After Years in the Dark, This Lansing Bar Is Back

There's a Unicorn in Old Town Lansing again.

And if you've been around Lansing long enough, you probably know exactly what I mean.

The Unicorn Bar officially celebrated its grand opening Thursday night, bringing a longtime neighborhood watering hole at 327 E. César E. Chávez Ave. back to life after several years sitting dark.

The Unicorn Returns to Old Town Lansing

The Unicorn name goes back to 1983, when the old Unicorn Tavern began its 34-year run. It later became the Unicorn Lounge before closing during the COVID era.

Now new co-owners Ashley Sevenski and Bob Fata are writing the next chapter.

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And they're not trying to make the Unicorn something it isn't.

What’s New at the Unicorn Bar?

There's live music. Pool tables and leagues. Sports on TV. Drinks. Popcorn. And pizza from Fata's Westgate Tavern, which Sevenski says will be a staple.

The bar was redesigned with functionality in mind. A server station and additional staffing are intended to help get drinks to customers faster during busy nights. (Photo via JR, Townsquare Media Lansing)

The new setup includes more staff and a server station designed to get drinks out quicker, but Sevenski says she also wants the Unicorn to complement its Old Town neighbors instead of competing with them.

"We want to contribute to the social district," she said. "We want to contribute to helping bring people here."

The People Behind the New Unicorn

But the best answer I got came when I asked Sevenski what part of the new Unicorn had her stamp on it.

She looked around the room.

"The people."

And suddenly, she was fighting back tears.

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"There would be no bar without them," Sevenski said. "There would be no anything. Everybody that comes to the bar is a part of it."

The Unicorn plans to host live music regularly, particularly during Old Town festivals. (Photo via JR, Townsquare Media Lansing)

That probably tells you more about what she wants this version of the Unicorn to be than any list of amenities could.

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After years of sitting quiet, there's noise coming from the Unicorn again.

Pool balls cracking.

Music playing.

People laughing.

Drinks being poured.

The Unicorn is back in Old Town.