Underdogs is a new sports bar in Hillsdale. Courtesy | Facebook
Hillsdale residents will now be able to watch football games, shop for groceries, and enjoy beer, wine, and cocktails all in one place.
Underdogs, a sports bar in Market House Supermarket, opened on Jan. 25.
“Our opening has been awesome,” said Bret Boyd, the owner of Market House. “We are really proud of the facility and have been blessed with an amazing staff.”
The supermarket cleared out two-and-a-half aisles of groceries to make space for Underdogs, which includes bar and high-top seating, an extensive food and drink menu, and several flat-screen TVs.
“We have the capability to do any and all live sports, including Charger games, which students have really been loving,” Boyd said. “We are hoping to do a lot of meet-the-team events with the college.”
A trip to Las Vegas inspired Boyd to open a bar in the middle of the supermarket.
“I go to Vegas once a year and really wanted to bring a little Vegas back with me to Hillsdale,” Boyd said.
John Smith, director of operations, said that customers are already appreciating the bar’s bustling atmosphere.
“Sundays of the Lions games we had on all the TVs for hype,” Smith said. “A lot of people say the atmosphere feels more like a Vegas airport than a traditional restaurant.”
The menu, prepared by chefs Chase Cady and Edgar Diaz, includes a variety of beef, chicken, and fish sliders as well as appetizers and entrees. Guests can also order sushi from the Sushi Kabor which waiters will bring to tables. Drinks include Charlie the Charger, a blue coconut rum cocktail, and a bloody mary topped with a slider.
Hillsdale College senior Benjamin Hinrichs, who attended Underdogs’ opening last month, said the food was excellent.
“I had the Sexy Chick slider which was very reasonably priced,” Hinrichs said. “The ambiance was very refreshing in its more modern decor. They very successfully go for a more upscale bar feel but it’s brought back to its small town roots by the fact that it’s in the local grocery store.”
Boyd said he was also inspired to open a bar in Hometown Hotspot after visiting Seed to Table, a supermarket in Naples, Florida that features restaurants, bars, and live music. With Meijer opening in Hillsdale, Smith said Market House hopes to set itself apart with Underdogs.
“In early January of 2023, Bret called me and asked me to build a restaurant in the store,” Smith said. “That’s how this whole thing started. We then made a call to John Tharp to screen all the games for all the college’s teams.”
Upcoming events at Underdogs including a Valentine’s Day dinner for two and a Super Bowl party. On Mondays, the bar airs “The Bachelor” and serves up a signature cocktail for a ladies night out. Boyd said businesses can also rent out the space, equipped with a full-sound system, for events.
Customers can also stop at Underdog to order beer or wine as they shop for groceries. Drinks must be disposed before leaving the supermarket, Boyd said.