Firefighters were dispatched at 11:06 P.M. to 773 W. Michigan Ave., formerly Rupert’s Brew House, April 20, 2020, and found fire coming from the front of the building.
Firefighters mounted an exterior attack knocking the fire down right away. They were able to send a crew into the attic, investigating to make sure there wasn’t any more damage that they couldn’t see from the outside.
It is not clear what caused the fire or the extent of the damage. In a written statement on Tuesday, Kalamazoo Public Safety officials said the building was unoccupied at the time of the fire.
The Fire Marshall was on scene.
Sergeant Chuck Mason with Kalamazoo Department of Public safety said that the sprinkler system which was activated, likely saving it from additional damage.
Mason said the fire was under control in 15 minutes.
The brewery operated for about six years, but hosted a comedy show for the final day on Sept. 8, 2019.
According to the Kalamazoo Public Library, the building has hosted many businesses throughout the years, including originally being the location of the Oakland Pharmacy, which opened in 1926. A fire hit the business on Feb. 26, 1935, but it was repaired.
In 1972 the building turned into a popular music store called Boogie Records that lasted until 1995.
