Saline's Popular Neighborhood Bar Expands To Meet Demand

has been a popular watering hole since opening in downtown Saline 13 years ago. The term watering hole, although often used lovingly, doesn’t seem quite as appropriate since the tavern reopened last week after being closed a week for renovations.

Dan’s essentially doubled in size when owner Daniel Kolander expanded into his building next store. Kolander spent about $90,000 converting the old bicycle shop into a 1,500-square-foot wing of his tavern. He went from 73 seats to 143 seats.

 “I think it’s going to be $90,000 well spent. Business has been great. It was just time to expand,” said Kolander.

The new side of tavern is decidedly brighter and more airy than the crowed tavern residents have come to know and love. Light shines in through the big windows facing Michigan Avenue, reflecting on the golden hardwood floors. The bared brick walls feature flat screen televisions showing sports in high definition. The walls are decorated with historic newspaper front pages, pictures from the early days of Dan’s Downtown Tavern, and automotive memorabilia.

“Saline is a Ford town, after all,” Kolander said.

There are many new tables, spaced generously by design.

“We like the crowd and we don’t want to give that up the intimate atmosphere and personal service people expect from us. But not everyone wants to get bumped in the head or elbowed by the waitress,” Kolander said. “Maybe some people walked in before and thought we weren’t fancy enough. Now, I think, we’re in the ball game with everyone.”

Dan’s needed the room because business is booming.

“We’re up 40 percent since we went smoke-free,” Kolander said. “In the old days, people didn’t come because they didn’t want to bring their kids in because of all the smoke. People didn’t want to come here for lunch and go back to work smelling like smoke.”

The smoke-free atmosphere has allowed Kolander to fully capitalize on his bar’s strengths, which he is quick to list.

“We have a great clientele. You’re nothing without your customers. People like us because we’re the last of the working man’s bars. People can walk in here off the farm or come in here wearing a suit and it doesn’t matter. Everybody get’s along. This is the bar where everyone knows your name. We’re down to earth,” Kolander said.

And, Kolander said, people love the menu.

“I’ll put our burgers against anyone’s. And the prices are right, too,” Kolander said.

With the expansion of the business comes an expansion of the menu. Dan's is adding several new items, like lettuce wraps, to cater to the health-conscious customer.

Within the next two weeks, Dan’s will add 20 beers to the taps for a total of 32.

“We focus on local people and Michigan breweries. We’ve got Original Gravity. We’ve got Bell’s. We’ve got a great beer from Royal Oak. We make great beer in Michigan and we’re supporting the local breweries,” Kolander said.

Kolander also owns Dan’s Clinton Taverm down the road in the Village of Clnton. A long-time worker in the restaurant business, he’s not that surprised by his success, even as so many other restaurants and businesses have come and gone. He works seven days a week and is alwayso n call.

“People think it’s an easy business. It’s not. It’s a hard business. But it’s a great business,” he said.

Dan's is located at 103 E. Michigan Ave. in downtown Saline.