Social District

In shortBuy a drink at a participating business. It comes in a Social District cup. You can carry it anywhere in the marked area between 10 a.m. and midnight, but not into another bar or restaurant.

How it works

1. 1. OrderBuy a drink at a participating business. It’s served in a designated Social District cup.
2. 2. StrollTake it anywhere inside the marked Commons Area, every day from 10 a.m. to midnight.
3. 3. Finish upKeep it inside the area, and finish or toss it before you walk into another bar or restaurant.

Good to know

• The downtown district is called the Central Commons Refreshment Area. Signs mark its edges.
• Drinks must stay in the designated Social District cup and inside the Commons Area.
• Businesses check IDs, and won’t serve anyone who has had too much.
• Dogs are welcome on a leash. Please pick up after them.
• Use the trash and recycling bins when you’re done.

Participating businesses

These 30 open downtown businesses are on the City of Kalamazoo’s list of Social District licensees (April 2026). Look for the Social District tag in the directory.

• 600 Kitchen and Bar600 East Michigan Ave
• Alley Cat266 E. Michigan Ave.
• Bell's Eccentric Cafe355 E. Kalamazoo Avenue
• Blue Dolphin502 S. Burdick St.
• Coney Island Hot Dogs266 E Michigan Ave
• Crafted Copper229 E Michigan Ave
• Crawlspace Comedy Theatre315 W Michigan Ave
• Factory Coffee Shop205 W. Lovell St.
• Grazing Table402 South Burdick
• Green Top Tavern250 E Michigan Ave
• HighDive Kitchen + Bar214 E Michigan Ave
• Hilton Garden Inn Downtown/Home2 Suites303 N. Rose St.
• HopCat300 E Water St.
• The HUB Tavern and Grill359 S Kalamazoo Mall
• Kalamazoo Beer Exchange211 E. Water St.
• LFG Gaming Bar116 Portage Street
• Maru Sushi & Grill427 E Michigan Ave
• Old Dog Tavern402 E. Kalamazoo Avenue
• Old Skool125 S. Kalamazoo Mall
• Principle Food & Drink230 S Kalamazoo Mall
• The Radisson Hotel100 W Michigan Ave
• ROCA247 S Kalamazoo Mall
• Rustica236 S. Kalamazoo Mall
• Shakespeare's Pub241 E. Kalamazoo Avenue
• Sit and Stay Winery260 E Michigan Ave
• Stamped Robin128 Portage Street
• Taco Bob's248 S. Kalamazoo Mall
• Water Street Coffee Joint315 E. Water St.
• Wild Bull300 E. Michigan Ave.
• WL Social House161 E Michigan Ave

The list can change. Look for Social District signs and cups at the business, or check the city’s map.

A little history

Michigan made social districts possible in 2020. Kalamazoo’s City Commission approved the downtown district unanimously on August 3, 2020, as a way to give people more room outdoors. Kalamazoo now has two: the downtown Central Commons and the Northside Cultural Business District.

Sources

• City of Kalamazoo: Central Commons Refreshment Area (opens in a new tab)
• City of Kalamazoo: Social District map, licensees and maintenance plan (April 2026) (opens in a new tab)
• City of Kalamazoo: Social Districts (opens in a new tab)
• Second Wave Media: Kalamazoo’s Social District (August 2020) (opens in a new tab)