The founder of Bell's Brewery has another ambitious idea for downtown Kalamazoo.

And this one could literally ring across the city.

When Kalamazoo residents hear the name Larry Bell, most probably think of beer.

And understandably so.

Bell's Brewery helped put Kalamazoo on the craft beer map, while the Eccentric Café became a familiar gathering place for music, food, and conversation.

But Larry Bell's next big project has very little to do with brewing.

Instead, imagine a downtown building filled with art, historical collections, books, live performances — and a tower housing 56 musical bells.

Yes, 56.

A Familiar Building, a Different Future

The project centers on 401 E. Michigan Avenue, the former Food Dance property.

Plans for the Larry J. Bell Library Foundation's cultural destination have been discussed since 2022, so the concept itself isn't brand-new.

But there has been an important development.

On October 8, 2026, Kalamazoo's Site Plan Review Committee and Zoning Board of Appeals approved the plan to redevelop the property into a private collection gallery, library, and performance hall.

That approval represents a significant step forward for a project that has been taking shape for several years.

More Than a Museum

According to an extensive August feature in Encore magazine, Bell envisions a place where visitors could encounter collections reflecting his interests in art, history, and music.

Plans also include a performance venue with approximately 200 seats.

It's an intriguing concept: a cultural space that combines the intimacy of a smaller concert hall with the curiosity of a gallery and library.

And then there are those bells.

Wait — 56 Bells?

One of the project's most distinctive features is a proposed 56-bell carillon.

A carillon isn't simply a set of bells that chime automatically.

It's a musical instrument, typically housed in a tower, with tuned bells played from a special keyboard.

Bell has been working with the Verdin Company, a longtime bellmaking business, on the concept.

The largest bell could weigh approximately 5,500 pounds.

Imagine walking through downtown Kalamazoo and hearing music drifting above the streets from a tower of bells.

And why 56?

Bell has suggested that the range would make it possible to play jazz.

Somehow, that seems perfectly appropriate for a project connected to the man behind the Eccentric Café.

What Happens Next?

There are still important details to be worked out, including construction progress, public access, and the eventual schedule of exhibitions and performances.

An early-2029 opening has been discussed, but that remains a projection rather than a guaranteed date.

And while the approved plan identifies a private collection gallery and library, we shouldn't assume every collection or space will automatically be open to the public.

Still, the possibilities are fascinating.

Downtown Kalamazoo has long been shaped by people willing to try something different.

This project could eventually add another distinctive cultural destination to that story.

First came the brewery.

Then came the Eccentric Café.

Now, perhaps, Kalamazoo will discover a whole new side of Larry Bell.

And if those 56 bells eventually start playing jazz over downtown, we suspect people are going to notice.

What do you think? Would you visit a downtown gallery, library, and intimate performance venue — especially one with a musical bell tower?