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Those living in and around Olivet may have seen the renovations happening to the bar formerly known as the Lamplighter. A sign in front of the building tells you that it is being turned into the Block House, an esports bar with another location in Alma, Michigan.
The Block House is co-owned by Nick Lux, who in an over the phone interview said, “The initial conversation probably started about a year and half ago.”
The construction on the building started in July of 2023 with the building set to open soon, according to Lux.
“The project is a little slower than we would have wished it to have happened,” said Ryan Shockey, Vice President and Chief of Staff at the University of Olivet, who has been working with Lux and the other co-owner to coordinate the project. “We’re really excited to see it hopefully come to completion here in the month of march and open it up to our students and community members and our esports team to begin competing.”
John Barry and Austin Shroufe are both members of the esports team who are looking forward to the opening of the Block House.
“We know they’re trying their hardest, we know that they’re making sure that that space is 100% for us because they’re an organization that knows we’re going to be dealing with a bunch of gamers, and they’re going to be playing at competitive levels, we need to tailor fit this space for them,” said Barry.
“It’s going to be an all-around great place to hang out for people in Olivet that makes them excited,” said Shroufe.
The University is not the only reason the Block House is being built. The community is an important part of this project as well.
“They’re all about working with the community for the betterment of the community, providing that inclusive space and being with each other around a shared theme or a commonality that they would have,” said Shockey.
The estimated date for the building to open is the first of March.