamazoo and Portage society.
King also fascinatingly uttered that “The Union can also provide a space for people to go when they want to escape their problems or their economic worries and relax, enjoy a drink and listen to some great music”. This is, without a doubt, something that is quite visible from the atmosphere and purpose of the Union. The Kalamazoo/Portage metropolitan area was hit very hard by the current economic crisis and places like the Union, which provide good food; lots of companionship and entertainment at affordable prices are bound to be both popular and important for the well-being of the citizenry. Steve had a fascinating perspective on the way that the Union has attracted people during this down-turn “They seem to have kept their prices pretty steady while not scrimping on what makes the place special”. The entertainment in particular is great for providing an escapist reality for people to grasp. Much of the musical acts draw on older forms of music such as jazz, funk and show tunes (not many Lady Gaga or Kei$ha covers here) and this, like an old-style supper club, brings back the memories of the good old days. This is combined with the fact that there is no extra charge for the collegiate entertainment or bands that appear at the Union, which serves to make this a very attractive destination for the cost-conscious consumer and also a great alternative to paying for a jazz concert at the Chenery or Monaco Bay.
The entertainment here is comparable to anything that could be found at another venue in Kalamazoo and touring bands such as the fantastic FunkTion appear without cost to the costumer. These bands succeed in using the small performing space available at the Union to unite different factions of Kalamazoo and create a space in which they mingle and share a common experience. Without the Union, the cultural capital of the Kalamazoo downtown scene would be greatly lessened and having this unique space truly brings the university and the city together.