By Sara Coppo, Guest Blogger

Even after its closing in 1983, Fire Station No. 4 has been a landmark in Battle Creek since 1904. After driving past the old building nearly every day and learning that it was set to be demolished, Chef Michael McFarlen of FireKeepers Casino decided that he had a good use for it.

McFarlen came up with a concept that he presented to the FireKeepers Casino tribal council, members of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, and they decided that the location and history of the old fire station fit the idea perfectly.

That concept became The Fire Hub, a for-profit restaurant that generates revenue for nonprofits in the community. The Fire Hub is a sponsor of United Way’s engagement work, specifically as a host of VolunBeer events that pair meaningful volunteer activities with social gatherings. The venue will also host a United Way Pop Up Giving event on July 31.

“I like the fact that the United Way is exposing the younger generation to volunteerism and social responsibility. It’s developing the next group of volunteers,” McFarlen said. “The United Way offers something for every business. It’s a very transparent organization; you see where your volunteer hours and dollars are going.”

The Fire Hub offers gourmet pizza, salads, pasta and baked goods among other food items, as well as a wide variety of alcoholic beverages.

The Fire Hub not only donates to nonprofits, but it’s also home to the Kendall Street Food Pantry (a partnership with the Food Bank of South Central Michigan), offers food reclamation (prepared, untouched food from the casino banquets and buffets) to people in need, holds cooking classes for the community and more. The Kendall Street Pantry is open on Mondays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Since its opening over a year ago, the pantry has fed around 6,600 families in the community.

Besides doing its own community engagement work, The Fire Hub appreciates partnering with other like-minded organizations such as United Way, McFarlen said, to “help share the load” in the community.

“The restaurant is not a return on investment, but a return on community and social responsibility.”

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