Our History
Hops at 84 East is the latest reincarnation of 25 years of our history in downtown Holland. Opening in 1993, 84 East has been a destination for generations. We are committed to all things craft. Hops has an award-winning craft beer list featuring 6o taps from our great beer state and the country. Hops is not just amazing beer, we barrel age our own specialty cocktails, have an extensive scotch and bourbon menu and wine by the glass featuring the first wine on tap system in the area.
Chef Bob Repp and his staff take great pride in a seasonal menu featuring local farms and growers. We are proud to support de Boer Bakery, Visser Family Farm, Curnick Farms, Heffron Farms, the Holland Farmer’s Market and many more. Hops features one of a kind sandwiches, salads, appetizers, fresh seafood, brick oven pizza and farm to table entrée offerings. Holland has one of the best farmer’s markets in the state and we are proud to support many of our local farmers year-round.
We’re not just a restaurant, We’re a piece of Holland’s History. At Hops, the past, present and future come together. Working closely with local designer, Dirk Nykamp, we created a space that is both visually appealing and reflective of Holland’s rich history. At the heart of Hops is the curved bar, which has been beautifully constructed using materials from all over Holland and the surrounding area. The fascia is made of oak veneers from the former E.E. Fell Middle School, built on River Avenue in 1919. The brass kick-plates and handle-plates from the school’s doors are featured in the wall lighting installation. In their formative years, some of our more “mature” customers may even have written on Hops' chalkboards, as they too hail from old school rooms. You’ll also find bits and bobs from Holland’s world famous Heinz Factory dotted around Hops.
The curved bar rail, for instance, consists of hardwood from the sleepers on which pickle-vinegar tanks rested for 80 years; and the light-colored wood at the back of the bar was taken from the tanks themselves. Some of the unusual light fixtures that greet customers as they enter Hops are made from 50-year-old chicken brooders salvaged from derelict barns around Michigan, while others were inspired by the pipes that crown church organs. The wood decoration in the annex comprises pine, ash, fir and maple taken from buildings in downtown Holland. Even the window trim at the north end of the bar, made from reclaimed bleacher boards from a high-school gymnasium in Schoolcraft, reflects our dedication to a sustainable future in which all materials, whether old or new, can find a place. We’re more than just a restaurant. We’re a piece of Holland’s History.