When West Michigan’s The Legal Immigrants and Kyle Brown & The Human Condition took the stage to rock Spring Lake’s Temple Lounge in late November, it ushered in a new era for the historic building once known as the Seven Steps Up listening room.

“We knew music had to be a part because of the history with Seven Steps Up, but I’m also a huge live music fan,” said Chris Kettler, who purchased the century-old Masonic Temple building from Gary and Michelle Hanks in 2022.

“Our hope for these shows is to bring a variety of music and entertainment to the space — to bring the best musicians and entertainment a 100- to 125-seat venue can support.

“We want to be known as the venue that pays our entertainers well because we feel they are underpaid and it's just a tough way to make a living. … As fans of the venue, you are supporting local and national entertainers trying to make an honest living doing something they love.”

After an 11-year run, Seven Steps Up hosted its final concert in December 2022, a bittersweet finale that took place two months after Gary Hanks passed away unexpectedly.

But the legacy of the concert hall — which hosted an impressive array of national touring acts and regional stars over the years, from Billy Strings and May Erlewine to John Waite and Shawn Mullins — will continue, with Temple Lounge aiming to book regular ticketed concerts as well as free or low-cost weekend entertainment as a lounge and “meeting place.”

Kettler tested the return of live music with a singer-songwriter show in June, followed by a fundraiser for the Grand Haven Free Fridays concert series. But things really took hold in November and December with three straight, ticketed concerts featuring a slate of popular regional acts.

Following The Legal Immigrants, Temple Lounge hosted capacity shows starring Grand Rapids native Patty PerShayla and Grand Haven’s Elijah Russ Collective on Dec. 6 and West Michigan’s Roosevelt Diggs and Nathan Walton on Dec. 12.

“We want to show our community we’re committed to a variety of live music and entertainment. And to the fans of Seven Steps Up, I say, ‘Don’t worry, your favorite acts will be back in the near future,’” Kettler said.

Kettler said Temple Lounge aims to host one or two ticketed events monthly in 2025, with “potential for a January show that will not disappoint” and an all-female performers concert in March to commemorate International Women’s Day.

Kettler — a real estate broker and developer — also sees the future of Temple Lounge as “a place for the people in Spring Lake to gather” with “good drinks, good people, live music and a food option.”

“Ultimately, we would love to get to a place we can live-record audio and video as a benefit to the artists who play our venue,” he added, noting that he also hopes to make comedy shows a regular feature of Temple Lounge as well as open-mic nights.

Temple Lounge also is available for special event rentals, with an upstairs apartment that doubles as a green room and lodging for performers. The lower level currently serves as an office.

“We’ve spent significant money on improvements,” Kettler said, noting the addition of new sound equipment, furniture, sound-dampening panels and other upgrades, with more changes in the works.

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Because it’s his first venture into operating a music venue, Kettler credited the assistance of his staff, the non-profit Ric Van Weelden Music Fund and area music lovers for helping Temple Lounge move forward.

Kettler, a big fan of Led Zeppelin, Tom Petty, Foo Fighters, Sublime, punk bands, various country and EDM artists as well as a host of Michigan favorites, stressed that Seven Steps Up set the stage for Temple Lounge.

“I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Seven Steps and Gary and Michelle (Hanks),” he said. “They put this venue on the map and I’m living in their shadow.”

Get more information online at templeloungesl.com.

— Find more Michigan music news and concert listings at LocalSpins.com. Email John Sinkevics at john@localspins.com.