East Lansing’s well-known eclectic restaurant/saloon Beggar’s Banquet recently received a spacious makeover, upgrading its atmosphere for the changing era.

Since Beggar’s East Lansing opened in 1973, the restaurant has become widely popular in the area. Beggar’s opened its doors with the goal to be an inclusive restaurant, which made the atmosphere casual, fun and unique.

Last year, the folks at Beggar’s decided that it was time to upgrade their restaurant, and in August they revamped their front room into a new, spacious, and high quality entertainment venue. They added flat screen TVs around the restaurant, and put in a shuffle board.

“It really opened up,” Liz Fleckenstein, a Beggar’s employee, says about the changes. “It feels like there’s an increased capacity because it looks a lot bigger.”

The looks of the restaurant weren’t the only things to change; there have also been tweaks to the menu. Most of Beggar’s menu items are “old classics,” but Kitchen Manager Kipp Elowsky has been very environmentally conscious, and trying to “go green.” When possible, Kipp cooks with all natural and organic materials, and always tries to buy locally produced food and products.

Beggar’s also has a constantly changing beer assortment with have more than 20 craft brews on tap at all times, as well as an extensive wine menu. Drink specials include “Wine Wednesday,” with half-off bottles of wine, to four-dollar pints and three-dollar “J” liquors on Monday and Thursday. And if Jim, Jack, Johnny or Jose isn’t calling your name on Thursday, Beggar’s has half-off appetizers to fit your needs. Kayla Clahassey

Beggar’s Banquet, 218 Abbott Road, East Lansing, MI 48823. (517) 351-4540. beggarsbanquet.com