Bam Entertainment Center is ‘Blitzen’ into the holiday spirit
HOLLAND — When it comes to holiday entertainment, Phil Huffman isn’t messing around.
Huffman, owner of Bam Entertainment Center in Holland, has made it his life’s mission to introduce new and exciting entertainment ideas to the lakeshore. In the past year alone, he’s added an adult lounge, rock climbing walls, axe throwing and “Lit Lanes” to the list of offerings at Bam.
More:Bam’s adult lounge includes axe throwing, vintage arcade games and more
More:Holland bowling center introduces Michigan’s first-ever Lit Lanes
And he’s back at it again — this time with a holiday flare.
“We’re creating what’s called a Pop-Up Bar,” Huffman said. “You take a bar and you decorate it. And then you decorate it again — and then you add more. It turns into the most decorated bar you’ve ever seen.”
He calls it the “Blitzen Bar.” And it’s not just about the decoration explosion. Huffman also plans to host family-friendly and adults-only holiday events, feeding off the energy.
The entertainment center will host food and toy drives with visits from Santa Claus, the Grinch, Bad Santa and more — plus college nights and trivia nights.
The events begin this weekend and run through the holidays and into January.
“If there’s going to be an opportunity for a new family tradition, this is going to be it,” Huffman said. “This is going to be big.”
Huffman said he started planning “Blitzen Bar” in 2019, but had to hold off during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
He got the idea from a visit to Wrigleyville in Chicago. Huffman said, outside the baseball season, the area is usually quiet — but pop-up bars changed that.
“They decorate these bars so much that it becomes a destination,” Huffman said. “They have waiting lines and cover charges.”
Huffman said Bam will serve holiday drinks and use Christmas-themed plates and cups.
The business held a soft opening Friday, Nov. 18, and a grand opening Saturday, Nov. 19. Learn more at gobamgo.com/bam-blitzen-bar.
— Contact freelancer Austin Metz at [email protected].