Gone Wired becomes The Avenue Cafe, to add up to seven staff

A favorite local hangout on Lansing’s Eastside has received a makeover and new identity. After eight years as the Gone Wired Café, the business has added a bar, alcohol sales, an entertainment stage and a new name: The Avenue Café. 

 

“Eight years ago, most bars and most restaurants didn’t have wifi,” says Alex Rabe, bar manager at The Avenue Café, “but now that name is kind of stale; it kind of promotes something that everyone has.” 

 

With the new amenities and services, The Avenue Café is seeking to instead promote several things that make the venue unique, such as a selection of Michigan beers on tap, using local produce in their updated menu and retaining their reputation as a great place for groups to meet for studying, meetings or fun. 

 

“We’re thinking about doing beer dinners soon,” says Rabe. “We’re working with the breweries to have a line up of beer to build a menu around.” 

 

The Avenue Café’s staff is changing as well. The café traditionally maintained a staff size of five to six employees, but are now increasing those numbers to 12 to 15. The Avenue Café also features new entertainment, such as live bands, open mic nights and film screenings.