Jo Shoup and Mac's Bar

Jo Shoup, who uses they/them pronouns, has an undying affection for Lansing’s dive-iest dive bar, Mac’s. Ever since they turned 21, the bar has felt like a home away from home. Mingling with other regulars, drinking cheap beer while cheesy movies play silently on the TV, reading the thousands of vulgar graffitied messages scrawled on the bar’s walls — Shoup wouldn’t trade it for the world. That’s why they consider Mac’s Bar their favorite thing.

I moved to Lansing from St. Johns about three and a half years ago. It was pretty nerve-wracking. I didn’t really know many people in Lansing, except some friends that I made on Instagram. I can’t really remember the first time I went to Mac’s.

If I remember correctly, the first time I went there was for my friend, Charlie’s, birthday. They had like this big party at their house. And they had just started working at Mac’s as a bartender, so we all went over there afterwards to continue partying.

After I turned 21, I became a regular at Mac’s pretty quickly. I started going there every day. Like, I had been going there when I was younger. But that was for all ages shows and stuff like that.

There’s this weird difference between Mac’s during the day and Mac’s at night. Different groups of people are there. I don’t know. It’s just two totally different vibes. I’m there during the day a lot because it’s less busy, and I get to just talk to the people I know.

All the regulars at Mac’s are just one, big family. I can pretty much walk into Mac’s at any time — and during any day of the week — and see at least five different people I know sitting at the bar. Even when there’s something like a show going on, all the regulars will be stuffed into one corner mingling with some punk band playing in the background. It’s just so cozy and nice. It’s my home away from home, as corny as that sounds.

Mac’s has a lot of little quirks, too, like the golden dumpster and the Mac’s cats. The cats are one of the best parts of Mac’s. I just like to stand on the porch and look at all the cats running around. People even set out food for them.

When I realized that Mac’s was going to be shut down this year, I got really sad. I didn’t think it was going to be this long. I remember messaging with another regular and telling them, “Oh, I’m sure I’ll see you soon.” But now it’s September, and I still haven’t gone back. It’s just so weird not being there every day.

It’s tough to think of my absolute favorite Mac’s memory. I think my last night at Mac’s before everything closed down was pretty memorable. We didn’t even know it was going to be our last night there. We were just having fun, totally oblivious.

We don’t have anything planned for when Mac’s reopens, but I’m sure all the regulars are going to go crazy. During the first few months of quarantine, me and my friend picked out the outfits we were going to wear for when we can finally go back out. Now, we don’t even know when that’s going to happen. I still have the outfit memorized, but I might have to winterize it at this point.

Interview edited and condensed by Cole Tunningley. If you have suggestions or would like to submit your own Favorite Thing, email skyler@lansingcitypulse.com