The Pyramid Scheme is a mid-size venue with a 420 person capacity located at 68 Commerce Ave SW in the Heartside District of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The bar's front room is characterized by several rows of pinball machines, and local art installations. The back room features a sound stage and a secondary bar. The Pyramid Scheme was modeled after several clubs in Chicago, most closely The Beat Kitchen.
The venue caters to alternative rock, punk, indie, folk and metal bands with occasional hip-hop and country performances as well.
Founding (2012)[]
Punk act The Coathangers perform at The Pyramid Scheme in 2017.
The Pyramid Scheme was founded in 2012 by siblings Tami and Jeff VandenBerg, alongside business partner Mark Sellers of Barfly Ventures, who purchased the property under the company name 68 Commerce LLC.
The VandenBerg's already owned a staple bar in Grand Rapids's East Town district alternative scene called The Meanwhile, and Jeff was put in charge of the live show elements based on his 10-year experience running local label Friction Records.
VandenBerg Buyout (2012-2018)[]
Following the 2012 opening, Jeff and Tami VandenBerg worked to buy Mark Sellers out of his shares of The Pyramid Scheme, and became sole-owners by the end of the year -- though Sellers still owned the building and remained landlord.
In 2018, the VandenBurg siblings purchased the building for $971,710 dollars, financed by a loan from the Small Business Association. They cited the need for security of location.
"“Owning the real estate is everything, especially with the vastly changing real estate market. A lot of these iconic clubs eventually get priced out or pushed out when other people want the neighborhood.”" ― Tami VandenBurg[[source]]
Sellers told MIBiz that he couldn't have imagined selling the building to anyone else.
Sources[]
https://mibiz.com/item/25442-downtown-grand-rapids-bar-owners-buy-affiliated-real-estate
http://www.rapidgrowthmedia.com/features/061710pyramidscheme.aspx